Creating cocktails is one of the many things that makes a bartender a bartender.
Coming up with new creations and concoctions for patrons to rave about is one of the perks. Once you’ve successfully produced a cocktail, the next step is to give it a name. That can be where the difficulty comes in.
The name of a cocktail can truly set it apart from others. People will often choose their drink based off its name on the menu. So how do bartenders go about naming their cocktail names? Adam Way, a Chilled 100 member from Seattle let us in on his tips and tricks.
Adam Way pouring
What is your inspiration behind naming cocktails?
When naming cocktails, I usually research the history of the brand or spirit I’m featuring. I look for any details that are especially unique or coincide well with the season. I also love puns, so those find their way into my cocktail names quite easily. I usually try to keep them short and snappy — one to four words.
Do you create every one of them on your own?
When creating an original cocktail, yes.
Lizardi Mule
Does the type of cocktail play into the name or is it more personal experiences?
The type of cocktail is important to note with a name because you could for example name a drink a “Something Old Fashioned” or a “Something Collins”, depending on what works well and sounds good. This can help guests quickly determine what type of cocktail it is if they are reading a menu. I try to steer away from doing that for the most part.
Does pop culture have any influence on cocktail naming?
It can. If a topic is trending at the time of the cocktail debut, it can be helpful to associate the drink with that topic, depending on your style and what you are trying to portray. I try to focus mostly on names that are timeless, though.
Double Agent
What is your advice for people struggling to name cocktails?
If you’re having trouble naming cocktails, first of all, know you are not alone. It takes time. I rarely come by someone who is fantastic at naming drinks. With that said, it can be fun to think of names. You just need to look for information that provides insight into why you made the drink, or what is included in the ingredients’ history that made them stand out to you as the drink creator.
What is your process?
My typical process for naming a cocktail starts with figuring out what the focused-on ingredient brand is trying to convey the most. I usually search the brand’s website and social media for any buzz words that would efficiently portray the reason for the ingredient even existing — owners’ and head distillers’ names, fun facts, dates of significance, why they began producing, etc. After garnering any buzz words from the brand’s history, I look for puns or words that have to do with the season. I then try to pair words from these different categories into one name that reflects the overall character and style of the drink.
The post How To Name Drinks That Become Legendary appeared first on Chilled Magazine.
Source: Mixology News
