What to ask for

The brand to name for every spirit, from a fine house pour to a treat. "Good call" is the one to say most of the time.

💡 How to order like a regular

Brand first: "Tito's soda with lime" or "Bacardi and Coke" gets you that bottle instead of the house one.
Open bar: ask what they're pouring, then stick to simple mixes (spirit plus soda, tonic, juice or sour).
Where to splurge: drinks that are mostly spirit (Martini, Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Negroni). Skip it in frozen, punch or juice-heavy drinks.
Bar words: neat no ice, rocks over ice, up chilled with no ice, dry less vermouth, dirty olive brine, tall more mixer.