How to Order Drinks at the Bar Without Embarrassment

For many people, alcohol education happens very quickly during college , and it mostly has to do with cheap beer and whatever else they can get their hands on. Most of us do not have an official understanding of the different types of adult drinks, what they contain and how to order them, and this can lead to some awkward situations when ordering a drink from a bar.

Case in point: I once ordered a martini at a networking event. “How do you want it?” the bartender asked. I had no idea what he meant, but I didn’t want to look dumb. “Uh, shocked?” I answered (because James Bond says so). The bartender grinned. “No, I mean, do you want vodka or gin?” I felt like a fool. Here’s how to order a drink without hesitation.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

The old standby mode applies here: don’t be afraid to ask questions . As an old colleague once said, “You may feel stupid when you ask questions, but you look stupid when you don’t understand because you couldn’t ask a question.” In my situation, the simple “What do you mean? I’ve never ordered a martini before, ”that would be enough. If they are not very busy, most bartenders, like any experts, will be happy to share their experiences. Otherwise, they will probably have a menu and you can just read and point.

That said , if you’re still worried about looking dumb, Thrillist for Yahoo has a list of some of the dumbest questions you shouldn’t be asking a bartender. Find out the answers ahead of time and you don’t have to worry about it. Here are a few from their list:

• Why is my glass not full? If it is wine, it will not be complete. As they put it, “Because the only place you’re going to see a full glass of wine is in the hands of Tyrion Lannister.”
• What’s good about it? “This means that apart from the special rum punch bowls, everything else tastes like a sniffer of mediocrity,” says Thrillist. You might be better off just asking what their most popular drink is or what they recommend. Some bartenders may just cook something that is easier for you, but this is a perfectly fair question.
• What’s cheap? Drinks can be very expensive, so this is a serious problem, but if you don’t want to embarrass yourself, it is better to ask, “Do you have any special suggestions?”

Wine can also be tricky to order, and if price bothers you the most, here’s what Gwendoline Osborne of Wine.com told us:

“Show the menu and say you’re looking for a bottle like this,” and point to the price, not the wine. Dastardly, right? The sommelier must pick up on this signal and recommend wines in this price range. Pay attention to the word “should” “.

However, there is nothing wrong with mentioning a price range .

Learn bar jargon

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, but it doesn’t hurt to learn basic vocabulary in bars either. That way, when your bartender or waiter asks if you want a drink on the rocks, you know that he or she isn’t actually asking if you want to add gravel to the drink.

BarsandBarnding.com has a whole list of common bartending jargon, including:

• On the rocks: with ice. Straight without ice.
• Pure : drink at room temperature without ice. “If someone asks for pure whiskey, he asks for a glass straight from the bottle.”
• Dirty : If you want a lot of olive juice in your martini, ask for a really dirty one. “Adding olive juice to a martini makes it a messy martini. The more olive juice, the dirtier the martini. “
• Drinking well : When you order a good drink, you basically tell the bartender that you don’t prefer which brand of alcohol you want, so just offer you the cheapest option. “A good drink is a drink that does not mention either the brand of liquor or the brand of the blend.”
• Back : A small glass of something (such as water or soft drink) that accompanies the drink.
• Shooter : A one to two ounce shot intended to be consumed in one gulp.

It also doesn’t hurt to do a little research. If you know you’re heading to a bar or restaurant ahead of time, you can check their wine, beer, or cocktail list online so you know what you’re getting into and will be more comfortable when you get there. Vinepair is a fun resource to learn about different types of spirits, Beer Advocate has an entire section on Beer 101 , and Wine Folly has a guide to drinking wine for beginners.

Stick to the basics

However, when you research, there is a lot of information to consider. There are several different beers to choose from, depending on how it is fermented, at what temperature it is brewed, and so on. It’s the same with wine. The types of wines differ depending on the grape variety, region, preparation method, etc.

This is all very interesting, but in this post we’re just trying to help you order a drink. So here are a few highlights to ask about.

• Ciders : Cider is fermented with yeast, like beer, but made from fruits such as wine. They are good if you don’t like the taste of beer or wine, and they are usually quite sweet. Strongbow and Angry Orchard are two popular choices that most bars are likely to stock. Do you like cider but it seems too sweet? You can try snake bite – cider mixed with beer.
• IPA: Indian pale ales tend to have a more “hop” flavor because they are made with more hops. If you are not used to them, they will probably find you quite rich and bitter, and many people say they are an acquired taste. They’ve become popular thanks to the craft beer trend, so wherever you go, chances are they’ve got some decent IPAs you can order. Lagunitas IPA and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale are two popular brands.
• Wheat beer: Wheat beer is easier to drink and usually does not have a strong “beer flavor”. Hefeweizens and witbiers are subtypes of wheat beers and get their names from the slight differences in the way they are brewed. Popular brands include Blue Moon and Allagash White .
• Merlot : This is one of the most popular red wines for a reason: it’s easy to drink. Merlot is often described as “succulent with hints of chocolate and cherry,” Vinepair notes.
• Cabernet Sauvignon: Many wine snobs object to merlot because it is too simple. Instead, they prefer cabernet because it has a more aggressive, aged flavor. If you’re not a wine man, it might be an acquired taste.
• Whiskey and soda or gin and tonic : This is pretty standard. You will get better with whiskey and soda or gin and tonic. Formula: liqueur + carbonated drink. You can substitute almost any alcohol for this. Prefer bourbon? Order a bourbon soda. How’s the vodka? Order a sparkling vodka. If you want a certain brand of alcohol, be sure to tell them, otherwise they will think you need a well. Besides soda, you can also order drinks with mineral water, soda water or tonic. Kitchn explains the differences here.
• Martini : If you’re going to order a martini, be prepared to tell the bartender which gin or vodka you want. Traditionally they are made from gin. They may also ask if you want it to dry. Drying means less vermouth is added, which makes the drink more bitter. Want more vermouth? Ask for it “wet”. They may ask if you want it to shake in a cocktail shaker or just stir. According to Business Insider, stirring results in a smoother drink. This covers the basics, but they have more tips for ordering a martini.

If you order a cocktail with alcohol, they may ask which brand you want. Vinepair has a fascinating interactive table of the world’s most popular liqueurs, broken down into whiskey, vodka, rum, liqueur, tequila and cognac. You can also just ask a bartender or friend for advice, or if in doubt, just say that you are happy with the well, which is usually the cheapest brand.

Of course, no matter what drink you order, the snobs will always quickly tell you that you shouldn’t have ordered it and offer an alternative. You can politely nod and smile, or accept them and try something new – you never know what you might like.

Ask for taste

The easiest way to avoid embarrassing yourself is to admit that you have no idea what you are doing and just ask for a sample. You can’t do it with liquor, but most establishments will offer you a sample of wine or beer.

This can be more difficult if the bar is packed to capacity, but if there is a beer you want to try and your bartender doesn’t seem insanely busy, you can also ask him to try it before you agree. Many restaurants also offer you a wine list. Just tell them, “I don’t know what I like. Can I try X? »Most locations will do.

Another option is to buy a plane ticket (a fancy way of saying a few small samples of a drink with different flavors). Many bars offer everything from craft beers to wines and mimosas . This is a great way to sample several different beverages and find out which one to order in full size.

And remember: there are worse things than alcohol that you should not know about. However, if you’re nervous or embarrassed at the bar, don’t try to be James Bond: keep it simple, and if it comes down to it, just ask.

This story was originally published on 3/2/17 and was updated on 6/21/19 to provide more complete and up-to-date information.