01
Stir · Rocks
Old Fashioned
Whiskey, demerara, bitters, ice. Express orange. Cherry only if they ask.
Not a sour. Sugar has to dissolve. No grit left in the glass.
Lab
Twelve builds. Written down.
The twelve builds named on the certificate. Specs the well can follow on a Friday.
02
Stir · Coupe
Manhattan
Rye or bourbon, sweet vermouth, bitters. Stirred, up, cherry. House ratio 2:1 unless called otherwise.
Don’t bury it in vermouth. Don’t shake it.
03
Stir · Nick & Nora or coupe
Martini
Gin or vodka, dry vermouth, stirred until cold. Lemon twist or olive. House ratio 5:1.
We don’t shake a martini unless the ticket says shaken.
04
Shake · Coupe
Daiquiri
Rum, lime, sugar. Shaken, served up.
Frozen only if the ticket says frozen. This is not a machine drink.
05
Shake · Rocks or coupe
Margarita
Tequila, lime, orange liqueur. Salt on request, not by default.
No bottled sour mix.
06
Shake · Rocks or coupe
Whiskey Sour
Whiskey, lemon, simple. Egg white only if ordered — dry shake, then ice.
Don’t add white they didn’t ask for.
07
Stir · Rocks
Negroni
Equal parts gin, Campari, sweet vermouth. Orange peel.
Stirred, not shaken. Don’t short the Campari to make it polite.
08
Build · Highball
Gin & Tonic
Gin, plenty of ice, tonic, lime. Built in the glass.
Don’t drown it. Don’t skimp the ice.
09
Build · Highball
Paloma
Tequila, lime, grapefruit, a pinch of salt, soda or grapefruit soda.
Say which grapefruit you’re using. Grapefruit soda and fresh juice are not the same drink.
10
Shake · Coupe
Espresso Martini
Vodka, coffee liqueur, fresh espresso. Shake hard. Three beans if you have them.
No coffee from yesterday’s pot. If the espresso is dead, don’t sell the drink.
11
Build · Highball
Highball
Spirit, ice, lengthener — soda, ginger, or tonic. Short stir. The glass is the method.
Build it. Don’t shake it unless the spec says so.
12
Build · Highball
Zero-proof highball
Same glass discipline, no alcohol. Citrus, soda, a specified non-alcoholic base or a tea.
Name the zero-proof base on the ticket so the well doesn’t pour a live spirit by habit.