Tips for Ordering Drinks

In making the rounds of the local bar scene, I was, what you could consider a "Late Bloomer." At the age of twenty-three, all I knew about drinking, I'd learned from my roommates' passing 'round a bottle. I found that I hated gin. Tequila came right back up. Jagermeister was best served icy cold, and all whiskeys, from Evan Williams to Knob Creek tasted the same after you've had four or five swigs.

However, what I didn't know about drinking could have filled a book! While I knew what kinds of liquors I liked, I didn't know how to walk into a bar and order them. I had no knowledge of bartending terminology, so I couldn't so much as order a shot. And you could forget about mixed drinks!

The first time I went into a bar, I thought I'd play it safe by just ordering a beer. I'd keep my ears open and see what I could pick up. That was easier said than done. Just attracting the barkeep's attention is an art in itself, one that would take many months for me to acquire. When I finally did manage to order, my ineptitude was very apparent.

To keep others from embarrassing themselves the same way I did, I have comprised a few helpful tips to make the bar life transition more bearable.

Here are a few key terms to remember:

Neat-the drink is poured into a glass with no ice or mixes.

On the rocks-the drink is prepared "up" and then poured over ice.

Over-the drink is served over ice. It isn't usually mixed before pouring.

Up-a drink served up is first mixed with ice. It is then strained and served cold without ice.

Mixed drinks are a little bit trickier. It's helpful to know what types of liquor you like. An easy liquor to start out with is vodka. Vodka is virtually flavorless, so it mixes well with almost anything. My favorite is vodka, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice. Be careful, though, it is very easy to get drunk on these fruity drinks. Not only does a delicious fruity drink go down easier (making it possible to consume too many), but the sugar also causes a reaction that makes the alcohol effect stronger.

If you don't have any idea what you like, try asking the bartender for a suggestion. While starting out, avoid drinks with really funny names, or you should at least ask what comes in it. For example: a Grateful Dead contains seven different liquors and will cost about eight dollars. Too many of those, and you might empty your stomach right along with your wallet.

Going out doesn't have to be painful. In fact, it can be quite entertaining (just watch out for the drunk guy in the corner). Hopefully these tips will help you to acclimate.