Oh no! We wanted that Martini stirred! (Photos by Erik Kabik | Retna)

For the alcoholic on the go, there’s nothing worse than the flair bartender. Unless you hear the words, “But we’re all out of bourbon.” To parahprase Dave Attell: Flair bartending is for when you want to get a little drunk, but you also want juggling.

This, of course, does nothing to stop crowds of people from gathering around flair bartenders to watch them take their entire range of ingredients on a little vodka Tilt-a-Whirl every time some unsuspecting tourist orders a Cosmo.

The U.S. Flair Open is going on at Harrah’s Carnival Court through tomorrow, where one rum-flinger will net $10,000 for the top prize. Competitors include Paul Nguyen of Caesars’ Shadow Bar and local Chris Parker, plus bartenders from as exotic and far-flung places as Argentina and Reno. You can go watch the qualifiers today at 12:30 p.m. at Carnival Court or hold out for the finals tomorrow night at 7 p.m.

By Jason Scavone

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