Have you ever heard those lines in movies where the suave hero orders a drink “on the Rocks,” “neat,” or “straight up,” but you have no idea what they mean? Let’s review top tips and tricks from behind the bar with our bar manager, Johnny, at the top restaurant and bar in Guilford, Chapter One Food & Drink.
The Language of Bartending
When ordering a beverage from the bar, not all the drink names are precisely the same across the globe. For example, a traditional Moscow Mule contains vodka, lime, and ginger beer. But if you order that at Chapter One today, we’d serve our seasonal and delicious Apple Moscow Mule, which we craft with Tito’s vodka, apple cider, and lemon juice. We finish it off with Goslings Ginger Beer.
House Drinks or Well Drinks Vs. Call Drinks
“Well drinks” or “house drinks” are beverages mixed with the brand of liquor of the bartender’s choosing. Call drinks are when the patron chooses a specific spirit, such as Grey Goose vodka or Jack Daniels whiskey, usually a top-shelf choice. We craft our Rosemary Grapefruit Bourbon Smash with our “well” bourbon, house-made rosemary simple syrup, and Angostura bitters. We top it with muddled grapefruit for a refreshing summer sip.
Ordering “On The Rocks”
Ordering on the Rocks is pretty straightforward and simply means the drink is served over ice. Ice is an essential ingredient in drink mixing that our restaurant and bar in Guilford cannot overlook. Fresh ice is essential for creating delicious cocktails.
Our Lavender French 75 is a perfect drink to order “on the rocks.” This delicious beverage uses the unique Empress gin, a beautiful purple-blue color mixed with fresh lemon juice and our house-made lavender simple syrup. We top it with organic Prosecco and a butterfly pea flower to change the color and enhance the drink’s beauty.
“Neat,” “Up,” and “Straight Up”
There is some inconsistency in these terms across the bartending industry. However, at Chapter One Food and Drink, here’s what you’ll find:
- Neat: Poured from the bottle to the glass
- Up: The spirit is chilled with ice and strained into the glass without ice
- Straight Up: Most commonly, patrons mean “neat” when they order this, so we’ll double check
Our Hibiscus Paloma is served “up” and made with Lunazul Reposado Tequila, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, and shaken with fresh lemon juice and our house-made hibiscus simple syrup.
With A Twist
This bar lingo refers to adding a curl of lemon peel to the drink or rim of the class for a burst of citrusy freshness. We recommend adding a twist to our Whitfield Blackberry & Tonic, which is made with Broker’s London Dry Gin, St. George Spiced Pear Liqueur, and muddled blackberries.
Seasonal Drinks at Chapter One: A New American Restaurant and Bar In Guilford
As a local restaurant that loves our community, we constantly innovate behind the bar. Every quarter, we update our cocktail menu to reflect what’s in season to provide the highest quality ingredients for our patrons.
Two of our most popular drinks this summer have been the Peach Margarita and the Honey Roasted Pear.
Peach Margarita
This fresh and delicious drink is served with a Himalayan sea salt rim and is made with Silver Tequila, fresh, house-made peach purée, lime juice, and agave.
Honey Roasted Pear
Made with Tito’s Vodka and muddled with fresh honey pears, cinnamon, and spices, this drink is topped with seltzer and served with a coconut palm sugared rim.
Chapter One Restaurant and Bar In Guilford Green
Savor our delectable drink menu in our outdoor dining space and enjoy live entertainment, delicious seafood, a raw bar, and the best New American pub food you’ll find anywhere.
