Agree with cheese pizza, and will add plain cheeseburger. But with a martini one normally specifies the ingredients (or at least the base) as the orderer, otherwise it’s just well alcohol. So I would normally say something like “vodka martini” and they would give me whatever is on well with whatever the vermouth is, and I guess olive juice if I specified. Otherwise I’d order a “X Brand vodka/gin martini” and they’d do the same but with the specified brand. So this isn’t really helpful to determine anything about the bartender. Unless you’re telling them to surprise you, but then you’re likely just testing if their preferences match yours.

Furthermore, the recipe specifies the proportions. Whatever ounces or whatever ingredient. I would argue that them deciding the proportions outside of the recipe is bad.

I think your romanticizing martinis too much and reading too much into them. Martinis are good btw, just saying they’re the most basic drink.

You can only do so much if your ingredients and oven is bad. I don't think you can judge the cook in those cases, only the restaurant as a whole.

If the ingredients and the oven are bad, a good cook fixes that or leaves immediately.

Not everyone has the luxury to die on the hill of quality, and we’re not talking about safety-critical changes to the drinks.

Well then said cook/bartender will be judged by that

Cheers, mate.

Your last line reminds me of this scene regarding a cheese burger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bjDrg5q7ZY&ab_channel=Movie...

Vanilla ice cream. Can't hide behind overpowering flavor distractions.