The key to stocking your own standout home bar is focusing on quality basics. To find the best, we surveyed a broad spectrum of bartenders at top cocktail spots, from craft havens to celebrated dive bars, about the well spirits they use for five of the most commonly ordered cocktails.
The well—aka the speed rail in easy reach of the bartender and often out of sight of the customer—is where the most frequently used bottles are stored. Traditionally, “well drinks” are made with spirits that maximize profit margins for the bar. That might mean bottom-shelf brands, sometimes even bottles that are pushed by distributors and that the bar can’t get rid of any other way. So it’s no wonder that well spirits often carry a reputation as cheap swill and that many guests prefer to request their favorite brand instead.
At upmarket establishments, price is only part of the equation. More often, it’s about finding a balance between value and quality. Versatility is also key: For example, a spirit that works seamlessly in both shaken citrusy drinks and more austere stirred cocktails will earn its keep in the well. In fact, some bartenders scoff at calling it a “well spirit” at all.
“We feel the connotation of the word ‘well’ doesn’t do our bottles justice,” says Erick Castro, proprietor of San Diego bars Polite Provisions and Raised by Wolves, where he trains his staff to use the phrase “first pour,” instead. The point of changing the verbiage? “To remind guests that we are only serving bottles that we would drink at home.” (“House pour” is another popular alternative.)
In addition to the well spirits they use for five key cocktails, bartenders were also asked which brands guests call for (“call spirits”) in the same drinks—that is, the name-brand spirits whose premium might depend on a fancy bottle or marketing campaign. We also asked how those top-shelf selections affect final drink prices.
Here’s how the bottles stacked up, plus pro picks to stock for your own “house pour.”
Bonus: Savvy drinkers might save a few bucks per cocktail when ordering out, if what’s in the well is one of the top bottles below.
Gin, for a Martini
What’s in the well?By a wide margin, Beefeater. Other responses given by multiple bartenders included Barton’s, Bombay Dry, Broker’s, Fords Gin, and Gordon’s.
What do customers request?Hendrick’s Gin took the top spot, closely followed by Bombay Sapphire and Tanqueray.
How does top-shelf gin change the drink price? Compared to the average $12 for a well Martini, on average, a Martini made with a call spirit costs $14.