What Is a Well Drink? Composition and Associated Risks
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Imagine you're meeting up with friends for a few drinks after work. You walk in and make your way through the crowd. At the center of it all is the bar, a place of choices and decisions. Here, nestled between the flashy bottles, sit the humble well liquors — the everyday choice for many people who drink. But what’s the story behind these unpretentious options? In a world where moderation is key, understanding the allure and reality of well drinks can be a step towards more mindful, informed drinking. Let's unravel the mystery of well drinks, explore their significance in the bar scene, and look at some tips for safe consumption.
To understand well drinks, it’s important to first understand the role of “well liquor,” also known as “house liquor.” These liquors are kept in a special place behind a bar called a well, rail, speed rail, speed rack, or lower shelf. It’s a quick-access spot for bartenders to store their most often used liquors to increase their drink-making speed: instead of picking a liquor off of a shelf, they just grab the one in the well. In high-volume establishments, this setup is essential for making every second count. In other bars, the well is used mostly for simplicity. It’s also a way for bars to reduce cost. By ordering and using certain brands of liquor in bulk, they can get a better deal from their distributors, maximize their profits, and (theoretically, at least) pass the savings on to their patrons.
Bartenders keep their wells stocked with one or (rarely) two brands of the most basic liquors — whiskey, vodka, rum, gin, tequila — and a selection of common mixers like triple sec, blue curaçao, and sour mix. The makeup of a well depends on the bar, their clientele, and even the time of year. Bartenders and bar management may also tailor their brand choices this way, too, depending on their goals, needs, and patrons.
“Well drinks,” also known as “rail drinks,” are terms used to refer to simple, straightforward mixed drinks made with well liquor. When we order a basic drink in a bar — say, a gin and tonic — the bartender will almost always reach for the gin in their well unless instructed otherwise. This keeps things simple for everyone and streamlines the whole process. This method is also cheaper for the bar, and typically well drinks are the least expensive drinks in the house, although this isn’t always the case. Well drinks are often the target of drink specials and happy hours, making them popular choices for drinkers looking to save money.
If you’ve ever had a mixed drink at a bar, you’ve probably had a well drink. Let’s look at some common examples.
Well drinks are often the most popular drinks at most bars. They don’t require an extensive knowledge of alcohol or mixology; they’re less expensive than other options, and they’re quick and easy to make.
Let’s look at some common liquors and how they’re used in well drinks. By no means is this an exhaustive well drinks list, but it’s a good start.
Vodka-based drinks such as vodka soda, vodka cranberry, Moscow mules, and Long Island Iced Tea
Gin-based drinks such as gin and tonics, gimlets, and Long Islands
Whiskey-based drinks like whiskey sodas, whiskey and cokes, and whiskey sours
Tequila-based drinks like margaritas, tequila sunrises, and Long Islands
Rum-based drinks like dark ‘n’ stormys, rum and cokes, mojitos, and Long Islands
Triple sec — used in drinks like margaritas and Long Islands
The theory behind a well drink is to deliver a speedy, cost-effective option to bar patrons that doesn’t require a mixology degree to make. While they may be economical options, they are also deceptive. Well drinks can cause us to underestimate the amount of alcohol we’ve had, even if we try to set a responsible limit for ourselves. If we set a financial budget for the evening instead of a drink limit goal, we may end up drinking more than we would like.
Likewise, not every well drink is made equally. Sometimes, a “house” well drink will contain more than one serving of liquor — which is usually defined as 1.5 oz, or one shot. A typical well drink contains two servings of liquor added to a mixer. Drinks like a Long Island iced tea are popular well drinks that can sometimes contain even more. Every bar makes its drinks differently, so it’s easy to overdo it if you’re not familiar. When in doubt, always communicate with the bartender so you can appropriately track your consumption.
When a well-style drink is made with liquor other than what’s in the well, it is often called a “premium drink” or “top-shelf” drink. There are a lot of tradeoffs between choosing this drink over a well drink. The quality of liquor may be higher, and the drink might be more enjoyable. This is something to consider if we are practicing mindful drinking. If we do choose to drink, we may get more satisfaction when we choose a higher quality liquor, which can inspire us to avoid ordering another round.
Top-shelf drinks tend to be more expensive than well drinks. If we are considering how much money we are spending on alcohol, choosing a premium option can be another check to hold us accountable to our goal and might inspire us to cut back even further.
Of course, the best way to spend less money on alcohol is to quit or cut back on our consumption. This is all part of the journey, and the first step is increasing our awareness and mindfulness about our choices — and educating ourselves on how to make smarter choices when we do choose to drink.
If you plan to visit a bar and are considering ordering a well drink, here are a few tips to help you make smart decisions about your choice of beverage.
It’s important to underscore the value of mindful decision making in our drinking habits. While a bar’s well drinks offer an easy, economical choice of alcoholic beverage, we must keep in mind that we have power over our relationship to alcohol and over our choice to drink or not to drink. For those who opt to partake, doing so with awareness, moderation, and understanding can lead to a healthier mindset. However, remember that choosing not to drink is always a valid and often beneficial decision. Whatever your journey, Reframe can help you set goals and shift your relationship with alcohol — and with yourself!
1. What are well drinks?
Well drinks, also known as “rail drinks,” are basic mixed drinks or cocktails made with well liquors, also known as house liquors. They tend to contain two servings of alcohol, but sometimes more.
2. Are well drinks and well liquor the same thing?
No. “Well liquor” refers to the unmixed liquor kept in the “well” or “speed rail” behind a bar. These liquors are mixed into drinks, where they become what is commonly referred to as “well drinks.”
3. Are well drinks better than other cocktails?
Not necessarily. No drink is better or worse than another. What’s important is being aware of your intake and being mindful if you do choose to partake.
4. Is there a standard well drinks list?
Not really, although there are some common ones. Simple things that contain a liquor name — like whiskey sour, gin and tonic, or rum and coke — tend to be well drinks, but many others also fit in this category.
5. How much alcohol is in a well drink?
Each well drink is different, so it’s important to communicate with your bartender and be informed about the alcohol content of your drinks.
6. Are well drinks the best option at a bar?
The best option at a bar is a non-alcoholic drink like a mocktail. If you do choose to have an alcoholic drink, consider limiting yourself and switching to a mocktail for your next round. Your brain, body, and wallet will thank you!
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