If you are not familiar with the process of ordering drinks at the bar, then you can feel intimidated. Luckily, you can order drinks like a seasoned person with a little practice. First, choose what drink you want to order. Then, order a drink from the bar concierge or bartender. Use terms commonly used at bars when ordering drinks. If you're not familiar with alcoholic beverages, learn the different types of bars and their terms as this will help.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Talking to the Bar Concierge
Step 1. Choose your drink
While you're selecting your drink, don't stand near the bar to indicate that you're not ready to order a drink. If the bar isn't very full, try talking to the bar concierge. Maybe he can recommend a drink for you. If the bar is full and you don't know what to order:
- Look at the bar menu and look for cocktail or wine options.
- Order simple drinks like rum and Coca Cola.
- Look for beer taps on the bar wall and choose the one that catches your eye.
Step 2. Wait for the bar concierge to see you
When you are ready to order a drink, stand by the bar and place your hands on the counter. This attitude indicates that you are ready to order a drink. The bar attendants will come up to you and ask for your order when they are ready to serve.
Never whistle, snap, shout, or wave bills at the bar attendant
Step 3. Order a drink
Speak loudly and clearly, especially when the bar is full. If you order several drinks, order them all at the same time. The concierge will ask you if they need clarification on the order. If you're ordering a mixed drink, state the type of liquor or brand first, then state what kind of mix you'd like. Example:
- "I'd like some rum and a coke."
- “Two Bacardi and a soda”
- “I'd like 1 margarita with ice cubes and 2 pints of Guinness. Thank you!"
- "Could I have a glass of Chardonnay made by the bar?"
Step 4. Pay for drinks
When the bar attendants deliver the drinks, they will tell you the total price. Make sure you have a credit card or cash on hand. Otherwise, you will be wasting a lot of time looking for means of payment in your pocket or wallet.
- If you still want to order drinks, use a credit card to open tab. Open tab means you'll let the bar attendant hold your credit card for as long as you want to order drinks. The concierge will write down the drinks you ordered and put them all on your credit card bill when you're done.
- You can't open tab if you pay with cash.
Step 5. Tip the bar concierge if necessary
Depending on where you live, we will be expected to tip the bar concierge. You can give it in cash in a tip bowl or put it on your credit card bill.
- In the United States, you must tip 10%-20% of the total bill.
- In the UK, tipping at bars is not common, but tipping is common in restaurants.
- In France, the service fee is included in the bill.
- In Australia, tipping bar attendants is not uncommon.
- In Brazil, people are not expected to tip, but customers are rewarded for tipping. Consider tipping 10% of the total bill.
Part 2 of 3: Recognizing Different Types of Bars
Step 1. Recognize if you are in a restaurant bar
This kind of restaurant has a bar in it too. The bars here are usually small and consist of only one counter and a few tables. Bar attendants make drinks for restaurant and bar customers. You can order drinks that match the restaurant's theme too if you want. Example:
- "Tex-Mex" and Mexican restaurants usually serve margaritas as their signature drink.
- The seafood restaurant that calls its bar area Tiki usually serves tropical cocktails.
- Upscale bar restaurants usually serve expensive wines and cocktails.
Step 2. Get to know the beer bar
This type of bar specializes in serving beer and usually doesn't have any better liquor or wine. This bar usually has at least 12 beer taps along its walls. Bars like this can also be called taverns, breweries, and traditional beer bars. Ask the bar concierge if he can recommend something for you if you don't know what beer you'd like. Apart from that, you can also ask for beer samples.
- Lager is the most common type of beer and is usually golden in color.
- Wheat beer is lighter in color with a fresh, dry yeast flavor.
- The ale is light brown to black in color. This type of beer has a rich yet delicate taste.
- The IPA (Indian Ale beer) is golden in color with fruity and floral flavours.
- The porter is dark, bubbly and has a roasted malt taste.
Step 3. Get to know the wine bar
Bars of this type usually have a comprehensive wine list and may not have beer or other spirits. These bars usually serve light meals that can be enjoyed with wine. If you don't know much about wine, ask the bar concierge for a recommendation.
- Riesling is a slightly sweet white wine with a hint of floral, crunchy apple and a hint of pear.
- Sauvignon Blanc is a mid-bodied white wine with a hint of citrus flavour.
- Chardonnay is a thicker type of wine with an apple flavor, a hint of citrus, and sometimes with a touch of cream/butter flavour.
- Pinot Noir is a red wine with a complex fruity taste and often a little earthy
- Merlot is a red wine with a hint of fruit jam and spice.
- Cabernet Sauvignon is a type of red wine that is thicker, tannic (a characteristic present in young grapes that makes the wine taste less sweet), with a touch of fruity flavor.
Step 4. Learn to recognize cocktail bars
This bar called the Mixology bar prides itself on its homemade cocktails. These types of bars have a trendy atmosphere and extensive cocktail menus. Order something from the menu, as cocktail bars usually create unique drinks made just for them. If anyone dares to try, ask for a recommendation from the bar concierge.
- Martinis are a classic choice. This type of drink has a strong flavor and can be ordered with or without olives, poured over ice, or stirred.
- Jack Rose is a soft, pink drink made from sweet apple brandy.
- Order the Bourbon Sweet Tea if you want a refreshing and intoxicating drink.
- Order a chocolate martini if you want a sweet drink.
Part 3 of 3: Understanding Bar Terms
Step 1. Order a pint of beer
A pint is a unit of measurement whose contents are approximately equal to 473 ml for every 1 pint. Pint glasses come in various shapes and are used for specific types of beer.
- Goblets are usually used to serve dark ale.
- Glass mockups can be used to serve American ale and porters.
- Standard pint cups have straight sides and can be used to serve any type of beer.
- Snifter is used to serve Scottish ale and Belgian ale.
Step 2. Order a well drink
Well drink is a mixed drink made from low-priced liquor which is also known as house liquor. The type of liquor used can be of any kind that is cheap, or the brand that is commonly used to make cheap mixed drinks. If you don't make it clear what liquor you want to drink, you will usually be served well liquor. Most bars will stock the following well liquor:
- Rum
- Vodka
- Gin
- Tequila
- Whiskey
Step 3. Understand the drink mix
When you order a mixed drink, state the name of the liquor you want before mentioning the mix. Mixed drinks are a type of non-alcoholic beverage that can dilute and improve the taste of low- and medium-quality alcohol. However, mixing a mixture like this into expensive premium alcohol is useless and will spoil the taste. Stardar mixed drinks include:
- Fizzy drinks or sparkling water.
- Coca cola or Pepsi
- Cranberry juice commonly called cran
- Tonic or tonic water
- A light-colored fizzy drink such as Sprite, ginger ale, or ginger beer.
Step 4. Order a tall or short mixed drink
The terms tall and short refer to the size of the drink and the amount of mixture that is in it. However, both measures have the same amount of alcohol. If you don't say what size you want then you will usually get a short drink. When ordering, specify what size you want, then state the type of alcohol. Example:
- “I would like to order a tall sized rum and Coca Cola”
- “Can I have a short gin and tonic, please?”
- “I want a tall sized cranberry and vodka”
Step 5. Be specific if you want single or double
In fact, most drinks are served with a single dose, meaning that each drink will only have 1 serving of alcohol mixed in. However, if you order a double dose, you will get two servings of alcohol in your drink. In addition, you can mention the size of the drink before or after you say the name of the drink. Example:
- “Give me a cranberry and double vodka”
- “Can I have a double tequila soda, please?”
- “I want a double gin and tonic”
Step 6. Order an alcoholic drink with or without ice
One glass of liquor can be ordered with ice (on the rocks) or without ice (neat). This drink is usually ordered without any mix. But the margarita is an exception, because this drink can be served frozen or with ice. Be specific about how you want your drink to be served before describing anything else. Example:
- “Can I have a double whiskey without ice?”
- “I'd like to order a margarita with ice”
- “Can I order 2 Glenlivets without ice?”
