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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
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Straight or neat?
I met a Greek yesterday who insisted that in the UK, no one drinks their Scotch "neat." The term is American in origin. All Britons say "straight" when they order whisk(e)y unadulterated by ice or mixers.
Now, my Greek acquaintance was wrong regarding word origins, and is, moreover, only a slight Lechterianesque cut away from the intelligence level of a cretinous goon, but since I've never been to the UK, I must ask.
Have Britons retained the term "neat" as well? I sincerely doubt that this fellow ordered other rotgut spirits in the more questionable establishments of London, but is the term "straight" more generally current than "neat" in Great Britain?
I worked as a part-time bartender (or is that always barman/bargirl? (I've heard that too!)) on my way through college, so I'm particularly interested in the answer to this question.
Now, my Greek acquaintance was wrong regarding word origins, and is, moreover, only a slight Lechterianesque cut away from the intelligence level of a cretinous goon, but since I've never been to the UK, I must ask.
Have Britons retained the term "neat" as well? I sincerely doubt that this fellow ordered other rotgut spirits in the more questionable establishments of London, but is the term "straight" more generally current than "neat" in Great Britain?
I worked as a part-time bartender (or is that always barman/bargirl? (I've heard that too!)) on my way through college, so I'm particularly interested in the answer to this question.
Top answer
" The term is American in origin. [/nq] In Scotland, whisky is served unadulterated anyway, unless the barperson wants a 'knuckle sandwich'. Ice, water, and sometimes lemonade are on the bar counter for the customer to help himself.
- " The term is American in origin.
- [/nq] In Scotland, whisky is served unadulterated anyway, unless the barperson wants a 'knuckle sandwich'.
- Ice, water, and sometimes lemonade are on the bar counter for the customer to help himself.
- [/nq] I think 'neat' would be more British than 'straight' in the sense of pure or unadulterated.
- [/nq] barmaid - a more traditional term, with traditional allusions of well-developed chest and arm from working a beer pump bar steward - in hotels, on cruise liners, and in (gentlemen's) clubs.
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4 Answers
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[nq:1]I met a Greek yesterday who insisted that in the UK, no one drinks their Scotch "neat." The term is American in origin. All Britons say "straight" when they order whisk(e)y unadulterated by ice or mixers.[/nq]
In Scotland, whisky is served unadulterated anyway, unless the barperson wants a 'knuckle sandwich'. Ice, water, and sometimes lemonade are on the bar counter for the customer to h
In Scotland, whisky is served unadulterated anyway, unless the barperson wants a 'knuckle sandwich'. Ice, water, and sometimes lemonade are on the bar counter for the customer to h
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[nq:1]I think 'neat' would be more British than 'straight' in the sense of pure or unadulterated.[/nq]
"Undiluted - use neat on kitchen worktops, cookers .."
Owain
"Undiluted - use neat on kitchen worktops, cookers .."
Owain
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[nq:1]I think 'neat' would be more British than 'straight' in the sense of pure or unadulterated.[/nq]
That's what I thought, too.
[nq:2]I worked as a part-time bartender (or is that alwaysbarman/bargirl?[/nq]
[nq:1]barmaid - a more traditional term, with traditional allusions of well-developed chest and arm from working a beer pump bar steward - in hotels, on cruise liners, and in (ge
That's what I thought, too.
[nq:2]I worked as a part-time bartender (or is that alwaysbarman/bargirl?[/nq]
[nq:1]barmaid - a more traditional term, with traditional allusions of well-developed chest and arm from working a beer pump bar steward - in hotels, on cruise liners, and in (ge
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[nq:1]"Undiluted - use neat on kitchen worktops, cookers .."[/nq]
That would be "undiluted" or "full-strength" in the States, never, but never, neat.
The wheel turns...
That would be "undiluted" or "full-strength" in the States, never, but never, neat.
The wheel turns...
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