You’re at a bar and you want to try something new. Maybe the bar has a menu of specialty drinks, or maybe you’re flying blind. You ask the bartender, “Make me something good.” They return a sour look.

The bartender has been here before. They make something. The guest doesn’t like it. The guest is unhappy. The guest returns it. The guest tips poorly. The bartender is unhappy.

The bartender wants you to be happy.

But how do you tell the bartender what you like?

If you already know what kinds of drinks you like, this is easy. Tell the bartender “I like Margaritas and I’d like to try something new.” But what if you don’t know what kind of drink you like?

What if you just turned 21 and have never had a drink before? What if you usually drink beer or wine? What if you had a bad experience with a club drink 20 years ago and are just venturing back into cocktails?

Telling the bartender “I like something sweet” may not be the most helpful. Sweet is subjective. Do you like a hint of sweetness or do you like something that will dissolve your tooth enamel?

You need a common language.

If you know what some classic cocktails taste like, you can use them to describe what kinds of drinks you like.

Below are three categories of cocktail. They aren’t the only categories, but they’re rather large ones. Inside each category are a few well-known classics that every bartender should be able to make you.

If you don’t know these cocktails, try them.

Perhaps try drinks with a friend, so that if you really can’t stand one, your friend can finish it.

Try at least a few of the drinks below.

Once you’ve found a classic or two that you like (this may take a couple trips to a bar), you can try other classics that are related. See below for drinks related to the ones above.

Now you know what kinds of drink you like, and you can tell the bartender.

For example:

There are also many other types and categories of drinks, besides what we’ve explored here. Coffee drinks. Dessert drinks. Tiki drinks. Shots. And more. Happy exploring!