Well drink

A well drink or rail drink is an alcoholic beverage served using the lower-cost liquors stored within easy reach of the bartender in the counter 'speed rail' or well.^[1][2] Rail drinks differ from "call" drinks in that the former are offered when a customer does not specify a particular brand of liquor when ordering a mixed drink.^[1][2][3] The terms "well drink" and "rail drink" come from the name for a bartender's workspace, known as either the well or the rail.^[1][2][4] In any given establishment, the rail/well liquors available may be known as the "house pours" or "house brands".^[1][5][6][4]

The actual liquors used by a drinking establishment will vary. A bartender's well may include at least one variety of gin, rum, whiskey, vodka, bourbon, tequila, triple sec, and vermouth.^[1]

Some establishments that cater to higher-end clientele or wish to project an aura of luxury choose premium brands to be their well liquors (thus offering a "premium well").^[5][4]

Call and top-shelf

A rail or well drink is usually served when a customer does not specify that a particular brand of liquor be used.^[1][2][3] For example, a customer order for a "Scotch and soda" would lead the bartender to use a rail/well Scotch whisky and would be priced as a rail drink, whereas ordering "Glenfiddich and soda" would be a call drink.^[3]

Call liquors are known as such because the customer "calls" or requests a particular brand of liquor.^[7]

Certain expensive brand-name liquors are not considered or priced as call, but are instead known as "top-shelf" liquors, both from their placement on the shelves and from their price relative to the other liquors available.^[1]

Common rail drinks

Common rail drinks can include cocktails and highballs like:

• Black Russian
• Bloody Mary
• Gin and tonic
• Long Island Iced Tea
• Margarita
• Rum and coke
• Screwdriver
• Scotch and soda
• Tequila Sunrise
• Vodka tonic
• Whiskey sour

References

1. Lai A, ed. (2005). Bartending 101: The Basics of Mixology. Harvard Student Agencies, Inc. (4th ed.). St. Martin's Press. pp. 7–9. ISBN 9780312349066. In professional bars, a "speed rail" usually replaces the front bar. This rack, attached to the bar or sink directly in front of the bartender, holds "house brands" (usually less-expensive brands) of front-bar liquor. The bartender defers to the well brand of liquor for every drink unless the customer specifies a well-known brand, or "call brand," as it is known in bartending lingo. The more expensives call brands stay on the back bar. That means that you will prepare a White Russian with generic coffee brandy instead of the more commonly known call brand (Kahlua) unless the drink specifically requests otherwise (or if your bar is using Kahlua as its well brand). There is a further classification of alcohols called the "premium" or "top-shelf" brands. These are even higher quality bottles of liquor - such as Bombay gin or Old Grand Dad bourbon.
2. Kulp K (2014). Booze for Babes: The Smart Woman's Guide to Drinking Spirits Right. Hundred Proof Publishing Co. p. 113. ISBN 9780985773106. Rail liquors are the selection of bottles bartenders keep in the long shelf under the bar counter, called the rail. These bottles are usually the cheapest liquor they carry, and are often used automatically unless you, or the cocktail menu, specify otherwise.
3. Meyer A, Vann M (2013). How to Open and Operate a Restaurant (electronic ed.). Globe Pequot. p. 100. ISBN 9781493001446. 'Well liquor' is the group of spirits that are used to make drinks when the brand is not specified by the guest ("scotch and soda"). 'Call' liquors are specifically requested brands ("Glenfiddich and soda").
4. Feinstein AH, Stefanelli JM (2008). Purchasing: Selection and Procurement for the Hospitality Industry. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 567. ISBN 9780470314852. Well liquor, sometimes called the "house brand," is served when a patron asks for a shot of Scotch without specifying a particular brand. The term well derives its name from where this type of liquor is located, typically being stored in a well located just below the bar top. [...]Many foodservice and bar operations serve premium brands as their well brands. This is sometimes referred to as the "premium well"...
5. Katsigris C, Thomas C (2006). The Bar and Beverage Book (4th ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 179. ISBN 9780470073445. In short, the well is an important profit center that should reflect the bar's image and respond to the desires of its clientele.[...] To determine whether or not to upgrade your house pours to premium pours, ask yourself these questions: [...] Are the current house pours a liability? It's a fact that most bar owners stock their well and don't think much about it after that.
6. Shock, Patti J.; Stefanelli, John M. (2008). A Meeting Planner's Guide to Catered Events. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 72. ISBN 9780470390955. Well Brand[...] Sometimes it is referred to as a pour brand, proprietary brand, house brand, or speed rail brand.
7. Brown DR (2004). The Encyclopedia of Restaurant Forms. 1. Atlantic Publishing Company. p. C3-3. ISBN 9780910627290. Call Liquor. Any liquor other than well liquor. The term refers to "calling" the liquor brand by name, such as "Captain Morgan and coke" rather than "rum and coke."