20+ years service industry, with a good bit behind the bar. Near the tail end of my career was when the whole mixology was coming about and it was a good thing. No more roses lime juice, no more sour mix from a plastic jug; real ingredients that made the cocktail actually taste good.

That being said I hated and still do hate the mixology peeps. Not a one of these folks could run a bar, you need to know how to take 3 orders whilst stirring, shaking and pouring and then decide which of the 3 to make next. How to go to the cooler and get the beer you know your regular is going to need next (even though they haven't ordered it) while getting your lemon twists and the manhatten batch.