Bartending 101: Glassware and Cocktail Techniques

Bartending Terminology

Glassware

• Highball glass: tall, slender glass for mixed drinks with a lot of mixer (e.g., gin and tonic)
• Old Fashioned glass: short, stout glass for whiskey-based cocktails
• Martini glass: conical glass for martinis and other "up" drinks
• Rocks glass: short, thick glass for serving spirits over ice
• Shot glass: small glass for serving a single shot of liquor

Cocktail Techniques

• Muddle: to mash or crush ingredients (e.g., mint leaves, fruit) in a shaker or mixing glass to release flavors and oils
• Shake: to combine ingredients in a shaker with ice to chill, dilute, and mix
• Stir: to combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice to chill and mix
• Strain: to pour a drink into a glass, leaving out ice and solids
• Garnish: to add a decorative element (e.g., fruit, herb, cherry) to a drink

Bartending Tools

• Jigger: a measuring tool for pouring accurate amounts of liquor
• Muddler: a tool for muddling ingredients
• Shaker: a container for shaking cocktails
• Bar spoon: a long, slender spoon for mixing and stirring

Common Bartending Terms

• Call drink: a drink made with a specific brand of liquor (e.g., "Gin and tonic, with Bombay Sapphire")
• Neat: a spirit served without ice or mixer
• On the rocks: a spirit served over ice
• Up: a cocktail served in a martini glass, chilled and strained
• Well drink: a drink made with the bar's well liquor (e.g., a "rum and coke" made with the bar's well rum)

Bartending Terminology

Glassware

• Highball glass is used for mixed drinks with a lot of mixer, such as gin and tonic, and is characterized as tall and slender.
• Old Fashioned glass is designed for whiskey-based cocktails and is short and stout.
• Martini glass is conical in shape and used for martinis and other "up" drinks.
• Rocks glass is short and thick, used for serving spirits over ice.
• Shot glass is small and used for serving a single shot of liquor.

Cocktail Techniques

• Muddling involves mashing or crushing ingredients, such as mint leaves or fruit, to release flavors and oils.
• Shaking combines ingredients with ice in a shaker to chill, dilute, and mix.
• Stirring involves combining ingredients with ice in a mixing glass to chill and mix.
• Straining involves pouring a drink into a glass, leaving out ice and solids.
• Garnishing adds a decorative element, such as fruit, herb, or cherry, to a drink.

Bartending Tools

• Jigger is a measuring tool used for pouring accurate amounts of liquor.
• Muddler is a tool specifically designed for muddling ingredients.
• Shaker is a container used for shaking cocktails.
• Bar spoon is a long, slender spoon used for mixing and stirring.

Common Bartending Terms

• Call drink refers to a drink made with a specific brand of liquor.
• Neat means a spirit is served without ice or mixer.
• On the rocks means a spirit is served over ice.
• Up refers to a cocktail served in a martini glass, chilled and strained.
• Well drink refers to a drink made with the bar's well liquor.

Test your knowledge of bartending terminology, including types of glassware and cocktail preparation techniques. Learn about highball glasses, old fashioned glasses, and more!