“What’s the difference between a bartender and a mixologist?” (joke)

“What’s the difference between a bartender and a mixologist?” is both a serious and a non-serious question. The serious answers vary. Some people claim that there is no difference, while others feel that “mixologist” is a pretentious term. It’s sometimes explained that a “bartender” makes drinks, but a “mixologist” experiments and invents new drinks.
 
The jocular answers involve “mixologist” as a pretentious term—a person who does the same thing as a bartender, but takes longer at it and charges more. “The bartender charges $8 and the mixologist charges $13” was cited in 2009. “What’s the difference between a bartender and a mixologist? About $12” was posted on Twitter on June 6, 2012. “What’s the difference between a bartender and a mixologist? Twenty minutes!” was posted on Twitter on August 27, 2012.
 
         
Seattle (WA) PI
A moment with ... Ryan Magarian, mixologist
Published 10:00 pm, Tuesday, October 12, 2004
(...)
What’s the difference between a bartender and a mixologist?
A bartender is someone who works behind a bar and gets you a drink and doesn’t assume a craft. It’s like a line cook versus an executive chef. A mixologist develops recipes, a program, and ensures consistency. A mixologist is an artist.
 
Bon Appetit
BON APPÉTIT / THE FOODIST 10:20 AM / FEBRUARY 10, 2009
What’s the difference between a bartender and mixologist?
WRITTEN BY ANDREW KNOWLTON
Dear BA Foodist,
I’ve seen the word mixologist being thrown around quite a bit these days. What does it actually mean, and how does a mixologist differ from a good old-fashioned bartender?
–Terri Kent, Palm Beach, FL
 
Dear Terri,
A friend of mine claims that the only difference between the two is that for the same drink, the bartender charges $8 and the mixologist charges $13. He’s kidding–sort of. The resurgence of the classic cocktail has led to a whole new generation of bartenders, many of whom have started making their own infusions, bitters, sodas, and more. And titles like bar chef and mixologist are now common.
     
Cincy Chic
Chic Spotlight: Mixologist Molly Wellmann
Socialby Cincy Chic Staff - Jul 1, 2009
Cincy Chic: What’s the difference between a mixologist and a bartender?
 
Mixologist Molly Wellmann: The difference between a mixologist and a bartender is that a bartender tends the bar, pouring beers and whipping up popular drinks, all while keeping the patrons happy and lively. A mixologist is an expert in cocktail creation, taking it to the point of making some of their own ingredients. For example, I make all of my own flavored simple syrups and liquors.
     
HL (Haute Living)
Mix Masters
BY BLAINE ASHLEY   |  NEWS |  SEPTEMBER 24, 2010
Mixology, in its basic form, means mixing drinks or tending bar. So, what’s the difference between a bartender and a mixologist, you ask? Generally speaking, bartenders must know how to whip up a lot of common, popular drinks in order to accommodate bustling bar patrons. Mixologists, on the other hand, focus their energy on the refined art of crafting cocktails.
 
Twitter
Damian Williams
‏@damology
@ThePlayerSoho A Phil Duffy joke from The Player c. 2009 “What’s the difference between a bartender and a mixologist?”
3:29 AM - 19 Jan 2012
 
Twitter
SFB
‏@StoriesFromBars
“@khalidalkadi: What’s the difference between a bartender and a mixologist? A slightly too tight waist coat. #trudat”
Ha! #SFB
7:55 PM - 26 Apr 2012
 
Twitter
Wine Harlots
‏@WineHarlots
What’s the difference between a bartender and a mixologist? About $12.
1:20 PM - 6 Jun 2012
 
Twitter
Dan Cox
‏@DanCoxPR
HAHAHA ...“What’s the difference between a bartender and a mixologist? Twenty minutes!” http://www.latimes.com/videogallery/71648736/Food/Host-Jessica-Gelt-on-Cocktail-Confidential …
8:28 PM - 27 Aug 2012
 
Houstonia (Houston, TX)
A Bartender by Any Other Name
What’s the difference between a bartender and a mixologist?
BY KATHARINE SHILCUTT 5/29/2013 AT 10:33AM
(...)
“I am a bartender. Or barman,” says Robert Harvey, who tends bar at Cottonwood. “‘Mixologist’ is a B.S. term. And I find most people who use the term are tying to raise their ‘status.’ They are the worst thing to happen to the service industry in years. Make the drinks, educate your guest when they want to be educated, and drop the attitude.”
 
Twitter
Dr. BillCo
‏@DrBillCo
Q: What’s the difference between a bartender and a mixologist?
A: Ten minutes.
-@AndrewBohrer at @totc seminar
11:53 AM - 18 Jul 2013
 
26 December 2013, Montgomery (AL) Advertiser, “Five Questions: Jarvis Hamilton,” pg. 8:
(...)
3. What’s the difference between a bartender and mixologist?
I think the difference between a bartender and a mixologist is that mixologists are known for making a name for themselves in the cocktail industry and industry-wide consulting jobs. Whereas the name “bartender” conjures images of a people person who can whip out 20 well-made, popular drinks all while keeping a crowded bar happy, lively and tipping nicely.
       
EV Grieve (East Village)
Scuba Diva said…
What’s the difference between a bartender and a mixologist?
Ten minutes.
JANUARY 6, 2015 AT 9:44 PM
 
Twitter 
Kevin Flood
‏@FLOOKLYN
What’s the difference between a bartender and a mixologist? 28 min. Just poor my whiskey on the rocks and shut up Mr Fancy Mustache
10:44 PM - 17 Dec 2015
Manhattan, NY
     
Gothamist
East Village “Mixologist” Accused Of Drugging One Woman & Sexually Assaulting Another
BY EMMA WHITFORD IN NEWS ON APR 11, 2016 4:33 PM
(...)
COMMENTS
Deez RB
Q: What’s the difference between a bartender and a mixologist?
A: About 10 minutes.
 
Twitter
jontoseverson
‏@jontoseverson
What’s the difference between a bartender and a mixologist?
20 minutes.
6:09 PM - 31 May 2016
 
reddit
What’s the difference between a mixologist and a bartender?
submitted September 17, 2016 by dcox82
About ten minutes.