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Comped Drink Question... Old Fashioned

Discussion in 'Comps' started by klawrey, Mar 20, 2016.

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  1. klawrey

    klawrey High-Roller

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    I searched through the what drink do you get comped thread and only found one person that says they get old fashioneds on the casino floor.

    I enjoy a good old fashion here and there but it is a pretty labor intensive drink for the bartender to make. Anyone on the board get them while playing? I feel bad asking for one given the time that goes into making one. Should I tip more if I order one on the floor? That tip is probably not making it to any bartender that has to make that drink right? Or is this type of drink only going to be available in certain places for certain players?

    Thanks in advance!
     
  2. Snidely

    Snidely VIP Whale

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    You can get that. Depending on the casino and bartender, you might not get the best whiskey so ask for the brand of whiskey that you want.
     
  3. klawrey

    klawrey High-Roller

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    Yeah here at home I drink Traverse City Whiskey Co Bourbon but obviously that won't be available so I could settle for Knob Creek or Woodford Reserve.
     
  4. Jepockn

    Jepockn Tourist

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    yep, ive gotten it at Aria before, pretty tasty
     
  5. BayouBengal

    BayouBengal VIP Whale

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    I order one all the time at the various Cosmo video poker bars. Never ordered one on the floor except in the HL room.
     
  6. NotFromConcentrate

    NotFromConcentrate It’s a Cassowary :)

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    A rudimentary one is pretty simple to make... Whiskey, bitters, sugar, water, and maybe a orange wedge or twist. Sure, more laborious than opening a beer or pouring a gin and tonic... But by no means outrageously complicated. Comparable effort to a Bloody Mary, really.

    If you really want one badly, find out who the service bartender is who makes the comp drinks, tell them you'll be ordering an old fashioned while playing, and tip them in advance. I'm rather confident they'll take better care of your drink for doing this.
     
    [TENTATIVE Late Jul/Early Aug] Vegas by way of Chicago/Elko/Reno!
  7. klawrey

    klawrey High-Roller

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    Agreed that it is not outrageously complicated to make. But disagree with the effort of a bloody mary as I am quite certain most bloodies served on the casino bar come from a stock bloody mix and add vodka so essentially no different than a screwdriver, just two things and mix but an old fashioned consists of sugar cube, bitters, splash of water and cherry and orange muddled then topped with bourbon. So it is much more labor intensive than a bloody mary mix and vodka that most casino floors serve but still not complicated just a little more time consuming than quick pour drinks.

    I like the service bartender idea. Have you ever taken that route? How did you go about seeking out and finding the service bartender?

    Thanks.
     
  8. NotFromConcentrate

    NotFromConcentrate It’s a Cassowary :)

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    You are correct that a proper old fashioned will involve muddling, cubed sugar, and finer handling of the ingredients to create the final product. But that's in the same way that a proper Bloody Mary will involve manually mixed ingredients, salt/pepper on the rim of the glass, and a nice garnish that isn't a standard lemon or lime. It's no secret that comp drinks are different from drinks that one will pay for at a bar... on that basis, I'm just saying that a "minimal effort" old fashioned that might be to the effect of a pour of store-brand bourbon, two dashes of bitters, a splash of water, and a packet of sugar from the coffee cart stirred together over ice will taste substantially similar to a proper old fashioned. Not nearly as good, obviously... but from a standpoint of being "basically the same thing for a comped drink", not entirely impractical to be done on the same principles that a simplified Bloody Mary might be made.

    As for the service bartender - I haven't personally because I'm more of a beer drinker... however if I were you, I'd spend a couple of minutes standing close to a bar that's near the tables and see what bar the cocktail waitresses are going to/from, and what bartenders are making drinks that are going on the trays. Or if you haven't got the patience, just go up to a cocktail waitress and ask "do you know which bartender makes the cocktails you serve? I just wanted to ask them a question".

    If you do try this and it works, let me know... I do love a good mojito (emphasis on good, not just any old mixture of rum, soda and mint), and to see how I could angle one at the cost of a tip would be valuable insight by all means.
     
    [TENTATIVE Late Jul/Early Aug] Vegas by way of Chicago/Elko/Reno!
  9. Taking

    Taking Tourist

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    I have good comped old fashions at both Aria and Cosmo on the floor. At the same time I've had poor Old fashions where I ask for Woodford at the Bond bar, see the bartender pouring in something else and tell me it's Woodford....go figure!
     
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