Glossary
Bartender Terms & Vocabulary
15 essential bartender terms with plain-English definitions: the vocabulary you’ll hear in training and on day one.
Key bartender vocabulary
These 15 terms come up constantly in bartender training, on the job and in interviews. Knowing them helps you follow instructions, document accurately and sound prepared.
- Barback
- A bartender’s assistant.
- Call drink
- A drink made with a requested brand.
- Cut off
- Stopping service to an intoxicated guest.
- Dram shop law
- Liability for serving intoxicated people.
- Garnish
- Decoration such as citrus or herbs.
- Jigger
- A measuring tool for spirits.
- Last call
- The final chance to order.
- Muddle
- Crush ingredients to release flavor.
- Neat
- Spirit served without ice.
- On the rocks
- Served over ice.
- Pour cost
- Cost of liquor relative to sales.
- Shake vs. stir
- Methods of mixing cocktails.
- Speed rail
- A rack holding commonly used bottles.
- Tab
- A running bill.
- Well drink
- A drink made with house liquor.
Practice these terms
Test yourself with the free Bartender practice test: it includes vocabulary questions built from this list. For a complete course, see Bartender training.
Browse terms from every career in our career glossary.