Ever wonder what terms like “neat” or “dirty” mean when used to order drinks?   Here’s a list of common bartenders terms to increase your knowledge and impress your friends the next time you order a drink.

Back – a ‘back’ is a small glass of something (like water or cola) which accompanies a drink.

Bitters – a herbal alcoholic blend which is meant to be added to other cocktails to enhance the flavor.  Angostura Bitters is one of the most popular brands.

Build- Building a drink is when you mix a drink in the glass it will be served in.

Call Drink – Refers to when the customer orders a drink by giving both the specific name of the liquor and the name of the mixer. (Ex. Jack & Coke)

Chaser – In bar terms, anything that is consumed quickly after a shooter or straight shot of alcohol. Meant to ease the strength of the original shooter and/or mask its taste.

Dash – A few drops or a very small amount of an ingredient.

Dirty- This refers to the adding of olive juice to a martini. This makes it a “dirty” martini.

Double- This refers to doubling the amount of alcohol within a drink.  This results in a much stiffer drink.

Dry – Very little vermouth added to a martini. Extra dry martini is a drop of scotch swirled around the martini glass and then poured out before adding the gin.

Garnish – A garnish is something added to a drink after the ingredients to enhance the presentation.

Highball – Any liquor mixed with soda, served in a tall glass (often called a highball).

Jigger– A jigger is an hour-glass shaped steel measuring device – where one side measures 1 oz and the other measures 1½ ounces

Mixer – Mixers are the non-alcoholic ‘ingredients that accompany alcohol in drinks.

Muddle-to crush up herbs or fruits with a special tool called a muddler. The process extracts essential oils and flavors. (ex. Mint, Basil, Strawberries)

Neat – Means without ice.

On the Rocks-A drink with ice.

Pony – A pony or pony shot is equal to 1 ounce.

Rim – To rim a glass, first wet the rim with a lime, then gently press the rim of the glass into a saucer of salt or sugar.

Rocks/ on the rocks- A drink served “on the rocks” is served over ice, rocks being the ice.

Shooter – a shooter or shot is a 1-2 ounce serving of either straight liquor hat is meant to be drank (or shot) in one gulp.

Shot- A shot is a measure of liquor equaling 1.5 ounces.  Most shot glasses hold 1.5oz unless it’s a double shot; in which case it will be taller.

Straight up – Refers to a drink, like a martini, which is shaken in a shaker and strained into a glass. In some areas, straight up is used interchangeably with ‘neat’.

Tall- Tall is just the opposite of double. This refers to adding double the amount of mixer but the same amount of alcohol. This make for a larger drink which in turn slows the consumption of alcohol.

Twist – The rind of a lemon which is peeled using a special peeler called a zester or lemon zester. The resulting lemon twist is thin and long.

Up- This refers to a drink that is served without any ice. This does not mean however that it has not been shaken over ice.

Virgin – refers to a non-alcoholic drink.