Glossary of Terms

To help our readers better understand cocktails and bartending , we have created this glossary of common terms used in this website and the alcohol industry.



Absinthe - Anise flavored cordial containing wormwood, now outlawed.

Age - How long a whiskey, rum or brandy has been stored.

Ale - A beer similar to lager, but with more of a bitter taste.

Apéritif - A drink that stimulates the appetite.

Back - A non-alcoholic drink or a small glass of beer served on the side of a shot.

Bar Spoon - Long handled spoon with a twirled stem.

Base Liquor - The main ingredient in a drink.

Bitters - Made from bark herbs, roots and berries, a sweet to dry flavored drink, usually spirit based; considered an aperitif.

Blend - Use a blender to mix cocktail.

Call - A brand name liquor that is step above well.

Chaser - A beverage served on the side of another alcoholic drink.

Cordial - Same as a liquour, sweet drink made from berries, fruit or herbs.

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.

Dash - A smidgen or a couple drops, approximately 1/16 oz.

Dry - No vermouth or a small amount.

Flag - Term used when someone has had enough to drink, also a garnish.

Flamed - Drink is topped with high proof alcohol & lit.

Float - To layer one ingredient on top of another, usually to top a drink.

Frozen - Drink is blended in blender with crushed ice or ice cream.

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

Jigger - Shot glass for -pouring about an ounce and a half.

Layered - Using heaviest liquors first, each liquor is carefully poured on top of the other usually using a back of a spoon.

Liqueur - Same as a cordial, sweet drink made from berries, fruit or herbs.

Long Drink - Term used for mixed drink not served in a cocktail glass.

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

Mist - To pour a drink over crushed ice.

Mixer - The non-alcoholic beverage you mix spirits with.

Muddled - A drink served with mashed fruit like an Old Fashioned.

Muddler - A wooden mallet used to smash fruit.

Neat - Room temperature drink with no ice.

Nip - Measurement for a little more than a jigger.

On the Rocks - Cocktail served in a glass over ice.

Pony - One ounce.

Perfect - Sweet and dry vermouth added to drink & served with a twist.

Proof - The alcohol content of spirits.

Shake - Add ice, then ingredients & shake in cocktail shaker.

Short - A cocktail prepared with just a little mixer in a short glass.

Simple Syrup - Heavy sugar water.

Spirits - Rum, whisky, brandy, gin, and other distilled liquors having much alcohol, in distinction from wine and malt liquors.

Splash - A small amount of mixer.

Straight Up - Drink is mixed with ice & then strained into glass.

Strainer - Wire gadget with a spring around it that fits over the top of your mixing container so you can strain ice or pulp when pouring into a serving glass.

Stir - Ingredients are poured over ice & long spoon is used to stir.

Top - Ingredient is put on top of drink.

Top Shelf - The best spirits in the house.

Twist - Lemon peel used to flavor rim of glass, then dropped in drink.

Up - A drink served with no ice, either neat or chilled.

Well - Bar stock liquors.