Whether you’re a customer or the bartender, nothing shows thatyou know your stuff better than speaking the lingo. If you’re ordering drinks, you mightget served faster. Either way, you’ll impress the people you’re with.
These terms might come in handy for your next night out… or in.
The bartender's dictionary
Back: A smallnon-alcoholic drink served alongside your main drink. For example, “Vodka, up,with a water back.”
Build: To build a co*cktailis to make it starting with the ice and then adding your liquor, mixer(s),garnish, etc. A lot of these drinks are built in the glass they’ll be servedin.
Buy back: If youfrequent the same watering hole regularly, or if you bartender just likes you,they might give you a free drink or “buy back” one you’ve already ordered(i.e., not charge you).
Call drink: A calldrink is a co*cktail where the spirit is requested by name. For example, JackDaniels and co*ke or Grey Goose and tonic.
Chaser: You drink achaser immediately after taking a shot in order to tone down the strong taste.
co*cktail: Is a co*cktaildifferent from a mixed drink? It depends on who you ask.
In the 1800s, the term “co*cktail” referred to a drink containingalcohol, sugar, and bitters. By that definition, many drinks today areincorrectly deemed co*cktails, such as the martini.
But the word “co*cktail” has evolved to refer to mixed drinks thatcontain alcohol, regardless of the ingredients. So all co*cktails are mixeddrinks – but not all mixed drinks contain alcohol.
Yet the phrase “mixed drinks” is used interchangeably with“co*cktail” by many people. And that’s how co*cktailSpy.com does it. Whether it’sa “co*cktail” or a “mixed drink,” it contains alcohol and at least one otheringredient.
By the way, do you know the origin of the word "co*cktail"? You might be surprised...
Dash: A very smallamount of an ingredient, as in a pinch or a few drops.
Dry: A martini istypically comprised of either gin or vodka and dry vermouth. A dry or extra-drymartini is one that has little to no vermouth.
Float: When one alcoholis layered on top of another one in the glass, creating a striped look. (Hencealso being referred to as “layering.”) It works because some alcohols areheavier, and some are lighter, than others.
Free pour: To pour adrink without using a jigger or other measuring device. You’re just letting thealcohol flow freely right from the bottle.
Garnish: The finaltouch after a co*cktail has been made. Some garnishes are added just for visualpresentation, while others are intended to add to or change the flavor of thedrink.
Highball: A highballrefers to a drink that would be served in a glass by the same name. Theseco*cktails typically consist of a liquor, a mixer, and ice.
Mixer: A non-alcoholicliquid that is mixed into your co*cktail. Think sodas, tonics, juices, water...
Pony: A pony, or ponyshot, is a one-ounce shot of alcohol (as opposed to the standard one-and-a-halfounces).
Premium: Refers topremium or “top shelf” alcohol (which is usually kept on the higher shelves ofa bar). Bars will typically designate one brand of each type of liquor as thewell liquor, and the others are premium. For example, Absolut might be the wellvodka, where Belvedere or Grey Goose would be a premium.
Rim: To rim a glass isto wet it and then press the rim into a garnish – typically a sugar, salt, orpowder depending on the drink inside the glass.
Speed rail: An areawithin easy reach of the bartender, usually near the sinks and/or ice well. Thespeed rail holds the alcohols a bartender needs to access frequently—usuallywell liquors or liquors that are part of the bar’s specialty drink(s) (if theyhave any).
Splash: A small amountof a liquid that’s more than a dash. Some people measure it in terms of time (aone-second pour), and others in terms of volume (1/12 oz.).
Stick: The word “stick”has two meanings. If the bartender is “working the stick,” they’re workingbehind the bar. If you order a “stick drink,” that’s a drink where some of theingredients are muddled. (The “stick” refers to the muddler.)
Well drink: A mixed drink that is ordered without specific mention of a brand, such as vodka soda or gin and ginger ale. If you don't specify the brand, the bartender will use one of the lower-cost alcohols that are kept on the lower shelves of the bar.
Want more?
Click here for the details on some of the most popular liquors.
