Bartending 101: Essential Terms Every Cocktail Lover Should Know
When it comes to cocktails, knowing the right terminology can make all the difference. Whether you’re ordering at a bar, hosting an event, or just looking to impress your friends, understanding the language of bartending gives you a deeper appreciation for the craft. Here’s a breakdown of some essential bartending terms:
Spirits vs. Liquors vs. Liqueurs
Spirits: Distilled alcoholic beverages with no added sugar. Examples include vodka, gin, rum, tequila, whiskey, and brandy.
Liquors: Another term for spirits, often used interchangeably.
Liqueurs: Spirits that have been sweetened and flavored, such as Grand Marnier, Baileys, and Amaretto.
Mezcal vs. Tequila
Tequila: A type of mezcal made specifically from the blue agave plant, primarily in Jalisco, Mexico.
Mezcal: A broader category of agave-based spirits, often with a smoky flavor due to the roasting process.
Neat, On the Rocks, or Up?
Neat: A spirit served straight from the bottle with no ice or mixers.
On the Rocks: Served over ice.
Up: Chilled, shaken or stirred, and served without ice.
Bitters, Infusions & Syrups
Bitters: Highly concentrated extracts made from herbs, spices, and botanicals, used to add complexity to cocktails (e.g., Angostura bitters).
Infusions: Spirits that have been steeped with ingredients like fruit, herbs, or spices to enhance their flavor.
Syrups: Sweetened liquids used in cocktails, such as simple syrup (sugar and water) or flavored syrups like grenadine.
Muddling, Shaking, & Stirring
Muddling: Gently crushing ingredients (like mint, sugar, or fruit) to release their flavors.
Shaking: Mixing ingredients in a shaker with ice to chill and aerate the drink (e.g., Margaritas, Daiquiris).
Stirring: A gentler method of mixing used for spirit-forward drinks like Martinis and Manhattans.
Proof vs. ABV
ABV (Alcohol by Volume): The percentage of alcohol in a beverage.
Proof: Twice the ABV (e.g., a spirit with 40% ABV is 80 proof).
What’s a Collins, Sour, or Smash?
Collins: A tall, refreshing cocktail with a base spirit, citrus juice, sugar, and soda water (e.g., Tom Collins).
Sour: A classic cocktail formula that includes a spirit, citrus juice, and a sweetener (e.g., Whiskey Sour).
Smash: A cocktail that includes fresh herbs and fruit, typically muddled with spirits and ice.
