A lot of the terms and phrases listed below are standard throughout the industry. A good bartender will know his profession inside out, and the ability to understand various words related to bartending is a must. Bartendingexposed.com
Back – a back is when a drink is accompanied by a small glass of mix like coke or water. “Vodka on the rocks, with a water back”
Build – when you ‘build’ a drink, you make the drink – starting with the ice and then continuing to ‘build’ by adding the alcohol, mixes, garnishes etc
Bouquet-The aroma or fragrance of a wine or spirit
Call Drink – a call drink is when the customer calls the specific name of the alcohol and the mix. Jim Beam and Ginger ale or Bacardi and Coke -Examples
Chaser – a chaser, in bar terms, is anything that is used to chase down another alcohol – A drink, as of beer or water, or soda taken after hard liquor.
Dirty – dirty is simply the adding of olive juice to a drink – usually customer will request a Dirty martini.
Float – to float something is to layer a lighter alcohol on top of a heavier alcohol.
Shot Example – B-52
1 /3 oz. Kahlua
1/3 oz. Irish Cream
1/3 oz. Grand Marnier
Free Pour – pouring drinks without using any type of measuring device such as a shot glass, jigger or measured pour spout.
Frost – some bars use frosted beer mugs or Beer glasses – these are mugs or glasses that are dipped in water, kept in the freezer or cooler to keep cold. This forms a frosting on the outside of the glass.
Garnish – anything added to a drink to enhance the presentation or flavor of drink – commonly includes pineapple slices, Bananas, Strawberry’s, cherries, lime slices, lemon slices, orange slices, olives, celery, pickles, and Cocktail Onions
Jigger – a measuring device that is shaped like an hourglass that has two different measurements on each side. Used to measure the amount of alcohol going into drinks.
Neat – neat simply means no ice – sometimes called Straight Up
Premium – a premium is a higher priced brand of liquor – also called top shelf
Rim – to rim a glass means to create a rim around the lip of the glass using anything from salt to sugar to candy. Example- Salty Dog or Margarita. Chocolate Martini. Rim the Martini glass with chocolate.
Rocks – on the rocks means on ice.
Spill-A bar term for mistake
Twist – adding a twist refers to twisting the peel of a lemon and inserting it in the drink
Bar Terminology
Box- Pour into and out of a shaker, usually only once. Gives the drink a quick mixing without shaking.
Call Drink-A liquor and mixer, of which the liquor is a defined brand. ( Tanqueray and Tonic, Bacardi and Coke)
Cobbler-A tall drink of any liquor served in a Collins or highball glass with shaved or crushed ice and garnished with fresh fruit and mint sprigs.
Chaser-A mixer that is consumed immediately after a straight shot of liquor to create a different taste.
Cocktail-Any of various alcoholic beverages consisting usually of brandy, whiskey, vodka, or gin combined with fruit juices or other liquors and often served chilled.
Collins-A drink made with sour mix and club soda which is served in a tall glass .
Cooler-A drink consisting of ginger ale, soda water, and a fresh spiral or twist of citrus fruit rind, served in a Collins or highball glass.
Crusta-A sour-type drink served in a glass that is completely lined with an orange or lemon peel cut in a continuous strip.
Cup-A punch-type drink that made up in quantities of cups or glasses in preference to a punch bowl.
Daisy-An oversize drink of the sour type, normally made with rum or gin. It is served over crushed ice with a straw, and sweetened with a fruit syrup.
Lace-The last ingredient in a recipe, meaning to pour onto the top of the drink.
Fix-A sour-type drink similar to the daisy, made with crushed ice in a large goblet.
Fizz-An effervescent beverage. that which is carbonated or which emits small bubbles.
Flip-A chilled, creamy drink made of eggs, sugar, and a wine or spirit. Brandy and sherry flips are two of the better known kinds.
Frappe-A partially frozen, often fruity drink. It is usually a mixture of ingredients served over a mound of crushed ice and two short straws.
Grog-A rum-based beverage with water, fruit juice and sugar, commonly served in a large mug.
Highball-Any spirit served with ice and soda water in a medium to tall glass a highball glass
Julep-A drink made of bourbon, mint, sugar and crushed ice.
Lace or Top off – The last ingredient in a recipe, meaning to pour onto the top of the drink.
Low ball-A short drink made of spirits served with ice, water or soda in a small glass.
Mist-Any drink served in a rock glass filled with crushed ice and a lemon twist.
Mulls-A sweetened and spiced heated liquor, wine or beer, served as a hot punch.
Neat- liquor straight, or shot. Nothing added such as coke, just pour the shot into the rocks glass or shot glass and serve.
Negus-A punch-like combination containing a wine, such as port, heated with spices and sweetened.
Nip- A small amount of liquor-Example- A Nip of Brandy
Nightcap-A wine or liquor taken before bedtime.
On The Rocks-A wine or liquor poured over ice cubes.
Pick-Me-Up-A drink designed to relieve the effects of overindulgence in alcohol.
The Term-Posse cafe-It is a combination of floated liquors. Remember the lighter liquors float upon the denser ones
Puff-A traditional afternoon drink made of equal parts spirit and milk, topped with club soda and served over ice.
Punch-A party-size beverage consisting of fruit, fruit juices, flavorings and sweeteners, soft drinks, and a wine or liquor base.
Rickey-A drink made a liquor, usually gin, a half lime and soda water. It is sometimes sweetened, and often served with ice in a Rickey glass.
Sangaree-A sweet chilled beverage made of wine or other alcoholic liquor and grated nutmeg.
Shooter-A straight shot of whiskey or other kind of spirit taken neat. Chilled or at room temp.
Shrub-Spirits, fruit juices, and sugar, aged in a sealed container such as a cask or crock, then usually bottled.
Sling-A tall drink made with either brandy, whiskey or gin, with lemon juice, sugar and soda water. It is served both hot and cold.
Smash-A short julep made of liquor, sugar, and mint, served in a small glass.
Sour-A short drink consisting of liquor, lemon/lime juice and sugar. Sour Mix
Premium -Also known as top shelf or premium. The high octane, often higher proof alcohols, or super-aged or flavored versions.
Swizzle -A tall, traditionally rum-based cocktail filled with cracked ice.
Swizzle stick-A small thin rod for stirring mixed drinks.Syllabub
A drink made of sweetened milk or cream curdled with wine or spirits.
Toddy- A sweetened drink of liquor and hot water, often with spices and served in a tall glass. This Is A great Drink for a score Throat!
Example: Hot Toddy
1 1/2 ounces Whiskey
1 ounce Honey
1/3 ounce Lemon Juice
3 ounces Water (Hot)
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Example:Hot Toddy
1 tbsp honey
3/4 glass tea
2 shots brandy
1 slice lemon
Tot-A small amount of liquor.
Virgin-A non-alcoholic drink.
Well Drink-A liquor and mixer, of which neither are defined brands. Example-Gin and Tonic, Rum and Coke
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