Donald Bogie, called "Bogie" by nearly everyone has an encyclopedic memory for drinks with over 500 in his repertoire, including
many personal recipes for his loyal customers.
Bogie is at the bar. Not Humphrey Bogart, but Donald Bogie, bartender at the Maharaja Restaurant in the West Seattle Junction.
He's been the Seattle Weekly's Bartender of the year and a fixture at the bar for over a decade but he hasn't always been a bartender. He was asked by the owner of the restaurant even though he had never done it before. Most people know him only by his last name and are surprised to connect him to his father Howard Bogie, long time West Seattle resident and former Seattle Parks Department official covered by the Herald here.
"What makes a good bartender I think is someone that when someone walks in and sits down in the room you pretend you're in that seat," said Bogie, " If you treat them the way you like to be treated, you're going to be pretty good at your job."
The Maharaja is well known for it's excellent Indian food and long time West Seattleites will remember that location used to be the Vann Brothers restaurant. Nearly 60 years ago a mural of the Seattle skyline was painted on the back wall of the bar. It's still there today.
Not long ago it came time to clean it, and years of being in what was then a smoky bar were removed.
Bogie, is a natural bartender with a true gift. He never forgets what you were drinking. And it doesn't matter how long ago you came in.
"I'm not quite sure how I do it. but I can remember people's drinks, uncanny sometimes," Bogie said.
His amazing mind has proved valuable in his previous career. He worked as a stats man for the Huskies, Seahawks, Mariners, and Sonics for a combination of 26 years, often impressing the people in the broadcast booth with his remarkable memory. "It was really enjoyable while I did it but I'm kind of glad I'm retired from it too. Because sports is not the same as it used to be nowadays it's more about the money and not about the love of the game."
Making the transition to bartending was pretty natural for Bogie. His unique mental skills really come in handy. He has close to 500 drink recipes in his head including some unique combinations for particular people.
It's almost like he was born to be a bartender. Here's looking at you Bogie.
