Hand pouring alcohol into glass
FOOD NEWS
Here's What A Call Drink Really Is
BY MICHELLE WELSCH
"Well drinks" and "call drinks" are categories that cover most of the drinks you can order at a bar, and if you want a more specific drink made to your liking, order a call drink.

Bartender stirs drink

Bartender stirs drink

Rum cocktail with orange zest
Well drinks, like a rum and Coke, are often made with the cheapest and most generic alcohol available in a bartender's "well," or their immediate work station.
Bottle of Bacardi on ice
Meanwhile, call drinks, like a Bacardi and Coke, are more specific, and involve the drinker asking for their preferred brand of the liquor(s) used in the cocktail.
Hand pouring liquor into glass
The request of a certain liquor brand or product differentiates call drinks from the well drinks, which are more of an umbrella category that can use any brand of ingredients.
Bartender making a cocktail
Learning which liquor brands you like can help you order a call drink you know you’ll enjoy, but if you want to keep your budget in check, a well drink may be better.