100 Phrases Every Bartender Should Know

No.	Term	Definition
1.	86’d	Out of stock; remove from service.
2.	Aged spirit	Spirit matured in barrels over time.
3.	All day	Total quantity needed for all orders.
4.	Angel’s share	Barrel loss from evaporation.
5.	Aperitif	Pre-meal drink to stimulate appetite.
6.	Backbar	Shelves behind bar for bottles.
7.	Backs	Non-alcohol chasers served alongside.
8.	Bar spoon	Long spoon for stirring cocktails.
9.	Barback	Assistant who stocks and supports bartenders.
10.	Batch cocktail	Pre-mixed cocktail for quick service.
11.	Beer flight	Sampler set of small beers.
12.	Behind	Passing behind someone; watch out.
13.	Bitters	Concentrated flavoring used in drops.
14.	Blind taste	Tasting without knowing the brand.
15.	Build	Make drink in serving glass.
16.	Call brand	Specified brand requested by guest.
17.	Call drink	Drink ordered with a specific brand.
18.	Chaser	Non-alcohol drink after a shot.
19.	Chill the glass	Cool glassware before serving.
20.	Citrus twist	Peel strip expressed over drink.
21.	Clap ice	Break ice by slapping bag.
22.	Clean as you go	Maintain cleanliness during service.
23.	Cobbler shaker	Three-piece shaker with strainer.
24.	Cocktail napkin	Small napkin served with drinks.
25.	Comp	Provide item free of charge.
26.	Coupe	Stemmed, shallow cocktail glass.
27.	Cover	One guest served; headcount unit.
28.	Cut off	Stop serving alcohol to a guest.
29.	Dash	Small measure; roughly a few drops.
30.	Dead	Flat; no carbonation left.
31.	Dead pour	Pour discarded due to mistake.
32.	Dehydrate garnish	Dry fruit for shelf-stable garnish.
33.	Dirty	With olive brine; also less clean.
34.	Double	Two standard pours in one drink.
35.	Double strain	Strain through two filters.
36.	Draft	Beer served from a tap.
37.	Dry shake	Shake without ice to froth.
38.	Dump	Empty contents; discard liquid.
39.	Egg white	Foaming agent for texture.
40.	Express oils	Squeeze peel oils over drink.
41.	Fernet	Bitter herbal amaro, mentholated.
42.	Fill to line	Pour until marked fill level.
43.	Fine strain	Strain through mesh for clarity.
44.	Finger space	Leave room at top of glass.
45.	Fire order	Make order immediately; priority.
46.	Float	Layer liquid on top of drink.
47.	Free pour	Pour without jigger, by count.
48.	Fresh lime juice	Juice squeezed same day.
49.	Garnish	Edible decoration adding aroma or flavor.
50.	Glassware	Types of serving glasses used.
51.	Good to go	Ready for pickup or service.
52.	Grand Marnier	Orange liqueur with cognac base.
53.	Hawthorne strainer	Spring strainer for shaker tins.
54.	Head	Foam on top of beer.
55.	Highball	Spirit plus mixer over ice.
56.	House pour	Default well liquor for drinks.
57.	Ice well	Ice bin used during service.
58.	In the weeds	Overwhelmed; behind on orders.
59.	Infuse	Flavor spirit by steeping ingredients.
60.	Jigger	Measuring tool for accurate pours.
61.	Keg	Pressurized container for draft beverages.
62.	Kill it	Finish it now; complete immediately.
63.	Lemon twist	Lemon peel expressed over drink.
64.	Line check	Taste taps to ensure quality.
65.	Long pour	Overpoured; more than standard measure.
66.	Lowball	Short drink in rocks glass.
67.	Macerate	Soak fruit to extract flavors.
68.	Made to order	Prepared fresh upon request.
69.	Muddle	Press ingredients to release flavors.
70.	Neat	Spirit served without ice or mixer.
71.	No ice	Serve without ice in glass.
72.	Nose	Aroma perceived before tasting.
73.	On the fly	Rushed; needed immediately.
74.	On the rocks	Served over ice cubes.
75.	Open tab	Start a running bill.
76.	Overproof	Higher-than-standard alcohol strength.
77.	Par level	Target inventory level to maintain.
78.	Pick up	Collect drinks to deliver to guests.
79.	Pint	Common beer glass size.
80.	Point	Bartender’s attention cue; signal.
81.	Pour cost	Beverage cost percentage per sale.
82.	Proof	Alcohol strength measurement.
83.	Pull a shot	Dispense measured spirit or espresso.
84.	Push	Promote a specific product.
85.	Quick rinse	Rinse glass fast between uses.
86.	Rail	Front well area holding spirits.
87.	Rocks glass	Short tumbler for spirits on ice.
88.	Round	One set of drinks for a group.
89.	Run it	Deliver to table; send out.
90.	Salt rim	Salted glass rim for cocktails.
91.	Sangria	Wine punch with fruit and spice.
92.	Service well	Station for ticketed drink orders.
93.	Shake	Mix with ice by shaking.
94.	Shot	Small measure of straight spirit.
95.	Simple syrup	Sugar dissolved in water.
96.	Single	One standard pour of spirit.
97.	Sour mix	Sweet-sour mixer, often bottled.
98.	Speed pourer	Spout for fast, controlled pours.
99.	Splash	Small addition of mixer or soda.
100.	Split	Use two spirits in one drink.