Case in point: I once ordered a martini at a networking event.
How do you want it?
I had no idea what he meant but I didnt want to look dumb.
I replied (because thats what James Bond says).
No, I mean, do you want Vodka or Gin?
I felt like a damn fool.
Heres how to order booze without embarrassing yourself.
In my situation, a simple What do you mean?
Ive never ordered a martini before wouldve sufficed.
Unless theyre incredibly busy, most bartenders, like any experts, will be happy to share their expertise.
Otherwise, theyll probably have a menu and you’ve got the option to just read and point.
Learn the answers in advance, and you wont have to worry about it.
You might be better off just asking what their most popular drink is or what theyd recommend.
Some bartenders might just make you whatever is easiest, but its a fair enough question.
The sommelier should pick up on that signal and recommend wines in that price range.
Note the word should.
That said, theres nothing wrong withmentioning a price range, either.
BarsandBartending.com has a whole listof common bartending lingo, including:
On the rocks:With ice.
Straight up is without ice.
Neat: A drink served at room temperature without ice.
If someone asks for a whiskey neat, they are asking for a shot straight out of the bottle.
Adding olive juice to a martini makes it a Dirty Martini.
The more olive juice, the dirtier the martini.
Back: A small glass of something (like water or a soft drink) that accompanies a beverage.
Shooter: A one-to-two ounce shot meant to be consumed in one gulp.
It doesnt hurt to do a little research, either.
Stick to the basics
Theres a lot of information to take in when you research, though.
Wine types vary depending on the grape, region, method, and so on.
So here are a few basics to ask for.
Ciders: Ciders are fermented with yeast like beer but made with fruit like wine.
Like cider but find it a little too sweet?
You may want to try asnakebite, which is cider mixed with beer.
IPAs:India pale ales typically have a more hoppy taste because theyre made with more hops.
Wheat beer:Wheat beers are easier to drink and typically dont have a strong beer taste.
Popular brands includeBlue MoonandAllagash White.
Merlot: Its one of the most popular red wines for a reason: its easy to drink.
As Vinepair points out, merlots are often described as juicy with flavors of chocolate and cherry.
Cabernet sauvignon:A lot of wine snobsbalk at merlotbecause its too basic.
They prefer cabernet instead because it has a more aggressive, aged flavor.
If youre not a wine person, it might be an acquired taste.
Whiskey soda or gin and tonic: This is pretty standard.
Youll get well whiskey with club soda or gin with tonic water.
The formula is basically liquor + fizzy drink.
you might swap this out with pretty much any alcohol.
Order a bourbon soda.
Order a vodka soda.
Beyond club soda, you could also order your booze with seltzer, carbonated water, or tonic water.
The Kitchnexplains the differences here.
Traditionally, theyre made with gin.
They might also ask you if you want it dry.
Dry just means they add less vermouth, which makes the drink a little more bitter.
Ask for it wet.
They might ask if you want it shaken in a cocktail shaker or just stirred.
According to Business Insider, stirred usually results in a smoother drink.
That covers the basics, butthey have more martini-ordering tips here.
Many restaurants will let you taste something from the wine list, too.
Just tell them, I dont know what I like.
May I try the X?
Most places will accommodate.
A lot of bars are doing flights of everything fromcraft beers, towinestomimosas.
And remember: there are worse things than alcohol to be ignorant about.
This story was originally published on 3/2/17 and was updated on 6/21/19 to provide more thorough and current information.
