We are absolutely loving this NY Times Op-Art decoding the secret vocabulary used among the staff at New York City’s finest bars.
Honestly, it’s worth the full read. But we have outlined some of the best terminology below.
Employees Only:
- Mikana: a hot girl; a Mikano V.S.O.P is a beautiful older woman, natch
- Strangler: a guy who bothers women
- Fernando! The word shouted when someone breaks a glass, named for a clumsy barback
The Clover Club:
- Quadruple stir: making four drinks at once
- Dying in the window: fresh drinks that need to be brought to thirsty customers
P.D.T:
- Pebble ice: small ice cubes from a Scotsman ice machine
- Stigi: shot of single village Del Maguey mezcal
- Dry shaking: shaking without the ice
Dutch Kills:
- Spray and discard: extracting the oils from a fruit twist over the top of a drink before tossing the twist
- Industry: the wider bar community
- The tour bus stopped out front: when 25 people walk in at the same time
Pegu Club:
- Bar meeting: an impromptu round of bar-staff shots
- Blue light: the pre-dawn light seen when leaving the bar
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