Bar Terms

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. (ie. Tanqueray and Tonic, Bacardi and Coke)


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 akin to a sour which is served in a tall glass with soda water or seltzer water.

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.



Eggnog
A traditional holiday drink containing a combination of eggs beaten with cream or milk, sugar, and a liquor such as brandy, rum, or bourbon.

Fix
A sour-type drink similar to the daisy, made with crushed ice in a large goblet.

Fizz
An effervescent beverage. (ie. that which is carbonated or which emits small bubbles.)


Frappé
A partially frozen, often fruity drink. It is usually a mixture of ingredients served over a mound of crushed ice.

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 (often a highball glass).

Julep
A drink made of bourbon, mint, sugar and crushed ice.

Lowball
A short drink made of spirits served with ice, water or soda in a small glass.

Mist
A liquor served over a glass filled with crushed ice, often a way of serving liqueur as an after dinner drink.

Mulls
A sweetened and spiced heated liquor, wine or beer, served as a hot punch.

Neat
The consumption of a spirit as a straight, unaccompanied shot.


Nip
A quarter of a bottle.

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.



Punch
A party-size beverage consisting of fruit, fruit juices, flavorings and sweeteners, soft drinks, and a wine or liquor base.


Shooter
A straight shot of whiskey or other kind of spirit taken neat.

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.


Swizzle
A tall, traditionally rum-based cocktail filled with cracked ice. A stirring rod or swizzle stick is quickly rotated between the palm of the hands to form frost on the glass.

Syllabub
A beverage made from a mixture of sweetened milk/cream, wine and spices.

Toddy
A sweetened drink of liquor and hot water, often with spices and served in a tall glass.

Tot
A small amount of liquor.

Virgin
A non-alcoholic drink.

Well Drink
A liquor and mixer, of which neither are defined brands. (ie. Gin and Tonic, Rum and Coke)