If the bartender asks you what kind of bourbon you want after you order, you can say, “I’ll have the well option, please. ”
Some common bourbon brands include Bulleit, Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, and Maker’s Mark. If you’re unfamiliar with the brands, you can ask the bartender, “What do you recommend?” or, “What do you have that has a sweet flavor?”
Not every bar or restaurant will offer samples or flights.
When you order your bourbon, say the name of the brand you want first followed by how you want it. For example, you would say, “Can I please have a Wild Turkey, neat?” Never say something like, “I’ll have a neat Jim Beam,” since it can make you sound like you don’t know about bourbon.
For example, you could say, “I’ll have a Maker’s Mark on the rocks please. ” Don’t say, “I’ll have an on the rocks Maker’s Mark,” because it will make you sound like a newbie. Don’t use too many ice cubes in your bourbon, or else you’ll water down all of the subtle flavors.
For example, you can ask, “Can I have a Bulleit bourbon with a splash of water?” Sometimes, bars will have small pitchers of water available so you can pour in as much water into your bourbon as you want.
If you want a specific brand of bourbon or soda, you can ask something like, “Can I have a Wild Turkey and ginger ale please?” or, “I’ll have a Wild Turkey and Coke. ” Avoid using expensive brands of bourbon for your cocktail since the soda will mask the subtle flavors.
For example, you can say, “Can I please have a Maker’s Mark Old Fashioned?” or, “Can I get an Old Fashioned with Maker’s Mark please?” You can either get an Old Fashioned that is just bourbon and sugar, or you can ask the bartender to add lemon-lime soda if you want to dilute the alcohol and make it less strong.
When you order, say something like, “I’ll have a Manhattan with Jim Beam please. ”
When you order, ask something like, “Can I please get a Bulleit sour?” If you want to enhance the sweet flavors of the bourbon, you can also ask for a cherry garnish.
For example, you may say something like, “I would like a Mint Julep with Jim Beam please. ” Bourbon is the only liquid in a Mint Julep, so they can be very strong. Ask for a splash of bitters to add a little spice to the drink.
