From the armed forces to the art world, almost every trade throws around its own lingo. Whether a technical term or a common phrase, these exotic ways of communication baffle and bemuse any inexperienced ear they fall on.
Ever wondered what trucker talk like “bear in the air” translates into? Or what a builder’s up to while he’s “making good”? Don’t worry, so has everyone else not in on their argot (that’s ‘secret language’ to most.)
The habit even extends to the world of alcohol; the boozy realm of cocktails can leave your head spinning in more than one way. So, with that in mind, here is a few basic bar terms to learn so you can order a slice and ice with ease.
Apéritif/Digestif
These words indicate at which point in the evening a drink should be consumed. An apéritif is designed to be had prior to eating a meal to stimulate hunger. As a result, these are usually dry rather than sweet, think gin or vermouth.
Perhaps slightly more obvious, a digestif should be ordered after eating to help with digestion. Typically these are sweeter drinks such as brandy or port.
On The Rocks
One of the most common terms, this signals to the bartender that you want your drink, usually a liquor, served in a lowball glass over cubes of ice.
Whether you enjoy your drink on the rocks or neat (read on) is a matter of personal preference, but some distilleries make their own suggestions so don’t be afraid to ask the bartender for advice.
With A Twist
Many think added fruit in drinks is purely for decoration, but this touch can also serve an important purpose in adding flavour. Citrus peeled using a special tool known as a canelle cutter and placed in the drink or hung on the side is referred to as ‘with a twist’.
Straight Up
Somewhere between on the rocks and neat, a drink served straight up – along the lines of a margarita – is shaken or stirred with ice to chill it and then the ice strained out. The idea behind this is that once cooled and in the glass, the ice doesn’t melt, diluting the drink or the flavour.
Muddled
If you see a bartender reaching for a pestle-looking tool then he’s getting ready to muddle. This is used to make drinks that require mashed fruit or herbs like mojitos and caipiroskas.
The aim is to extract juice from fruit or release essential oils from herbs.
Neat
No ice, no water, no mixer, that’s what you’ll get if you order neat. Many believe certain types of brandy or scotch are best served at room temperature and therefore are often asked for neat. Anything served this way is meant to be sipped, not shot like in the movies.
Dirty
To drink dirty doesn’t mean the dishwasher is on the blink. Most common when ordering a martini, juice from the bar olives is added, clouding the colour and giving the drink a salty, briny taste.
Virgin
Designated driver? Best ask for your drink virgin (mainly because it sounds more adult than a ‘mocktail’). This is a non-alcoholic drink and most common cocktails can be made minus the spirits, such as a bramble. Just never order a virgin Cuba Libre.
