Question about ordering drinks at a bar..?

Question

I'm a rookie, when i go to a bar, would it be normal to tell the bartender how I want my drink mixed? I've heard of so many different types of drinks and how they're mixed and i assume that not all the names of the drinks are in the menu

Answer 1

You may try asking the bartender few question about the mixed drinks.. and which type/kind will they normally recommend.. happy hours! enjoy

Answer 2

if you really must have the drink a certain way then ask for it that way. otherwise just ask for a drink, it's a bar, they know what they're doing. hopefully.

Answer 3

Do you have a particular drink in mind that we can help you with? I wouldn't worry too much just say the ingredients if it is a hard liquor and a juice/soda and the name if it is a speciality drink. For instance if you want a cosmopolitan you would say that and not "vodka, triple sec, cranberry, lime strained into a martini glass." That would be very wordy! But if you want a cranberry and vodka no need to call it the proper name (Cape Codder) people will understand!

Answer 4

a bartender should be expertesed in drink making. You can tell her the name of a drink that you prefer, or if you dont know the name, let her know what the stuff is that goes in the drink.

When I go to a bar, I tend to tell the bartender who makes a drink for me, to use half the liquor and more juice, since I'm a lightweight, and I dont like to just taste liquor when I'm drinking.

Answer 5

Bartenders usually know what they are doing.  It seems what is most irritating is when people step up to the bar and don't know what they want.

Answer 6

Depends on what drink you are having. A lot of them are just made however the bartender wants to make them and might take insult to your telling them how to do their job. But on drinks like Martini's where they can be dirty or clean, or Margaritas can be frozen or not, then its okay to tell them how you want it.

When I am at a bar I never tell them how to make the drinks.

Answer 7

While there are different names and ways to mix the same drink, some basics always apply. U should let them know if you want it up or on the rox, shaken or stirred, blended or on the rox, or if you like a drink in a goofy way that most peole don't-but these apply to "fancy" drinks. Booze with a mixer needs no directions

Answer 8

Most bartenders know how to make lots of drinks even ones not on the menu.  If the bar has a full bar (that is, if there's tons of liquor bottles on the back wall) then they should know lots of drinks.  E.g, you can ask for a manhattan or a long island and they'll make you one.  You might want to ask for it to be made a specific way, or with a specific label (I always order my gin and tonic with Bombay Sapphire).  There are a shitload of drinks, though, and some rarer drinks might not be known by a bartender.  If so, he/she might ask you how to make it.  

So in short I would just ask for the drink by name.  If the bartender doesn't know how to make it he'll tell you.  Enjoy drinking!

Answer 9

If you don't know the name of a particular drink tell the bartender what's in in and he will give you the name.  It's perfectly normal to tell a bartender how you want a drink mixed, even if it has a name.  That would also include the ingredients used to make the drink.  For instance if you order a drink that has whiskey as the main ingredient and don't specify the make of whiskey you will normally get their standard bar liquor, which may not satisfy your palate.  but if you call your shot (say, Jack Daniels Black Label) you can have whatever you want, normally at additional cost.  You are correct in saying not all drinks are in the menu and it is also correct to say that not all concoctions with the same name are exactly the same everywhere.  That's why a lot of people not only have a favorite drink but a favorite bar to get it.