Common Bar Terms

Question 0

86:

Answer 0

(1) Item is out of stock, or (2) Customer has been cutoff. Example: Bartender or manager says, “That guy has been 86’ed.” This means the customer should not be served anymore alcohol. It may also mean that a customer has been barred from the establishment.

Question 1

14:

Answer 1

Same as a 7&7.

Question 2

Against the Wall:

Answer 2

Pour 1/2 oz. of Galliano on top of the drink. Example: Customer says, “Give me a Vodka and Soda Against the Wall.”€ This means prepare the drink as usual, then top with 1/2 oz. Galliano.

Question 3

Back:

Answer 3

Either (1) short for Bar Back – a person who assists the bartender with stocking liquors, beer, ice etc., a “gopher”, or (2) a mix served in a separate glass. Example: Customer says, “Give me a Dewar’s on the rocks with a soda back.” This means a Dewar’s served in a rocks glass over ice and a separate glass with ice and soda.

Question 4

Bruise or Bruised:

Answer 4

A Straight Up€ Martini that is shaken instead of stirred.

Question 5

Chaser:

Answer 5

Similar to Back #2. Example: Customer says, “Give me a Whiskey on the rocks with a beer chaser.” This means serve the drink as usual and also serve a glass of beer.

Question 6

Ditch:

Answer 6

A drink with a water mix. Example: Customer says, “Give me a CC Ditch.”€ This means Canadian Club and Water.

Question 7

Double:

Answer 7

A drink with double the amount of liquor. Example: Customer says, “Give me a double Rum and Coke.”€ This means put double the amount of rum into the drink with the normal amount of Coke. Note: This may also require you to increase the size of the glass.

Question 8

Float:

Answer 8

Same as Top.

Question 9

Frappe’:

Answer 9

A liquor or liqueur poured over crushed ice, usually in a cocktail glass.

Question 10

Frozen:

Answer 10

A drink blended with crushed ice so as to be slushy. Example: Customer says, “Give me frozen Daiquiri.”. This means to add the normal ingredients to a blender with crushed ice, blend and serve in an appropriate glass.

Question 11

Lace:

Answer 11

Same as Top.

Question 12

Long:

Answer 12

Served in a tall (Collins) glass. Example: Customer says, “Give me a Long Rum and Coke (or a Rum and Coke Long).” This means prepare the drink in a tall glass, but pour the regular amount of rum.

Question 13

Mexican (or Mex) Style:

Answer 13

Pour 1/2 oz. of Tequila on top of the drink. Example: Customer says, “€œGive me a Slow Screw Mexican Style.” This means prepare the drink as usual, and then top with 1/2 oz. Tequila.

Question 14

Mist:

Answer 14

Same as Frappe’, but served in a rocks glass.

Question 15

Multiple:

Answer 15

Pour 1/2 oz. of Frangelico on top of the drink. Example: Customer says, “Give me a Multiple Black Russian.”€ This means prepare the drink as usual, and then top with 1/2 oz. Frangelico liqueur.

Question 16

Neat:

Answer 16

Served in a rocks glass at room temperature without ice. Example: Customer says, “Give me a Scotch neat.” This means pour the liquor into a rocks glass and serve.

Question 17

On the rocks:

Answer 17

A drink served over cubed ice.

Question 18

On the Side:

Answer 18

Same as Chaser.

Question 19

Over:

Answer 19

Same as On The Rocks.

Question 20

Press:

Answer 20

(1) Nickname for a Presbyterian, or (2) the combination of half Soda and half Ginger ale.

Question 21

Screaming:

Answer 21

Pour 1/2 oz. of Vodka on top of the drink. Example: Customer says, “Give me a Screaming Fuzzy Navel.” This means prepare the drink as usual, and then top with 1/2 oz. of Vodka.

Question 22

Short:

Answer 22

A drink served in a rocks glass. Example: Customer says, “Give me a Short Screwdriver (or a Screwdriver Short).” This means serve the screwdriver in a rocks or small bucket glass.

Question 23

Splash:

Answer 23

Top with 1/2 oz. of mix. Example: Customer says, “Give me a Whiskey on the rocks with a splash of 7-up.”€ This means make the drink as usual, then add about 1/2 oz. of 7-up on top. Note: splash€ by itself refers to water.

Question 24

Squeeze:

Answer 24

A piece of lime that is squeezed€ over a drink, then dropped into it.

Question 25

Straight Up:

Answer 25

Chilled first, then served without ice. Example: Customer says, “Give me a Martini Straight Up.” This means chill all the ingredients in a mixing cup, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Question 26

Sweet:

Answer 26

(1) Add 1/2 oz. of simple syrup to a drink. Example: Customer says “Give me a Gin and Tonic Sweet.” This means to add 1/2 oz. simple syrup (or 1/2 teaspoon of sugar) before adding the mix, Tonic in this example, or (2) Add extra 1/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth to a Manhattan.

Question 27

Tall:

Answer 27

Same as Long.

Question 28

Top:

Answer 28

Pour 1/2 oz. of requested ingredient on top of the drink. Example: Drink recipe reads, “Top with Grenadine.” This means that the last ingredient is Grenadine and it is not mixed into the drink.

Question 29

Topless:

Answer 29

A Margarita without the salted rim.

Question 30

Touch:

Answer 30

Same as Splash.

Question 31

Twist:

Answer 31

The peel of a lemon is twisted€ over the drink, and then dropped into it.

Question 32

Unleaded:

Answer 32

See Virgin.

Question 33

Up:

Answer 33

Same as Straight Up.

Question 34

Virgin:

Answer 34

A drink made without alcohol. Example: Customer says, “Give me a Virgin Mary.” This means the customer wants a Bloody Mary without the Vodka.

Question 35

Wet:

Answer 35

Use more of the mix. Example: Customer says, “Give me a wet Scotch and Soda.”€ This means use slightly less Scotch than normal and slightly more soda.

Question 36

With a Little English:

Answer 36

Pour 1/2 oz. of Gin on top of the drink. Example: Customer says, “Give me a Rum and Coke with a little English.” This means prepare the drink as usual, and then top with 1/2 oz. Gin.

Question 37

With a Squeeze:

Answer 37

Same as Squeeze.

Question 38

With a Twist:

Answer 38

Same as Twist.