what are well drinks at a bar

Well drinks are mixed drinks made with a bar’s standard, house liquor instead of a specific brand name. If you order something like a vodka soda, rum and Coke, or gin and tonic without naming a brand, the bartender usually makes it with the bar’s well spirit.

What “well” means

The “well” is the area behind the bar where bartenders keep the most commonly used liquors, mixers, and tools. Those house spirits are usually the lower- cost bottles the bar uses for fast, everyday orders.

Common examples

• Vodka soda.
• Rum and Coke.
• Gin and tonic.
• Whiskey sour.
• Tequila sunrise.

How to order one

If you want the cheapest standard version of a drink, you can ask for it by the drink name alone, like “rum and Coke.” If you want a specific brand, you should say the brand name, like “Tanqueray and tonic,” which tells the bartender to use a call or premium spirit instead.

Why bars use them

Well drinks are popular because they’re quick to make, easy to standardize, and profitable for bars. They also give customers a simple option that usually costs less than a brand-specific cocktail.

TL;DR: A well drink is just a mixed drink made with the bar’s house liquor instead of a named brand.