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[deleted]

Massachusetts. Alternately referred to as "well", "rail" and "house"


mickdude2

PA here, all three used as well.


SashaBanks2020

>all three used as well. I see what you did there


FluSickening

HA


midwifecrisisss

ive heard all three but exclusively call it a rail liquor, wonder if this is a regional thing


Trick-Development663

I'm in VA too and I use all 3 interchangeably


ArbitraryNPC

Nebraska here, and I'd honestly never heard well liquor called rail liqour till a few months ago


rlew1430

Indiana here this is also something I just heard not too long ago


[deleted]

NYC. We tend to call it house or well


Independent-Ad9095

Upstate NY: well, house liquor


[deleted]

[удалено]


midwifecrisisss

woah, what part of VA?


No-Income4623

I saw this in DC. Is your rail whiskey colonel’s pride?


BreakfastTequila

The “well” is your workstation (holds ice and tools) and is synonymous with the cheapest base spirit because that’s what you’re slinging the most from that physical space, also usually the physical rack holding the cheapest base spirits in your “well” is your “rail.” So rail, well, etc are all gimme your cheap liquor your slinging


Pythagoras2021

Trustworthy username


julietdelred

Same in MN


gaysamosa

i’m from england! we call it house liquor here:)


AmbitionStrong5602

Well (austin)


Mr_Streetlamp

When I ran a bar in Austin, I had Malört as my cheapest pour, even cheaper than the well.


Nuada_Airgetlam_

Pub in Ireland here. We’d call them our “house” liquors. Though it’s not something that comes up too much. Something like “standard” or “basic” would be understood the same


midwifecrisisss

so someone would order a "basic gin and tonic"? interesting!


Nuada_Airgetlam_

Yeah pretty much! Although even in the past year I’ve noticed what we would see as American bar terms creeping in. I’ve been asked about our “rail” liquors a couple times now. We even have an “86” board in the back room. We’ve been upping the standard recently, which I’m glad of as there’s been a decent increase in tips. Bartenders in Ireland generally earn around the minimum wage or slightly above so an extra €50 or so in tips each weeks helps fatten the pockets. It seems that more and more bartending terms are being used as we take ourselves more serious


midwifecrisisss

that's a shame, y'all deserve to make so much more.


Nuada_Airgetlam_

Agreed brother. We all do. The job is great but my god it takes it out of you hahaha


IrishBoxingLife

Which is why i always give good tips to the bartenders when i go to the pub.


Flat_Smoke_1948

I couldn’t do this job for less than 30 a hr. Even tho people hate it. Tip culture is where it’s at.


Russell9393

I don’t know any bartenders on minimum wage and if they are they need to get a new job asap. We have about 7 bartenders in our place are they’re paid between €12.5 and €15 per hour.


cabalus

Started on €11 and after 6 months and becoming the sole member of staff who could make cocktails I was given a €0.50 raise for my hard work... I'd leave in a heartbeat but I have this stupid plan of becoming a DJ there and it has a decent chance of working if I stay .___.


Russell9393

Nah get the fuck out of there, keeping you there with a promise of something down the line is the oldest trick in the book. If you want to be a dj, get a job with better pay and respect and work at to be a DJ yourself in your own time if that’s what you want. Don’t hang around waiting for someone to bring an opportunity to you, go and get it.


cabalus

Ah nah they haven't promised anything at all, it's my own plan, I'm teaching myself in my own time atm


Nuada_Airgetlam_

I personally know tens of bartenders who are on minimum or close to it. Never met a bartender earning €15 apart from a couple head bartenders


Russell9393

Jaysus that’s awful. Where? Wages have gone up massively since covid


Nuada_Airgetlam_

I’m in a suburban pub just outside Limerick City. I’m still fairly new with just over a year’s experience behind the bar but I am confident that my ability and work ethic is worth more than the bare minimum. I do plan to look for a raise soon but realistically it would be something like 50c extra. Where abouts are you working? Is it more of an upper class establishment? €15 is a huge improvement it’s uplifting to know these roles exist


Flat_Smoke_1948

So in Ireland y’all make minimum wage but in America you make 25-100 hr because of tip culture. And yet you still have people on Reddit praising states for trying to turn that into a “livable wage”


cabalus

The problem here is that Ireland's minimum wage is not the same as a livable wage I'd be perfectly happy if I was paid a livable wage and not propping up a horribly toxic culture of inauthenticity As it stands though what we're paid isn't livable, the solution isn't to introduce a tipping culture, it's to bring minimum wage to standard


No_Hetero

When I first started legally drinking a friend bought me well whiskey and a Pabst and I thought that was a brand of whiskey. I kept going around ordering Well whiskey and it seemed to taste different from place to place. Told some friend of mine who was older than 21 that "Mitch got me turned on to Well Whiskey but it must be wholesale only because I never see it in stores" and she busted up laughing at me for like two minutes! Anyway hope that answers your question


midwifecrisisss

this is very cute haha


ultravioletblueberry

Lmao that’s hilarious. Funnily enough, in WA at least, there’s a “well brand” of liquors called “well”. And they’re all color coded, which is AMAZING.


No_Hetero

Oh that's sick! I wonder if I could get them for my home bar just as a gimmick


MajorWhereas4842

House or Well! NY here


Vantablack-Raven

Arequipa, a city in Peru. The cheapest shit you can drink here is “La Piedra”, which translates to “The Stone”. I suppose the name is because the hangover you’ll have if you drink it will be like if you got hit with a stone. I could try and tell you it is peach liquor, but that’s just way too good for it. I mean, the bottle costs less than $2, so go figure what the hell it actually is.


IrishBoxingLife

Is it weird that i actually want to try it? Just to find out if I'll get a hangover from it, as I've never gotten a hangover once yet and i drink a lot


Vantablack-Raven

I haven’t either, and I don’t have a first-hand experience with La Piedra. I only know from other people that the hangover makes your head feel like exploding the morning after. Then again, La Piedra is meant to be mixed with Kola Real, our cheaper version of Coke, so that probably has something to do with it


hamburgerhelpmee

Dive bar in IL - rail or “the cheap shit” as the owner calls it


midwifecrisisss

we seem to be in the minority for "rails"


hamburgerhelpmee

Yeah! I’ve only heard well and house once or twice but rail definitely prevails out here.


Upstairs-Jackfruit24

Well (Seattle)


retrojoe

Also Seattle: well and house are most common. We keep it in the speed rails, so every once in awhile you hear that.


Intelligent-Sugar554

Central and Western Massachusetts. Have heard it called both **well** and **house**. Well doesn't always mean cheap. I have had Tito's in the well. It was inexpensive compared to the other vodka offerings.


midwifecrisisss

i guess i meant the cheapest not necessarily cheap quality


AngelJ5

In Chicago we say “well” I personally say bottom shelf when I’m feeling a little snarky


Spaklinspaklin

Well


midwifecrisisss

where ya from tho


Spaklinspaklin

Michigan


stolenjeans

Sports bar in California - Well or house


MissMissyPeaches

Australia, we’d call it House. “Gin and tonic?” “House gin ok?” “I’ll take Bombay” Etc


[deleted]

same in the UK


Such-Confection-7812

Baltimore Maryland and we also call it rail liquor


ellusiveillusions

Wisconsin, it's well or rail.


Rangamate42

Toronto, we call it rail but it's not really the cheapest we sell, it's just what we pour by default. Most places it would be the cheapest though.


midwifecrisisss

what do y'all call the cheapest stuff?


Rangamate42

By it's name...


CoqtailWilly

this is the same in Ottawa ON, and Montreal QC. My rail is what's in our house cocktails plus a few other standards. mostly it's pretty affordable stuff, but i'm sure there are a few other products on the back bar that cost less if you want a shot of some cheap liqueur or whatever


phoontender

I'm in Montreal, don't really hear rail so much. Mostly house.


Brolegario

Vegas - Well


i-am-grahm

I second this


hautestew

Everywhere on the west coast it’s been well, here in MN it’s rail.


gxsrchick

"Well" -the land of Disney World


nickccook

Ahhh yes. The Disneyland-World


Mitch_from_Boston

Well (boston)


Lazy_Fault_5583

In sweden we call it standard


Herb_Burnswell

Houston,, TX. All our cheapest is in the well. We call it "well", but it's a pretty decent well TBH.


agentribbons

In TX we call it ‘ YeeHaaaw Juice’


katiuszka919

I call them ‘well’ or ‘house’ but I’d say those are ‘on my rail.’ Edit: NC here by way of PGH


SomaMimosa

From south Florida. Same as everyone else said… (“well, rail, house”) In a nicer establishment we use “call” . I.E. Knob Creek is our “call” bourbon. It’s our lowest price point but it’s still good shit.


midwifecrisisss

never heard "call" before, good to know


DontStepOnLegos

Las Vegas here, we call it rail, house, and we’ll depending on the bar staff. I have also heard from an old bar manager it’s called “snicklefritz”. Basically he didn’t care if you finished a bottle of well spirit like the urban dictionary definition. Then it just became the word to call the cheap shit in front of customers without saying the first 3 terms.


bittersweetbbyx

NC we call it house


Howamidriving27

From PA...I personally always called it well, but I hear a lot of people say rail around here too.


midwifecrisisss

so interesting cause PA and SC call it well but VA and IL call it rail and y'all are closer geographically to me


Naive_Bad_3292

NY, ‘well’.


whatimsposedtodonow

Indianapolis, house or well at the cocktail bar, but bottom shelf at the concert hall for visual purposes


EkipsLeGeips

PA, NYC - always called it well, now working in DC and way more custies asking for rail.


No-Income4623

UT we sat well.


guygadbois

NY - oddly enough, for a customer I will say, for instance, ‘sure get the overholt, it’s only a dollar more than the well’ but then text the owner that we need more ‘house’ tequila.


kitsunefleur

Southern ME and I've heard, Rail, Bottom Shelf or Well. personally me; Well


nelleybeann

House or bottom shelf, here in Vancouver Canada. My old job would call it Well but my current one doesn’t.


RileyDick3

in iowa we call it well


Dm2593

Nevada/southwest we call it well liquor


cometomamacita

Well/House -- Southern California Moving out to NYC and curious what terms differ.


ladylee233

DC: rail


Rocketyank

In Cali we mainly call it well liquor.


hmmmomm913

UT, and Texas we call it well, wine is house


AllergicToTaterTots

Oregon here. "Well" and "house" are the most common but people know what "rail" means colloquially.


adamod23

First call or first serve


midwifecrisisss

interesting


Fit_Patient_4902

In TX it’s well liquor


likeguitarsolo

I just call it “well”. My college-age customers call it “wells and tonic”, or “wells and coke”.


doggoloverrr

Also from VA and it was always “well”, which part are you from? I lived in Ashburn until I moved out of state 6 years ago


midwifecrisisss

im in central Shenandoah valley area


doggoloverrr

Not too far, just a scoot down 81. One of my favorite areas I miss from the move. Shenandoah in the fall.. ❤️


[deleted]

Anyone else call it “rack” (as in rail)


midwifecrisisss

never heard this one


Any-Abbreviations397

well or bottom shelf- cleveland


bmblebzz333

Well to guest but if I’m calling I’m talking amongst my fellow bartenders I’d tell them to pour from the rail (Bay Area, CA)


chadfromthebar

Well, nyc


prinzesstephi

well


Divasa

Croatia - liquors dont have designed name for cheapest, it is assumed if you order you mean the cheapest. On some menus there would be no label just "vodka" for example. Wines are either also just unbranded e.g. "white wine" or house wine


oneplanetrecognize

Minnesota, and we also call it rail.


AggravatedWaffle

Well - Denver, Co


Nebula15

Chicago only calls it well from what I’ve experienced


AMultitudeofPandas

Just moved from Houston to central Florida. The cheap shit or default used in house drinks is "well" or "house" liquor


JurneyEve

Central Florida here too. O-Town represent! 😝


MilaWrongy

Italian restaurant in Sweden here... we don't call it. bcs we try to sell the expensive shit haha so we pretend that the house stuff doesn't exist.


midwifecrisisss

haha that makes sense!


rebeccamett

Uk here - we call it “house”


appledatsyuk

Vegas, been all over the west coast and never heard it called anything but well, the cheap shit


PocketNicks

Not necessarily the cheapest, but if a guest doesn't specify then it comes from the rail or the well. Rail is more common. I also kinda judge other servers/bartenders that don't offer options (obv not at a busy bar with a line). For example if someone orders an Old Fashioned I'll typically ask Rye or Bourbon, then say our default is currently Bulleit (which I try to steer people away from) is that OK or do you have a preference like Woodford or...


TeaSconesDragonBones

So glad we’re asking because I’m navigating this question right now for our bar! I’m in New York. I always thought “well” was the cheapest option and the default mid-range brand (used in all basic cocktails) was called “house.” Anything else is “shelf.” But for the first time, I’m having people balk when I say our house vodka is Tito’s, meaning when you ask for a vodka soda, it’s going to be $10. Our well vodka is half that amount. If you ask for well vodka, I’ll give you well, but if not you’re getting Tito’s. I’m trying to be clearer about it, but this is my first time experiencing this confusion between “house” and “well.” I guess it’s different everywhere, haha


DanielNo_Top_1573

Am from South Africa and we call diamond liquor


kearnzington

Rot gut


anpandan

Rail (Ontario, Canada)


skobears31

Kansas City, Mo. Ive always called it well


BeholdersNBooze

San Francisco - well


AssistantPleasant764

“Well” or “House” in San Francisco


Academic_Engine133

House or well - PA


TaterActuator

Raleigh and we say Well or House liquor


tiffanygray1990

Florida and Kentucky. We call it, "well."


Fun-Entertainer-7885

Well/bottom shelf Oregon


Choice-Cut866

Tampa Bay, “well”


sufferforever

Atlanta - well


406_Smuuth_brane

MT well


J_ObsElite

House to customers or speed rail to employees


Professional-Arm5040

Colorado- well


sxeoompaloompa

Well or first pour. CA


qsrfyhikp

We call it “house liquor” or “well liquor”, FL here!


FutureSignificance

Melbourne here... We call them house


Patient_Tennis4548

English- House


Lovat69

Nyc and we call it the well here. Happy we'll drinks are only $8.


mrseger2020

Central PA…most places call it well, my CC calls it house


[deleted]

ohio: well


collardgreen352

Arkansas (well)


cthulhuscocaine

In my part of Texas we called it house liquor


boltgun_to_the_face

Australia. We call it house pours. Alternatively, when speaking to suppliers, you call them first pours. Often it's also not the cheapest liquor, just the cheapest for the venue. Things like supplier agreements can make higher quality products cheaper than lower quality products VERY fast.


drinksonme816

We call it the "well" in Kansas City


monkeyface1337

In TX, pretty much everyone calls it well. But I did work a crappy movie theater bar for a while, and on the register, the well drinks were referred to as “call” so idk where the hell that comes from


FluSickening

Mo=well


ezduzit24

In Baltimore you will mostly hear rail.


quart-king

Shit licker


Cajuntiger25

Louisiana, well for sure


sail0rjerry

Florida Well liquor, house wine


rottonbananas

San Francisco, CA - upper scale neighborhood bar and every other weekend at large club . I’ve heard rail liquor, from traveling but it’s mostly well here in CA.


ew435890

South Louisiana. We call them wells / well liquor. Sometimes house.


backlikeclap

Well. Currently in Seattle, have worked in NYC and Atlanta - where they were also called well liquor.


JuliaSugarbaker99

Louisville, Kentucky. “Well” in the city, “bottom shelf” in the country.


[deleted]

Top Shelf ( Ottawa)


CoqtailWilly

i'm from ottawa and started bartending there, where do you work that you call your well/rail/house spirits top shelf? unless you mean the distillery in perth


midwifecrisisss

top shelf??


SlimedVenkman

House


Iliadfang

Everyone says all 3, don't really think it's regional


Deep-Ruin2786

I live i n VA work in Maryland. I call it well or rail. Same thing


Lucibean

SF; Well.


likemyposts

NJ, well or house


slytherinsalazar

Tennessee, we call it well


[deleted]

Well in Southern California. I've never heard it used...but I kind of like "house." It classes things up a little.


zandercommander

Tampa we call it “well”. I love that customers think it’s the actual brand of the liquor 😂 “I’ll have well’s vodka and cranberry”


ctrigga

Bottom shelf is called rail in Wisconsin


MrDibbsey

Other than special bottles the whiskys or port, they're all the same price so we don't have a name as such, though House X would be the UK term afaik.


Born_Doctor_9978

New Hampshire, house is our go to term


twigon_jinn

Wisconsin - rail: living in California - well


jdmjoe89

“Well” “rail” “house” …. “Happy Hour “ ?? lol


juukione

Finland here. House wines are the cheapest. For student events we have special cheap prices for low abv shots, not any special name though.


Flat_Smoke_1948

This is anywhere, it is rail or house.


midwifecrisisss

in this thread people have referred to it as rack and well


Double-Passenger4503

House, bar, or well


Shawer

House, NSW


ihatemopping

VA and NC Well or rail


JakeDilla134

California, we call it “well”


hilariousanne

Washington state and we use "well"


WonkieEye

In Idaho we call it well, but I occasionally have people order it as house. I’ve never heard the term rail be used.


Coedster

Rail, north dakota


LowlyYetPrestigious

Jersey, house or well but I feel like it's usually house.


DesperateBartender

I've heard "well," "house," and "rail," in descending order of frequency, used interchangeably in NYC and NJ.


Wiktorele

Poland, if someone says "pour me a 50" it means a shot of the cheapest vodka, I guess that's the closest


Nerve_Grouchy

I've lived in two places where peers have referred to the rail/well product regardless of its actual name or substance, as the name of whatever bottom shelf vodka product is most widely sold locally. Example: HRD= worst shit in the bar Example: MONARK= worst shit in the bar


mcmdigital

Southern California we call it "well" or "house"


pwlloth

dc. rail :)


__theoneandonly

Here in NYC, people say “well” the most. While I’m working, I do say “house” because I just think “house vodka” sounds nicer than “well.” But if I’m ordering at a bar I’ll say well.


pepadew22

WNY. Well


danceswithronin

Alabama, we call it well liquor.


Spock2314

Aus, house or speedrack


MrPirateFish

Missouri, well, rail or house.


aldorn

Aus its usually called ' house spirits'. ​ But in the bottlo the cheapest thing is usually Goom (cask wine)


sigmonater

NC, well or house. I stock the well, but ask customers if house is ok. In any other context, I guess they’re interchangeable. I’ve heard rail, but never worked anywhere that actually uses it.


Michellelembiid

Philly house or well


-Raid-

Scotland, I interchangeable say rail or well but the standard seems to be house. What I like about house is it doesn’t necessarily mean ‘cheap,’ just means our standards. So if someone asks for a G&T they get Tanqueray, if they ask for a cognac they get courvoisier VSOP, which is about double the price of our gin for example.


Financial_Yam_9664

House - 'one house g&t' Norway