Who knew booze could have so many technical terms one day, right? With all the rage around cocktails and hand-crafted drinks recently, we don’t want our favorite person to feel left out. Consider this list of mixology terms to be your introductory mixology dictionary whether you’re looking to impress someone or sincerely learn!
20 Mixology Terms Every Alcohol Enthusiast Should Know
1. Dash
The most common and widely used term in mixology is Dash. Even then, many are left wondering what it means, be it in a recipe or at a bar. You can take it the same way the term ‘pinch’ is used in cooking. Whether it’s a dash of absinthe, bitters, or maraschino, they’re meant to amplify the flavor of the drink.
2. Straight Up
Straight up, like English grammar has been used incorrectly by quite a few. It’s been easily confused by many with ‘straight’ or ‘up’ while they all entirely mean different. It’s a term for cocktails or mixed drinks wherein you shake or stir the spirit with ice to chill it. Then it’s poured into a glass without ice. So the next time you hear someone using the term incorrectly you know what to do!
Also Read: 7 Love Cocktails To Make This Valentine’s Day!
3. Dry
What exactly is Dry? This is probably what you’re wondering, isn’t it? It’s not the arid kind, but rather cocktails or drinks with little or no sweetness. The nice thing about dry drinks is that they tend to be highly potent and palatable. The lack of sugar in the drink allows the other components to shine through.
4. Wet
Alright, we already know you’re first thought after reading the term Wet, but let’s talk about booze now. This term is commonly used as Wet Martini, wherein the amount of vermouth is more than called for.
Also Read: What Is Liqueur? Everything You Need To Know
5. Dirty
If you’ve been curious about the term Dirty thrown around while talking about Martinis and wondered what’s wrong with the drink to acquire that moniker, you’re not alone. It’s far from filthy; in fact, if you’ve seen cocktails with olives as a garnish, you’ve seen it! The simple addition of olive juice adds an umami-tinged aroma and makes the drink rich and delightful.
Also Read: 7 White Wines In India To Try Right Now!
6. Twist
This term must’ve gotten you quite intrigued and raised your expectation about the drink having a wild and fun twist. Yet, Twist is a simple yet elegant term for a curved piece of citrus zest used as a garnish. This adds aesthetic appeal to a cocktail, while the citrus oils in the rind offer a vibrant scent and added taste to your drink.
7. Float
Oh, this one actually for once stands for what you thought it will be! If you’ve seen drinks with layers of colors in a glass, like Rainbow Shots, it’s made by using the technique Float. The technique requires you to understand the density of each ingredient and accordingly balance it.
Also Read: Best Mint Cocktails That’ll Refresh You This Summer
8. ABV
Now if you’re going to call yourself an alcohol enthusiast, this term needs to be imprinted in your head, okay pal? ABV is an abbreviation for alcohol by volume that refers to the amount of purity in any drink! For your reference, beer contains about 4 to 7% ABV, the average being 5%.
9. Pony
This term is as cute as it sounds and is used for measurement purposes. It’s also called the Pony shot which translates to 1 fluid ounce. You can measure a Pony in the smaller end of a jigger and always have your drinks crisp as hell.
Also Read: 5 Methods Of Making Cocktails
10. Dram
Among all the unique and tiny names for a measure of whisky, Dram is the most commonly used one. Even Shakespeare has used it in Romeo and Juliet, where Romeo asks for a dram of poison. Now we wouldn’t want you to miss out on such drama, right? You should know, there’s no official unit for measuring the Dram, but it bounces between 0.8 ounces to 1.2 ounces.
11. Rinse
Rinse is an art used by mixologists to actually give a twist to cocktails. The goal is to add the taste and aromatics of a highly flavored ingredient to the drink without dominating it. You simply take any liqueur and pour some in the martini glass and give it a swirl for it to stick to it. The remaining needs to be dumbed and then you pour in the mix of the cocktail. Voila!
Also Read: Best Breezer Flavors In India
12. Rolling A Drink
Speaking of art, Rolling A Drink is also one used by most mixologists. It’s used to avoid thinning the ingredients in a shaker while managing to chill and mix it well. It’s done by pouring the mix back and forth between two cocktail tins.
13. Frost
A Frost is a neat technique used to keep your drinks chilled without ice (curious?). To frost a glass, you’ll need to soak it in water, drain it, and place it in the freezer. This works especially well for beer mugs as it forms a film of ice around the glass, keeping your booze colder for longer.
Also Read: 7 Best Bold And Beautiful Blue Cocktails
14. Shrub
As odd as it sounds, we assure you that it’s not bush that we’re talking about. Quite interestingly, Shrub is a non-alcoholic syrup used in multiple cocktails. It’s made of a combination of concentrated fruits, aromatics, sugar, and vinegar.
15. Dry Shake
We’re sure you’re getting increasingly intrigued by these mixology terms, so here’s another one. A Dry Shake is a technique used to ensure certain kinds of drinks are as frothy as possible. These mixers have egg whites to make them frothy, and to ensure they combine well with other ingredients, ice is not added.
16. A Finger
Now, this is a vintage one used for measuring spirits, notably whiskeys. A Finger is the quantity of whiskey inside a glass filled to the level of one finger wrapped around at the bottom. The measure varies and is actually the size of the bartender’s finger.
17. Neat
This is one of the most used terms, be it in mixology or otherwise. Drinking liquor “Neat” is the simplest method one could go for. A “Neat” drink is pure alcohol that has been poured into a glass with no extra components, including ice.
Also Read: 8 Iconic Movie Cocktails You Need To Try Right Now!
18. On The Rocks
Depending on the context, the phrase “On The Rocks” can mean a variety of things. Cocktails and plain booze can be served on the rocks, meaning ice to help chill them down and taste better. While another meaning of the phrase “on the rocks” is “heavily drunk.”
19. Express
We’re sure this is what you wanted your ex to do. But, in mixology, the term Express means squeezing an orange peel so all the citrusy oils shoot out on the top of your drink. The purpose of this technique is to enhance the flavor of your cocktail.
Also Read: Best Moscow Mule Recipes To Try Right Now
20. Long Drink
If you’ve heard someone saying, ‘Hey I’d like a long drink mate’ and wondered how can a drink be long, then here’s how. This term is used for cocktails that are served in tall highball glasses and have a higher content of fruit juice or soda than alcohol.
Summing Up
Was this the best educating session or what? With these, simple yet twisted terms, we hope you’re now prepared to ace any alcoholic conversation.
FAQs
What Are The Three Basic Methods Of Mixology?
The three traditional cocktail-making methods of stirring, shaking, and blending must be mastered if you want to master the art of mixology.
What Is The Golden Rule Of Mixology?
The bartender’s golden ratio of 2:1:1 yields a wonderfully flavor-balanced cocktail. That’s two parts spirit, one part sweet, and one part sour.
What Are The Elements Of Mixology?
The three basic components of mixology are recipe knowledge, preparation, and ingredients.
What Is Basic Mixology?
Mixology is defined as the study or ability to create, mix, and serve mixed drinks or cocktails.
What Is A Spirit In Mixology?
Spirits are distilled beverages that are low in sugar and contain at least 40º proof/20% ABV.
Is Mixology A Job?
A mixologist works in a bar, creating drinks or inventing new recipes. Qualifications vary but typically involve past bartending experience as well as an understanding of cocktail components and premium spirits.
Is Mixology Just Alcohol?
No, mixology is defined as “the art or skill of preparing mixed drinks.” Non-alcoholic mixed drinks demand the same level of skill as an alcoholic cocktail.
What Is The Difference Between Mixologist And Mixology?
The term mixology is often used as an umbrella term which is a special study of cocktails and a mixologist is someone who specializes in that field.
