In
bartending, the correct usage of the term
straight up refers to a single, unmixed
liquor served chilled in a
stemmed glass. An unmixed liquor served
straight has been shaken or stirred with ice to chill it before serving it without the ice. Liquors or mixed drinks can be served
up, meaning that they are served in a stemmed glass. A
cocktail glass is the most commonly used stemmed glass in which to serve a drink "up" or "straight-up".
Neat vs. straight
"Straight" and "straight-up" are often incorrectly used to mean "neat" in the
US, referring to a single, unmixed liquor or
spirit served at room temperature, without any water or other
mixer. However in the
UK and many other countries "straight" actually is the correct term to use to mean the same thing as "neat" in the US, although both terms are widely accepted. Often some qualification of meaning is needed to identify what one actually wants.
Examples
It is common for a shot of
Tequila to be served "straight" ("neat") in a
shot glass. Many cocktails are served chilled in a cocktail glass; "up" (although one doesn't normally need to ask for it "up", but simply by name, e.g. "
martini cocktail" or more normally just "martini"). If a martini cocktail were made without
bitters and
vermouth, i.e. simply
gin on its own in a cocktail glass, it would thus have been served "straight-up".
See also
