Well Drinks Recipe

Fill a large ice bin or cooler with 8 cups cubed ice so bartenders can easily fill highball glasses.

Prepare lemon and lime wedges by cutting into 8 wedges each. Place in garnish trays next to the service rail along with orange slices and mint sprigs.

Have cocktail napkins ready at the service station for served drinks.

General Procedure

Use a standard highball (12–14 oz) glass or Collins glass. Fill glass with ice to within 1/2 inch of the rim (about 6–8 oz by volume of ice). Pour a single well spirit (1.5 oz) over the ice, then top with the chosen mixer(s) to the fill amounts listed. Stir gently 4–6 times with a bar spoon to combine. Garnish according to the recipe below and serve with a straw and napkin.

Vodka + Club Soda (Vodka Soda)

Fill glass with ice. Add 1.5 oz well vodka. Top with 3 oz club soda. Stir gently. Garnish with a lime wedge. Optional: 1 dash Angostura bitters for aromatic depth.

Gin + Tonic (Gin & Tonic)

Fill glass with ice. Add 1.5 oz well gin. Top with 3 oz tonic water. Stir gently. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Rum + Cola (Cuba Libre-style)

Fill glass with ice. Add 1.5 oz light rum. Top with 3 oz cola. Add 0.5 tbs fresh lime juice (squeeze one lime wedge) or garnish with a lime wedge and stir. Optional: 2 dashes Angostura bitters for complexity.

Tequila + Orange Juice (Tequila Sunrise-style simplified)

Fill glass with ice. Add 1.5 oz blanco tequila. Add 3 oz orange juice. Stir gently. Garnish with an orange slice. For a sunrise effect, add 0.5 oz grenadine poured slowly down the side (grenadine not in base ingredients).

Whiskey + Ginger Ale (Whiskey Ginger)

Fill glass with ice. Add 1.5 oz whiskey. Top with 3 oz ginger ale. Stir gently. Garnish with a lemon wedge. Optional: 2 dashes Angostura bitters or a mint sprig.

Vodka + Cranberry (Cape Codder)

Fill glass with ice. Add 1.5 oz vodka. Top with 3 oz cranberry juice. Stir gently. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Whiskey + Cola (Whiskey & Coke)

Fill glass with ice. Add 1.5 oz whiskey. Top with 3 oz cola. Stir gently. Garnish with a lemon wedge if desired.

Gin + Sweet & Sour (Simple Collins)

Fill glass with ice. Add 1.5 oz gin and 2 oz sweet & sour mix. Top with 1 oz club soda if desired (counts toward mixer volume). Stir gently and garnish with a lemon wedge and mint sprig.

Tequila + Ginger Ale (Paloma-ish simplified)

Fill glass with ice. Add 1.5 oz tequila and 3 oz ginger ale. Add 0.5 tbs fresh lime juice and stir. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Simple Syrup Use

If a guest prefers a slightly sweeter well drink (e.g., vodka soda too dry), add 0.5 tbs simple syrup to taste and stir to combine.

Display the $1 off promotion at the bar and ensure POS reflects promotional pricing. Train staff to ask which well spirit the guest prefers and to offer standard garnishes and mixers listed above.

For busy service, pre-batch common combos (e.g., vodka + club soda pitcher) using 1.5 oz spirit per serving and 3 oz mixer per serving measured by servings below; keep chilled and replenish glass-by-glass with fresh ice and garnish.