Columbia Bartending Exam Questions And Answers
Vodka
A clear, tasteless spirit made from neutral grains. Ex: Cosmo, LIT
Gin
A clear, dry/juniper berries tasting spirit made from neutral grains. Ex: Martini, Tom
Collins, or LIT
Rum
A clear to dark, sugary tasting spirit made from molasses. Ex: Malibu Bay Breeze,
Daiquiri, Mojito, Mai Tai, or LIT
Tequila
A clear to dark, firey spirit made from blue agave. Ex: Margarita or LIT
Triple Sec
A clear, orange tasting spirit made from neutral grain flavored with orange. Ex: Old
Fashioned or LIT
Whiskey
A brown, oaky/smoky tasting spirit made from neutral grain. Ex: Manhattan
Bourbon
A brown, sweet smoky/oaky tasting spirit made from 51% corn. Ex: Mint Julep
Vodka Call Brands
Grey Goose, Absolut, Ketel One, Belvedere
Gin Call Brands
Beefeater, Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire, Hendrick's
Rum Call Brands
Bacardi, Mount Gay, Meyer's, Havana Club
Tequila Call Brands
Jose Cuervo, Patron, Don Julio, Sauza
Whiskey Call Brands
Bulleit, Jack Daniels, Crown Royal, Jameson's
Bourbon Call Brands
Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve
Triple Sec Substitutions
Blue Curacao, Cointreau, Grand Mariner
Vanilla Vodka Substitution
Cintron Vodka or Vodka with a splash of Rose's Lime Juice
Rose's Lime Juice Substitution
Lime and Sugar/simple syrup
Seltzer & Sugar Substitution
7up
Liquers
(also known as schnapps or cordials) are liquors that have added sugar after
distillation with an ABV between 15-20%
Types of Liquers
Amaretto, Bailey's Irish Cream, Campari, Chambord, Frangelico, Triple Sec (most
common)
Red Drink Garnish
Green Garnish
Blue Drink Garnish
, Yellow Garnish
Tonic Garnish
Lime Garnish
Seltzer Garnish
Lemon Garnish
Highballs
Easy drinks made with 1 liquor and at least 1 non-alcoholic mixer, such as soda or
juice. These hold 8-12 ounces of liquid and should be stirred, not shaken.
Standard Highball Drink
1 part liquor to 4 parts mixer
Highball Drinks
Screwdriver, Sex on the Beach, Malibu Bay Breeze, Tequila Sunrise + Moscow Mule
Screwdriver
1.5 oz Vodka
Fill with orange juice
Lime Garnish
Sex on the Beach
0.75 oz Vodka
0.75 oz Peach Schnapps
Fill with mix of half cranberry juice and half orange juice
Lime garnish
Malibu Bay Breeze
1.5 oz Malibu
Fill with a mix of half pineapple juice and half cranberry juice
Lime Garnish
Tequila Sunrise
1.5 oz Tequila
Fill with orange juice
Sink Grenadine down sides of glass
Moscow Mule
1.5 oz vodka
4 oz ginger beer
.25 oz lime juice
lime garnish
Bitters
a staple of many classic cocktails, these are infused alcoholic mixtures usually high
in alcoholic content (about 40% ABV); adding 2 dashes is enough
Angostura Bitters
most common bitter; spicy, herbal flavor and dark coloring (ex: Old Fashioned)
Infusions
the process of adding the flavor of herbs, spices and fruits to liquors to create a
custom spirit (ex: jalepeno tequila, rosemary gin, and lemon vodka)
Reasons Drinks are Shaken
to chill contents, to mix 3+ liquors/liqeurs evenly, to mix anything with cream, syrups,
or solids
Collins Glass
typically holds 10-14 oz of liquid; narrower than a highball glass but interchangeable
Lowball or Rocks Glass
short tumbler used to serve alcoholic drinks with ice that holds between 6-10 oz
Shaken Drinks
Vodka
A clear, tasteless spirit made from neutral grains. Ex: Cosmo, LIT
Gin
A clear, dry/juniper berries tasting spirit made from neutral grains. Ex: Martini, Tom
Collins, or LIT
Rum
A clear to dark, sugary tasting spirit made from molasses. Ex: Malibu Bay Breeze,
Daiquiri, Mojito, Mai Tai, or LIT
Tequila
A clear to dark, firey spirit made from blue agave. Ex: Margarita or LIT
Triple Sec
A clear, orange tasting spirit made from neutral grain flavored with orange. Ex: Old
Fashioned or LIT
Whiskey
A brown, oaky/smoky tasting spirit made from neutral grain. Ex: Manhattan
Bourbon
A brown, sweet smoky/oaky tasting spirit made from 51% corn. Ex: Mint Julep
Vodka Call Brands
Grey Goose, Absolut, Ketel One, Belvedere
Gin Call Brands
Beefeater, Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire, Hendrick's
Rum Call Brands
Bacardi, Mount Gay, Meyer's, Havana Club
Tequila Call Brands
Jose Cuervo, Patron, Don Julio, Sauza
Whiskey Call Brands
Bulleit, Jack Daniels, Crown Royal, Jameson's
Bourbon Call Brands
Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve
Triple Sec Substitutions
Blue Curacao, Cointreau, Grand Mariner
Vanilla Vodka Substitution
Cintron Vodka or Vodka with a splash of Rose's Lime Juice
Rose's Lime Juice Substitution
Lime and Sugar/simple syrup
Seltzer & Sugar Substitution
7up
Liquers
(also known as schnapps or cordials) are liquors that have added sugar after
distillation with an ABV between 15-20%
Types of Liquers
Amaretto, Bailey's Irish Cream, Campari, Chambord, Frangelico, Triple Sec (most
common)
Red Drink Garnish
Green Garnish
Blue Drink Garnish
, Yellow Garnish
Tonic Garnish
Lime Garnish
Seltzer Garnish
Lemon Garnish
Highballs
Easy drinks made with 1 liquor and at least 1 non-alcoholic mixer, such as soda or
juice. These hold 8-12 ounces of liquid and should be stirred, not shaken.
Standard Highball Drink
1 part liquor to 4 parts mixer
Highball Drinks
Screwdriver, Sex on the Beach, Malibu Bay Breeze, Tequila Sunrise + Moscow Mule
Screwdriver
1.5 oz Vodka
Fill with orange juice
Lime Garnish
Sex on the Beach
0.75 oz Vodka
0.75 oz Peach Schnapps
Fill with mix of half cranberry juice and half orange juice
Lime garnish
Malibu Bay Breeze
1.5 oz Malibu
Fill with a mix of half pineapple juice and half cranberry juice
Lime Garnish
Tequila Sunrise
1.5 oz Tequila
Fill with orange juice
Sink Grenadine down sides of glass
Moscow Mule
1.5 oz vodka
4 oz ginger beer
.25 oz lime juice
lime garnish
Bitters
a staple of many classic cocktails, these are infused alcoholic mixtures usually high
in alcoholic content (about 40% ABV); adding 2 dashes is enough
Angostura Bitters
most common bitter; spicy, herbal flavor and dark coloring (ex: Old Fashioned)
Infusions
the process of adding the flavor of herbs, spices and fruits to liquors to create a
custom spirit (ex: jalepeno tequila, rosemary gin, and lemon vodka)
Reasons Drinks are Shaken
to chill contents, to mix 3+ liquors/liqeurs evenly, to mix anything with cream, syrups,
or solids
Collins Glass
typically holds 10-14 oz of liquid; narrower than a highball glass but interchangeable
Lowball or Rocks Glass
short tumbler used to serve alcoholic drinks with ice that holds between 6-10 oz
Shaken Drinks
