Useful English Terms and Expressions for Bartenders
Bartending is a job that people often think of as glamorous and exciting. After all, you get to interact with many kinds of interesting people in a fun, lively environment! A bartending job overseas can be even more special since it can expose you to cultures, drinks and nightlife that may be different than in your home country.
Whether you’re interested in becoming a bartender yourself or want some new vocabulary to use when you’re out drinking, we’ve made a list of some of the most common terms and expressions you’ll hear at a bar. Cheers — and drink responsibly!
Bartending Terms
*Because many of these terms can be used by either the bartender or the customer, we've indicated who is speaking after each example sentence.
Back
This is also called a "chaser." It's a small glass of soda or water, for example, served together with an alcoholic drink. Because it is weaker, you drink it after the alcohol to reduce the burning feeling from the stronger drink.
He ordered a bourbon with a water back. (bartender)
Barback
It's easy to confuse a barback with a bartender, and even native speakers sometimes aren't sure of the difference. A barback is a bartender's assistant who does things like washing glasses, refilling empty liquor bottles and assisting customers who are ready to pay. This is mostly because barbacks generally do not have a certificate that allows them to serve alcohol.
I have to handle everything behind the bar until the barback gets here. (bartender)
Tab
Instead of asking for payment for each individual drink, bars will often "open a tab" for a customer. This means they will record everything a customer orders so that they can pay for everything all at once when they are ready to go.
Shall I open a tab for you? (bartender)
Please put it on my tab. (customer)
Customers "close a tab" or "close out" when they are finished ordering and are ready to pay.
Are you ready to close out? (bartender)
Rocks
"Rocks" are ice. So a drink "on the rocks" means "served with ice."
I'll have a Scotch on the rocks, please.
Mixer
A "mixer" is a non-alcoholic drink like juice or soda water that is mixed with alcohol to make specific drinks.
A Cuba Libre is a kind of cocktail made of rum with a Coke mixer.
Neat
“Neat” drinks are poured straight from the bottle and are served without ice or mixers.
I’ll have a whiskey neat. (customer)
Dirty
A martini is “dirty” when olive juice has been added to it.
James
Can I buy you a drink?
Anya
Sure. A martini, very dirty.
Double
A "double" is a drink with twice the regular amount of alcohol.
I'll have a brandy. Please make it a double. (customer)
"Double" can also be short for “double shift,” and refers to working both the day and evening shifts in a single day.
I just finished a double, and I can’t wait to get home and sleep! (bartender)
Dry
In most alcoholic drinks, like cocktails, "dry" means no or only a small amount of sugar or sweetness.
This is too sweet. I asked them to make it dry. (customer)
Mocktail
"Mock-" as a prefix means "not" or "fake." For example, a "mockumentary" is a fake documentary. Similarly, "mocktails" are cocktails with no liquor. People may choose to not drink alcohol for many reasons, but mocktails allow them to still enjoy tasty drinks and the stylish feeling that is often connected with them.
If you're not drinking tonight, I can make you a mocktail. (bartender)
86
This term is common in the food and drink industry. It's used as a verb and has two meanings.
1. If an item on the menu has been "86'd," it means it is sold out or no longer available.
We 86'd that dish because we ran out of the ingredients. (bartender/restaurant)
2. More common for bars is the second meaning, which is "to remove" or "deny entry to." This refers to situations in which customers are asked to leave or are banned because they are rude, too drunk, refuse to pay, etc.
The boss 86'd him for starting a fight. Don't let him back in.
This term is said to have several different origins, from serving a weaker, "86 proof" whiskey to bar customers who've already had too much to drink, to the boxes dead bodies are buried in, which are 8 feet long and put 6 feet under the ground!
Last call
Last call is the last chance to order drinks before the bar closes.
Let’s order a few more drinks before last call. (customer)
This is also the theme of a popular song about a bar closing for the evening.
Other useful terms
Nightcap
This is simply any alcoholic drink at the end of an evening or shortly before going to bed to help someone relax.
Also, "cap" (or "cap off") is sometimes used as a verb meaning "to end." So a nightcap is like "an end to the evening."
Do you want to join me at the bar for a nightcap?
On the house
The "house" is often used to refer to places like bars, restaurants or casinos. Bars may offer you a free drink if there was a mistake with your order and they want to apologize, or perhaps if you simply have a good relationship with an employee. These drinks are "on the house," which means the bar pays for it instead of the customer.
It looks like you've had a hard day. This beer's on the house. (bartender)
Similarly, someone can say a drink is "on me," which means they will pay.
It's your birthday, so drinks are on me tonight!
Keep the change
This is a very useful expression that isn't only for bars. Remember that tipping is common in many Western countries. Rather than leaving extra money for a server or bartender, many people will pay more than the total bill and tell the bartender that the extra money is theirs to keep.
Here's $20. Keep the change.
Conclusion
Bartending can be a great way to use and improve your English in a fast-paced, real-world environment. It may be challenging, but that can be motivation for you to work harder! The expressions we've covered in this article are only a small example of popular bar terms, so there is much more for you to learn. And because bartenders also like to drink, you can use them even when you are the customer!
