Our Home 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. (ie. 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 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.

Crusta

A sour-type drink served in a glass that is completely lined with an orange or lemon peel cut in a continuous strip.

Fizz

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

Flipp

A chilled, creamy drink made of eggs, sugar, and a wine or spirit. Brandy and sherry flips are two of the better known kinds.

Highball

Any spirit served with ice and soda water in a medium to tall glass (often a highball glass).

Lowball

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

Neat

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

Nip

A quarter of a bottle.

On The Rocks

A wine or liquor poured over ice cubes.

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.

Shooter

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

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.