What determines whether a cocktail is served straight-up rather than on the rocks?

• A. The recipe and service style
• B. The color of the garnish
• C. The size of the glass
• D. The time of day

Answer: (A)

Whether a cocktail is served straight-up or on the rocks is determined by how the drink is prepared and presented. The recipe tells you the ingredients and whether they should be chilled and diluted, and the service style tells you how the finished drink is presented to the guest. If you shake or stir with ice and then strain into a chilled glass without ice, the drink is served straight-up. If you build the drink over ice in a glass and serve it with the ice still in the glass, it’s served on the rocks. Garnish and glassware can vary, but they don’t decide the method. For example, a martini is typically served straight-up after chilling and straining, while a whiskey-based cocktail served over ice is served on the rocks. Time of day or garnish color aren’t the determining factors.