AP Sylebook's guide to cocktail consumption

On Monday, thousands took part in “National Margarita Day”—but not everyone used proper AP style in their online mentions of the honored drink.

For busy PR pros who favor a cocktail after a long day, the Associated Press’food editor, J.M. Hirsch, weighed in on how to correctly write about various libations. (If you’re unsure what constitutes a long day, consult this list of opportune occasions.)

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In the Stylebook’s recent Twitter chat, Hirsch answered questions about drink options—from Champagne to moonshine. Here are a few highlights, beginning with the margarita:

Mixed drinks

Capitalization is reserved for proper names of drinks and ingredients; lowercase the generics.

When making a margarita, reach for the tequila and orange liqueur, sometimes known as triple sec. #APStyleChat

— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) September 15, 2015

Cointreau is capitalized because it is a brand of orange liqueur, @apey1013. #APStyleChat

— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) September 15, 2015

Unless it’s a brand name, schnapps is lowercase. #APStyleChat

— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) September 15, 2015

Although the Stylebook says to capitalize the orange liqueur Cointreau, it advises to lowercase “amaretto”—the almond liqueur associated with Saronno, Italy. If you’re crafting an amaretto-flavored drink with Disaronno, be sure to capitalize the brand name.

Like other recipes, if a cocktail is named for a person or place, it is capitalized. Otherwise, lowercase. @j0vialsiren #APStyleChat

— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) September 15, 2015

A Manhattan is capitalized, an old fashioned is lowercase. Lowercase vermouth, which goes into a Manhattan. #APStyleChat

— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) September 15, 2015

For event gurus and party planners, there are two pages of the 2015 AP Stylebook dedicated to AP Recipe Style. If you’re writing a recipe for a cookbook, the section says to capitalize its title. When simply referring to a recipe, such as this Blue Lagoon margarita preparation, or these instructions for a classic Tom Collins, uppercase only the proper nouns.

Bubbly

If you’re toasting a colleague with a glass of Dom Pérignonor seeking something from France’s Champagne region to accompany your hors d'oeuvre, the Stylebook says to use a capital “C.” If you’re in Rome munching on an antipasto, you’re probably drinking prosecco, which is lowercase.

Champagne only comes from France. Anything else is sparkling wine. Neither prosecco nor cava are capitalized. #APStyleChat

— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) September 15, 2015

Although most cocktails are lowercase, some concoctions, such as the Bellini—made from sparkling wine and peach juice—require capitalization. A Benedictine—made from French liqueur, herbs and spices—also takes an uppercase “B,” the Stylebook says.

Whisky, whiskey and beer

It’s possible to order an old-fashioned with brandy, whisky or whiskey depending on your preference or the geographic location of your watering hole. If your choice is Canadian Club, then it’s “whisky.”If you’re more inclined to consume Wild Turkey or Jim Beam, then you’d be considered a bourbon whiskey devotee.

Whiskey loses its E when it’s made in Scotland. Use “whisky” only in conjunction with Scotch whisky and Canadian whisky. #APStyleChat

— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) September 15, 2015

Many Japanese distillers learned from the Scots so they use the spelling “whisky” in their proper names, @BeaumontDrinks. #APStyleChat

— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) September 15, 2015

Regardless of whether you’re being served whiskey, beer or a Shirley Temple, the Stylebook says the person making your drink is probably called a bartender. If the location specializes in craft cocktails, then you can get fancy:

We use bartender in most cases. In artisanal situations, you might use the term mixologist, @OKStateKD. #APStyleChat

— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) September 15, 2015

If you tend to stick with beer, note that small independent beer producers are often called craft breweries, but the preferred AP style term is “microbrewery.” 

Cheers!

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