What Is a Well Drink? 15 Examples of Well Drinks

A well drink is a mixed drink that uses a lower-cost liquor within easy reach of the bartender. Well drinks are the polar opposite of call drinks, or cocktails that call for a specific brand of liquor. Whereas well drinks are made with lower-cost well liquors, call drinks are premium drinks typically made from top-shelf liquors. This is why you often find happy hour deals relegated to the well drinks list. Often, bartenders will default to making well drinks unless the customer asks for a particular brand of liquor.

Well drinks get their name for having ingredients that are situated behind the bar within easy reach of the bartender; this area is known as the well. It is sometimes called a speed rail (as well as speed well or speed rack), so well drinks can also be called rail drinks. The well typically contains other cocktail accoutrements such as club soda, tonic water, sour mix, vermouth, bitters, simple syrups, grenadine, lime wedges, and other garnishes.

The next time you're at a bar, consider ordering one of these popular well drinks.

1. 1. Scotch and Soda: A tried-and-true classic, a Scotch and Soda is made by blending Scotch with club soda or soda water. Though there's no hard-and-fast ratio for this drink, it's typically served in a highball glass with two ounces of well Scotch and the rest of the glass filled with carbonated water.
2. 2. Rum and Coke: A Rum and Coke cocktail is a simple blend of rum and cola. Simply fill a highball glass with two ounces of well rum and then fill it to the brim with a can of cola.
3. 3. Vodka Soda: To make this popular well drink, fill a Collins glass with a handful of ice, two ounces of vodka, club soda to the top, a squeeze of lemon, and a lemon wedge garnish.
4. 4. Vodka Cranberry: Make this drink by first adding some ice to a highball glass. Pour in one and a half ounces of vodka, fill the glass to the top with cold cranberry juice, and serve with a lime wedge.
5. 5. Screwdriver: Despite its name, very little work is required to make this popular brunch drink. Simply add ice to a highball glass, pour in one and a half ounces of vodka, and fill the rest of the glass with orange juice.
6. 6. Gin and Tonic: There have been many different takes on this classic cocktail, but a well Gin and Tonic is simple by definition. Pour two ounces of gin over ice in a highball glass, top it off with tonic water, and garnish the drink with lime wedges.
7. 7. Whiskey Sour: A Whiskey Sour is made by combining bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and an egg white in a cocktail shaker. Once all the ingredients are mixed, the bartender adds ice and shakes the drink until it’s thoroughly chilled. Once cold, the drink is poured into a coupe glass and topped off with a few dashes of bitters.
8. 8. Daiquiri: A classic Daiquiri isn't frozen and all dressed up with fruity flavors. The basic elements of a Daiquiri include light rum, lime juice, simple syrup, and a lime twist. Daiquiris are traditionally served in a coupe glass.
9. 9. Mojito: Few well drinks are as bright and refreshing as a Mojito. Mint leaves and simple syrup are muddled together in a cocktail shaker before getting shaken together with ice, white rum, and lime juice. The drink is then strained into a highball with fresh ice and topped with club soda. A mint sprig and lime wedge garnish make it all come together.
10. 10. Tom Collins: A classic Tom Collins is served in a (no surprises here) Collins glass and made with two ounces of London dry gin, an ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice, a half-ounce of simple syrup, and club soda to top it all off. A lemon wheel and maraschino cherry are classic garnish choices.
11. 11. Tequila Sunrise: Precisely constructed to give the appearance of a sunrise, the Tequila Sunrise is a real show-stopper. First, pour tequila into a cold highball glass followed by orange juice. Then pour in the grenadine, which will create a gradient of color throughout the drink as it sinks to the bottom of the glass. An orange slice and a cherry are sensible garnishes.
12. 12. Moscow Mule: For a Moscow Mule, you need nothing more than two ounces of vodka, half an ounce of lime juice, and three ounces of ginger beer. Pour all the ingredients into a cold copper mug to complete this simple drink.
13. 13. Margarita: There are many ways to make a Margarita, but a classic version consists of blanco tequila, triple sec (or orange liqueur), lime juice, and agave syrup. Add a little salt on the rim and you've got yourself a simple, refreshing beverage.
14. 14. Paloma: A cousin of the Margarita, the Paloma often gets overlooked in the United States, but any trained bartender should know how to whip one up. Take a highball glass with a salted rim, add two ounces of tequila and a half-ounce of lime juice. Add a handful of ice, fill the glass with grapefruit soda, and garnish with a lime wedge.
15. 15. Long Island Iced Tea: Don't be fooled by its unassuming name; the Long Island Iced Tea is a strong drink that will have your bartender reaching for just about every liquor they've got on hand. Vodka, gin, white rum, tequila, and triple sec are mixed with simple syrup, lemon juice, and cola before receiving a lemon wedge garnish.

Learn more about mixology from award-winning bartenders Lynnette Marrero and Ryan Chetiyawardana. Refine your palate, explore the world of spirits, and shake up the perfect cocktail for your next gathering with the MasterClass Annual Membership.