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Bar & Beverage

Call Drink

A call drink is a mixed drink where the customer specifies the exact brand of liquor they want, such as "Tanqueray and tonic" or "Bacardi and Coke," rather than accepting the bar's house liquor. The bartender retrieves the requested brand from the back bar display instead of using well liquor from the speed rail.

A call drink is a mixed drink where the customer specifies the exact brand of liquor they want, such as “Tanqueray and tonic” or “Jack and Coke.” The bartender then “calls” for that specific bottle from the back bar display rather than using the house liquor stored in the speed rail. Call drinks cost more than well drinks because they use named brands instead of the bar’s cheapest house spirits.

How Call Drinks Work

When a customer orders a generic “gin and tonic,” the bartender uses well gin from the speed rail. When they order “Tanqueray and tonic,” that’s a call drink—the customer has called out a specific brand. The bartender reaches for the Tanqueray bottle displayed on the back bar shelves, measures it with a jigger, and builds the drink to specification.

The term comes from literally calling out or naming the brand you want. This practice gives customers control over drink quality and allows them to request familiar brands or higher-end spirits. Bartenders keep call liquor bottles on visible back bar shelves or display areas, not in the ice well or speed rail where well liquor lives.

Call Drink Categories

Call drinks exist on a spectrum from standard call to super-premium. Standard call brands like Jim Beam bourbon, Stolichnaya vodka, or Captain Morgan rum sit in the middle tier—better than well liquor but not top-shelf. Premium and super-premium calls use high-end spirits like Grey Goose, Woodford Reserve, or Patrón.

The pricing reflects this hierarchy. A Jack and Coke (standard call) costs more than a “whiskey and Coke” (well drink) but less than a Woodford Reserve and Coke (premium call). Bars typically display their call liquor selection prominently so customers can see available brands before ordering.

Common Call Drink Orders

Classic call drinks follow a simple format: brand name plus mixer. “Bacardi and Coke” specifies Bacardi rum. “Absolut and soda” calls for Absolut vodka. “Captain and 7up” means Captain Morgan rum with 7up. These straightforward combinations let bartenders work quickly while giving customers their preferred spirit.

More complex drinks can also be call drinks. A customer might order a margarita with Patrón tequila specifically, or request a martini made with Bombay Sapphire gin. The bartender uses a cocktail shaker or mixing glass depending on the drink type, but the distinguishing feature remains the customer specifying the brand.

Why Customers Order Call Drinks

People request specific brands for several reasons. Some have strong taste preferences and know which vodka or whiskey they prefer. Others want to avoid the harsh taste of well liquor. Brand loyalty plays a role too—a Crown Royal drinker might not enjoy well whiskey even in a mixed drink.

Price-conscious customers might stick with well drinks for simple highballs but call out premium brands for cocktails they’ll sip slowly. The strategy lets them control both quality and cost based on the drink type and occasion.

Common Uses

Bartenders hear call drink orders throughout their shifts, especially from customers who have brand preferences or want to avoid well liquor. The customer states the brand name first—"Jack and Coke," "Tanqueray and tonic," "Absolut martini"—and the bartender knows to reach for that specific bottle on the back bar. Call drinks are standard in upscale bars where customers expect choice, and they help bars upsell from well drinks. When taking orders, servers ask "any preference on the vodka?" to encourage call drink orders and increase check averages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Well drinks use the bar's house liquor (cheapest brands, stored in the speed rail), while call drinks use a specific brand requested by the customer. Call drinks cost more because they use named brands instead of house spirits. When you order "vodka soda" you get a well drink; when you order "Absolut and soda" you get a call drink.
The term comes from customers literally "calling out" or naming the specific brand of liquor they want. Instead of accepting whatever vodka the bar uses for well drinks, you call for "Tito's" or "Grey Goose" by name. The bartender then retrieves that called brand from the back bar display.
Not always. Call drinks can range from mid-tier brands (standard call) to super-premium top-shelf liquors. A "Jack and Coke" is a call drink using a standard brand, while a "Woodford Reserve and Coke" is a premium call drink. Premium specifically refers to high-end spirits, but any named brand request is technically a call drink.
Generally yes, especially in simple mixed drinks. Call brands are usually smoother and higher quality than well liquor, which bars choose primarily for low cost. The difference is most noticeable in drinks with few ingredients like a vodka soda. In heavily mixed drinks like Long Island iced teas, the quality difference becomes harder to detect.
Call drinks typically cost $1-3 more than well drinks, depending on the brand tier and bar pricing. A well vodka soda might be $6, while an Absolut and soda (standard call) costs $8, and a Grey Goose and soda (premium call) runs $10-12. Higher-end establishments often have wider price spreads between well and call drinks.
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