Well drink

A well drink or rail drink is an alcoholic beverage or mixed drink made using the lower-cost liquors stored within easy reach of the bartender in the bar's "speed rail", "speed rack", or "well", a rack or shelf at a lower level than the bar that the bartender uses to prepare drinks.

Common well drinks include at least one variety each of gin, rum, whiskey, vodka, bourbon, tequila, triple sec, and vermouth.

[1] Some establishments that cater to higher-end clientele or wish to project an aura of luxury choose premium brands to be their well liquors (thus offering a "premium well").

[5][4] A rail or well drink is usually served when a customer does not specify that a particular brand of liquor be used.

[1][2][8] For example, a customer order for a "Scotch and soda" would lead the bartender to use a rail/well Scotch whisky and would be priced as a well drink, whereas ordering "Glenlivet and soda" would be a call drink.

This view from behind a Berlin bar shows the rows of liquor bottles and mixers on the underbar shelf. They are stored so that these bottles are readily available to the bartender to make the most popular drinks.
The high shelves behind the bartender at New Orleans' Superior bar display the establishment's expensive, "top shelf" liquor brands.