Ever want to order the perfect drink at a bar and not sure the right words to do so? Learning the basic terminology for all things cocktails and bars can help you get the order right. Perhaps you are an inspiring mixologist applying for a job as a bartender, or maybe you just want to impress your friends while hosting a party. No matter the reason, now is a great time to learn cocktail vocabulary so you can better enjoy handcrafted cocktails in Alpharetta, GA.

Mixologist: This is someone, maybe a bartender, who is talented at making elaborate drinks, like cocktails and martinis.

Mixer: A mixer is a non-alcoholic beverage mixed with alcohol. One example is Jack and Coke.

Muddle: This refers to mashing some of the ingredients at the bottom of the glass, for instance in a Mojito.

Neat: When you don’t want ice in your drink you order it “neat”.

On Rocks: When you do want ice, you order your drink “on the rocks”.

Shaken: This is when a drink is shaken in a large mixer to blend the ingredients.

Stirred: This is when you mix the ingredients by stirring the drink with a spoon.

Chaser: Also called a back, a chaser is a beer or non-alcoholic drink served along with an alcoholic one.

Dry: A martini that is dry has little or no vermouth in it.

Dirty: A dirty martini has a small amount of olive juice added.

Wet: Ordering a wet martini means adding a good amount of vermouth to the drink.

Dash: Also called a splash, a splash is a small amount of an ingredient added to the cocktail.

Garnish: A garnish is anything that is added to a drink that boosts the drink’s look or flavor, including a slice of fruit or an olive.

Jigger: A jigger is a tool used by bartenders to measure out shots of drinks. Usually a jigger looks like an hourglass with different sized openings on each side.

Perfect: A perfect martini means equal parts dry and sweet vermouth.

Rail: Ordering rail liquor in your drink means using the cheapest liquor at the bar.

Twist: A drink with a twist means adding a bit of citrus to the beverage.

After adding these common drink terms into your vocabulary, you will be ready to order your ideal handcrafted cocktails in Alpharetta, GA. For the best drinks, order great cocktails and martinis at a local tavern.