Bar Vocabulary
Tending bar requires special skills, such as learning special recipes, measuring, mixing and serving drinks, and chatting with guests. No matter which country you are working in, you are sure to come across English patrons who want a cold drink. Study the lists and expressions bartenders use. Then read the dialogue and check your understanding.
Glassware
| brandy snifter |  |
| half litre, litre | a glass container for serving house wine |
| highball glass | a tall straight glass |
| martini glass |  |
| mug | a cup or glass with a handle used for hot beverages |
| pint glass | 20 oz glass for draft |
| pitcher, jug | approximately 60 oz container for draft or water |
| rock glass, tumbler | short glass for mixed drinks |
| shot glass | 1 oz glass for shots and shooters |
| sleeve | 12 oz glass for draft |
| wine glass |  |
Classic Cocktails
There are many different ways to prepare classic cocktails. Every bar or restaurant has rules about how much alcohol to put in a cocktail and how to build it. The following recipes do not contain specific amounts. Use them to learn the names of the cocktails, liquors, and mixes.
| Black Russian | vodka, coffee liqueur, on ice (for a white russian-add milk) |
| Bloody Mary | vodka, tomato juice, tobasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, celery salt, slice celery, on ice |
| Cosmopolitan | vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice, lime, on ice |
| Daquiri | light rum, lime juice, sugar, blended with ice (for a strawberry daquiri use strawberry mix or syrup) |
| Long Island Iced Tea | vodka, gin, rum, orange liqueur, lemon juice, cola, on ice |
| Margarita | tequila, lime, salt, blended with ice |
| Martini | gin, dry vermouth, (garnish with olive) |
| Pina Colada | rum, coconut milk, pineapple juice, blended with ice |
| Screwdriver | vodka and orange juice, on ice |
| Tom Collins | gin, lemon juice, sugar, soda water, on ice |
Common Liquor
| Gin | clear alcohol flavoured with juniper berries |
| Liqueur | various sweet alcohols |
| Rum | clear alcohol made from sugar cane, origin Caribbean |
| Vodka | clear alcohol made from grain or potato, origin Russia |
| Whisky (Rye in Canada) | light brown alcohol made from grain, origin Scotland |
| Tequila | golden or clear alcohol, origin Mexico |
Beer and Coolers
| Domestic | beer from country that bar is located in |
| Local | beer brewed nearby |
| Cans | beer served in a tin |
| Bottles | beer served in glass bottle |
| Draft | beer on tap |
| Keg | beer in a large barrel |
| Ciders | alcoholic drink from apples or other fruit |
| Coolers | premixed and bottled alcoholic drinks |
Sample Conversation
Bartender: Hi there. What can I get for you?
Guest: I need something cold.
Bartender: You've come to the right place.
Guest: Do you have any specials on?
Bartender: We have highballs on for half price.
Guest: Sorry, I meant for beer.
Bartender: Our beer special tonight is a pitcher of local draft with a half dozen wings for $12.99.
Guest: I guess I should have brought a friend. I think I'll just have a Heineken for now.
Bartender: Sure, would you like that on tap or in a can?
Guest: Do you have it in a bottle?
Bartender: No, I'm afraid we don't.
Guest: That's okay. I'll take a pint.
Bartender: A pint of Heineken coming up.
Guest: Actually, you better just make it a sleeve.
Bartender: Sure. And should I start you a tab?
Guest: No, I'm driving. How much do I owe you?
Bartender: $5.25.
Guest: Here's 6. Keep the change.
Bartender: Thank you.