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drink terminology cocktail lingo

 Brush up on your cocktail lingo or learn new drink terminology with The Bar's guide to bar lingo.

Cocktail language can seem intimidating for those new to the bar scene, but there’s no need to be nervous. We’ve decoded common bar buzzwords so you can feel confident ordering or mixing up your favorite cocktails. Use this cocktail lingo primer to impress your friends or to let your bartender know exactly how you like your drink.

What is "neat"?

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A drink served “neat” is a simple pour of the spirit straight. This preparation (or lack thereof) is the purest way to experience a spirit since it’s sipped with zero added mixers, ice, garnishes or water to affect the taste. “Neat” drinks are sipped and savored, usually from a rocks glass (with no ice) and are a favorite way to enjoy premium-level spirits, especially whiskeys.  
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 Check out these great spirits for sipping neat. 

1942 Añejo Tequila

Centenario XO Rum

Blue Label Blended Scotch Whisky

16 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

What is a cocktail served "up"?

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Order your drink “up” if you want it chilled — but not served — with ice. “Up” drinks are prepared by shaking or stirring ingredients in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass with ice until they are well chilled. Then, the mixture is poured through a cocktail strainer into a glass, usually a coupe or martini glass, before serving. This allows the drink to be served chilled without being diluted by ice in the glass. Popular cocktails served “up” are cosmopolitans and other types of martinis.   
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Give your best shake with these chilled cocktails served up. 

Ingredients
 <ul>
 <li>1 oz. Tanqueray No. Ten Gin</li>
<li>0.5 oz. Dry Vermouth</li>
<li>2 oz. Black Cherry Juice</li>
<li>Black Cherry Garnish</li>
 </ul> Instructions
 <ol>
 <li>Combine ingredients in a mixing glass or cocktail shaker with ice.</li>
<li>Stir and strain into a chilled coupe glass.</li>
<li>Skewer a cherry with a cocktail pick or toothpick and add as garnish.</li>
 </ol>

Very Cherry Martini

Ingredients
 <ul>
 <li>2 oz. Tanqueray No. Ten Gin</li>
<li>0.5 oz. Dry Vermouth</li>
<li>Grapefruit Twist Garnish</li>
 </ul> Instructions
 <ol>
 <li>Cut a long slice of grapefruit skin, leaving as little pith on the peel as possible. Gently curl into a twist and set aside.</li>
<li>Pour gin into a cocktail shaker or mixing glass with ice and add the dry vermouth.</li>
<li>Stir until perfectly mixed and strain into a chilled martini glass. </li>
<li>Twist grapefruit peel over the drink to express the oils, then add as garnish. </li>
 </ol>

Tanqueray Perfect TEN Martini

Ingredients
 <ul>
 <li>0.75 oz. Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey</li>
<li>0.75 oz. Grappa-Based Amaro</li>
<li>0.75 oz. Light Italian Bitter Aperitif</li>
<li>0.75 oz. Lemon Juice</li>
<li>Lemon Twist Garnish</li>
<li>*Approximate serving size is 1.7 servings. Please enjoy responsibly. </li>
 </ul> Instructions
 <ol>
 <li>Using a sharp knife and a cutting board, remove a long slice of lemon skin, leaving as little pith on the peel as possible. Gently curl into a twist and set aside.</li>
<li>Combine bourbon, light Italian bitter aperitif and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. </li>
<li>Shake until combined and strain into a coupe glass.</li>
<li>Twist the lemon peel over the drink to express the oils, then add as garnish. </li>
 </ol>

Paper Plane

What is a cocktail served "on the rocks"?

“On the rocks” is another way of saying with ice cubes. A great example of this is when you order a margarita “on the rocks” instead of frozen. This is how most basic mixed drinks are served since the melting ice doesn’t affect the overall drink too much. Vodka crans, whiskey and cola and gin and tonics are served this way, usually in a rocks or highball glass, while spritzes are typically served “on the rocks” in wine glasses.

Here are some popular drinks served on the rocks. 

Ingredients
 <ul>
 <li>1.5 oz. Blanco Tequila </li>
<li>0.75 oz. Fresh Lime Juice </li>
<li>0.25 oz. Agave Nectar </li>
<li>2 Dashes Orange Bitters </li>
<li>Orange Slice Garnish </li>
 </ul> Instructions
 <ol>
 <li>Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. </li>
<li>Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. </li>
<li>Garnish with a half moon orange slice. </li>
 </ol>

Skinny Margarita

Ingredients
 <ul>
 <li>1.5 oz. Bulleit Bourbon</li>
<li>1 tsp. Granulated Sugar</li>
<li>1.5 oz. Cola (Cold)</li>
<li>Orange Twist Garnish</li>
 </ul> Instructions
 <ol>
 <li>Using a sharp knife and a cutting board, remove a long slice of orange skin, leaving as little pith on the peel as possible. Gently curl into a twist and set aside.</li>
<li>Combine sugar and bourbon in a rocks glass, and gently stir to combine.</li>
<li>Slowly pour in cold cola.</li>
<li>Add one large ice cube.</li>
<li>Garnish with the prepped orange twist.</li>
 </ol>

Bourbon Old Fashioned with Cola

Ingredients
 <ul>
 <li>1.5 oz. Ketel One Vodka </li>
<li>2 oz. Unsweetened Iced Tea</li>
<li>2 oz. Sparkling Lemonade</li>
<li>Mint Sprig Garnish </li>
 </ul> Instructions
 <ol>
 <li>Pour vodka and tea into a Collins or highball glass filled with ice and stir to combine.</li>
<li>Top with sparkling lemonade.</li>
<li>Garnish with mint sprigs.</li>
 </ol>

Positano Sparkling Lemonade Tea

What is "with a twist"?

For drinks “with a twist”, bartenders often peel off a section of an orange, lemon, lime or other citrus fruit’s rind and literally twist it just above the glass to release the peel’s essential oils. Then, they add the peel to the cocktail. This adds an extra aromatic and faint citrus flavor to the cocktail. Cosmopolitans, old fashioneds and palomas are common drinks served “with a twist”. Twist drinks are served in a variety of glassware ranging from martini and coupe glasses to rocks and highball glasses. It all depends on the drink.

To add a little citrus flare, try these cocktails that call for a twist! 

Ingredients
 <ul>
 <li>1.5 oz. Bulleit Bourbon</li>
<li>1 oz. Sweet Vermouth</li>
<li>1 oz. Italian Bitter Aperitif </li>
<li>Orange Twist Garnish</li>
<li>*Approximate serving size is 1.7 servings. Please enjoy responsibly. </li>
 </ul> Instructions
 <ol>
 <li>Using a sharp knife and a cutting board, remove a long slice of orange skin, leaving as little pith on the peel as possible. Gently curl into a twist and set aside.</li>
<li>Combine bourbon, sweet vermouth and Italian bitter aperitif in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass with ice.</li>
<li>Stir until combined and strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube.</li>
<li>Twist the orange peel over the drink to express the oils, then add as garnish. </li>
 </ol>

Boulevardier

Ingredients
 <ul>
 <li>1.4 oz. Ketel One Vodka</li>
<li>0.68 oz. Orange Liqueur</li>
<li>1.5 oz. Cranberry Juice</li>
<li>0.7 oz. Lime</li>
<li>3 oz. Sugar Syrup</li>
<li>Orange or Lemon Twist Garnish </li>
<li>*Approximate serving size is 1.25 servings. Please enjoy responsibly. </li>
 </ul> Instructions
 <ol>
 <li>Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.</li>
<li>Shake to blend and chill and strain into a chilled martini glass.</li>
<li>Garnish with a lemon twist. </li>
 </ol>

Ketel One Cosmo

Ingredients
 <ul>
 <li>1.5 oz. Aviation American Gin</li>
<li>0.75 oz. Lemon Juice</li>
<li>0.75 oz. Honey Syrup</li>
<li>Lemon Twist Garnish</li>
 </ul> Instructions
 <ol>
 <li>Using a sharp knife and a cutting board, remove a long slice of lemon skin, leaving as little pith on the peel as possible. Gently curl into a twist and set aside</li>
<li>Combine gin, lemon juice and honey syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice.</li>
<li>Shake until combined and strain into a coupe glass.</li>
<li>Twist the lemon peel over the drink to express the oils, then add as garnish.</li>
 </ol>

Bee's Knees

What is shaken vs stirred?

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A certain secret agent has made these two styles of cocktail preparation famous (although his preference for a martini “shaken”, not “stirred”, has stirred up quite the debate among bar professionals). When a cocktail is “shaken”, it’s mixed in a shaker with ice and shaken vigorously until chilled. Shaking with ice partially dilutes the overall flavor of the cocktail, affects drink clarity and can produce froth. “Stirred” cocktails are mixed more gently with a cocktail spoon, leaving the cocktail undiluted and appearing clearer in the glass after being poured. Most commonly, coupe or martini glasses are used for shaken or stirred cocktails. 
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Here are some cocktails done up both ways for when you’re behind the bar.

Ingredients
 <ul>
 <li>1 oz. Tanqueray London Dry Gin</li>
<li>1 oz. Sweet Vermouth</li>
<li>1 oz. Italian Bitter Aperitif </li>
<li>Orange Twist Garnish</li>
<li>*Approximate serving size is 1.5 servings. Please enjoy responsibly. </li>
 </ul> Instructions
 <ol>
 <li>Using a sharp knife and a cutting board, remove a long slice of orange skin, leaving as little pith on the peel as possible. Gently curl into a twist and set aside</li>
<li>Combine gin, sweet vermouth and Italian bitter aperitif in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass with ice. </li>
<li>Stir until combined and strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube.</li>
<li>Twist the orange peel over the drink to express the oils, then add as garnish. </li>
 </ol>

Negroni

Ingredients
 <ul>
 <li>1.5 oz. Bulleit Bourbon</li>
<li>1-2 Jalapeño Wheels</li>
<li>0.5 oz. Blood Orange Juice</li>
<li>1 oz. Sweet Vermouth</li>
<li>Blood Orange Peel Twist Garnish</li>
 </ul> Instructions
 <ol>
 <li>Cut 1-2 wheels of jalapeño (more to add more heat), remove seeds and chop into small pieces.</li>
<li>Combine bourbon and chopped jalapeño in a mixing glass or cocktail shaker, and muddle.</li>
<li>Add remaining ingredients and top with ice.</li>
<li>Stir until thoroughly chilled and strain into a chilled coupe glass using a fine mesh strainer.</li>
<li>Garnish with a blood orange twist. </li>
 </ol>

Spicy Jalapeño Manhattan

Ingredients
 <ul>
 <li>0.75 oz. Tanqueray No. Ten Gin</li>
<li>0.75 oz. Green Herbal Liqueur </li>
<li>0.75 oz. Maraschino Liqueur </li>
<li>0.75 oz. Lime Juice</li>
<li>*Approximate serving size is 1.7 servings. Please enjoy responsibly. </li>
 </ul> Instructions
 <ol>
 <li>Combine gin, green herbal liqueur, maraschino liqueur and lime juice in a cocktail shaker with ice.</li>
<li>Shake until combined and strain into a chilled coupe glass.</li>
<li>Garnish with a brandied cherry.</li>
 </ol>

Last Word

What's the difference between "dry," "wet" and "perfect"?

Several iterations of the martini exist — espresso, vodka, Manhattan, to name a few — but the O.G. martini is simply a drink made of gin, dry vermouth and a garnish, usually an olive, cocktail onion or citrus twist. The difference between a “dry”, “wet” and “perfect” martini depends on the gin-to-vermouth ratio.  A “dry” martini calls for a 5:1 ratio of gin to dry vermouth, while a “wet” martini includes a larger quantity of vermouth, mixed in 2:1 ratio of gin to dry vermouth. The “perfect” martini follows the same 2:1 ratio but splits the vermouth component to contain equal parts dry and sweet vermouth.The classic “V’” shaped martini glass may be one of the most recognizable types of cocktail glassware behind the bar, though bartenders may also use a curvy coupe glass for serving martinis.

Test out different types of martinis with this collection of alternative martini glasses.

Ripple Champagne Saucers, Set of Two

What is "dirty"?

One of the most popular ways to order a martini is “dirty”. This simply means there’s olive brine added to the drink to up the savory salinity. “Dirty” martinis are served in martini glasses with an odd number of olives as a garnish. You can get creative by using olives stuffed with different kinds of goodies like blue cheese, garlic or pimento.

Snag these standout martini glasses for serving up dirty martinis.

Quinn Rose Martini Glasses, Set of Two

You know how you like your favorite cocktail served — now you know how to ask for it like a pro, so next time you can order your drink with confidence just the way you like it.

All the cocktail lingo you need to know