One word drink names

The Ultimate Guide To Choosing A Catchy Drink Name

Imagine you meet someone for the first time in a bar, cafe, or restaurant. The waiter comes along and they order their usual pick-me-up. As soon as they say that drink name out loud, you already feel like you know more about them, don’t you?

Drinks have a personality to them and sometimes they tell a lot about the person holding the glass. Whether it’s a cocktail you come across in every bar or a canned beverage, drinks have their own brand and much of that is told through their names.

If you’re looking for a cool and refreshing name for your new signature cocktail or beverage brand, try our free Drink Name Generator. All you need to do is type what comes first to your mind into the generator search bar and you’ll get thousands of drink name ideas to choose from for your unique beverage.

We’ve also gathered the best strategies for naming your drink from our branding experts below. Read on to find tons of catchy drink name ideas for you to get inspired by and learn how you can choose the best for your beverage.

The Best Names For Drinks

There’s a huge difference between the way you would name a limited-edition premium scotch and a fuzzy fun soda you can pick up at the school canteen. Cocktails often have very playful names while liquors tend to emphasize their quality or the party vibes they bring. Each beverage has its own tone and you need to keep that in mind when choosing between drink name ideas. Here are some tips on how you can get started.

15 Fun Cocktail Names

If only there was a cocktail name generator that would just come up with cocktail name ideas for you. Well, there is! Head over to our BizNameWiz Drink Name Generator and find the best name for your new signature drink recipe. We’ve also listed our 15 favorite cocktail name ideas below to help you with brainstorming.

Best Mocktail Names

Virgin Colada

Sober On The Rocks

Nojito

Safe Sex On The Beach

Cinderella

Best Liquor-Based Cocktail Names

Don’t Tell Mama

Tropical Island

Orange County

Kamikaze

Swimming Pool

Best Names for Signature Cocktails

Jerry’s Signature

Bittersweet Symphony

Mojito With A Twist

Sally’s Favorite

Signature Martini

Tips For Creating A Cocktail Name

Cocktail names should be as fun and playful as possible — puns are very much intended here! You can hint at the most overpowering or the most unique ingredient in the recipe. You can also make up cocktail name ideas that convey a certain mood or describe the character of the person who drinks it. Mocktails work just the same but often suggest that they are “virgin” while some alcoholic cocktails joke about being tipsy. If you have a unique signature cocktail, you can name it after your bar or the bartender who invented it.

15 Powerful Liquor Names

There are several personality tests online that tell you what kind of person you are based on your go-to beverage — and for good reason. Though there’s much more to our personality type than what we have in our glasses, each liquor goes with a different occasion and conveys a very different message to the guests you serve it for. Below, you can see some drink name ideas for each category and some tips on how you can name your whisky, vodka, or gin label.

Whisky Brand Names

Royal Bourbon

Headstrong

Highland’s Malt

Kentucky Club

Velvet Blend

Vodka Brand Names

Iceberg

Vecherinka

Iced Muff

Eternal Flame

Midnight Mist

Gin Brand Names

Connoisseur

Rare Find

Sapphire Night

Botanique

Herbaura

Tips For Naming Your Liquor Brand

Every liquor label has its own story, often one that’s been passed down from generation to generation. Even if you start a new beverage brand, you can share what inspired you to create it and capture it in the name. Some brands connect the spirit they sell to a particular myth or character that their target audience identifies themselves with.

Sophisticated whisky drinkers care much more about the premium feel and the quality of what they drink so an exclusive-sounding or even royal name often works with them. On the other hand, the young festival crowd would much prefer a drink name that evokes the feeling of fun and shared moments. Know your target audience inside and out and choose a brand name that they best respond to.

15 Creative Names For Beer, Wine, And Soda

Have you ever wondered why you would order a Corona at a beach party and a Guinness in an Irish pub but never the other way round? Or why a wine with a French name sounds instantly more sophisticated? There’s a lot being said in a simple beer, wine, or soda name beyond just the taste. Here are some drink name ideas that will demonstrate how.

Beer Names

Moonlight Lager

Knightingale

Golden Arrow

Summersbrew

TropicAle

Wine Names

Castillo Del Sol

The Old Oak

Nuit Noire

Red Rose

Mademoiselle Bordeaux

Soda Names

Fruit Punch

Fizzu

Berry Hills

Gingr

Tropical Sun

Tips For Naming A Beer, Wine, Or Soda

Light beers are more associated with cooling down in the summer heat and therefore these drinks are often branded with bright symbols like gold or the sun. Darker beers have a much more robust taste and are more likely to be consumed indoors at night as their names suggest. Beer drinkers seem to resonate with heroic symbolism such as knights, partially because some of the most famous beers are from countries with rich medieval history such as Germany or the Czech Republic.

Wine labels are much rather associated with romantic nights or a Mediterranean lifestyle. Since the best wineries in the world are in France and Spain, you’ll find that many wine brands have names in these languages (whether or not they were actually made there). The symbolism used for branding wine labels is more connected to beauty, love, and certain tones dominating the taste of the wine.

Sodas cater to a much broader audience as an any-time-of-the-day drink that underage people can consume too. Drinking a soda is less of a ritual and more of an everyday refreshment so soda names seem to revolve around the fruity, fizzy nature of the drink and speak to a younger, more casual audience.

The Best Real Drink Names

There are some creative drink names that immediately catch your attention when you look through the drink menu of a bar or restaurant. They might even intrigue you enough to give up your usual on the rocks and try something new. So what’s in a name? Here’s how the best real drink names came about and why they are so genius.

Sex On The Beach

How Sex On The Beach Got Its Name

Sex on the Beach is made of peach schnapps, vodka, orange juice, pineapple, and cranberry juice. It’s a very fruity, light cocktail that is indeed a perfect companion on a sunny day at the beach, or any time when we’re craving those sun-kissed vibes.

The name came about when a peach schnapps distributor sponsored a contest to award the bar that sold the most of their bottles. Jumping on the opportunity, a bartender from Florida, Ted Pizio created this sweet recipe and called it Sex on the Beach, inspired by the two things that lured spring breakers to the Sunshine State each year…

Why Sex On The Beach Is A Great Drink Name

Whether you blush or get impressed by this bold drink name, one thing is for sure: once you hear it, you’ll never forget it. Ted Pizio knew his audience well. While this drink could have been a failed attempt in a prestigious lounge bar at first, it definitely clicked on the coast of Florida which then made it internationally known.

Mimosa

How Mimosa Got Its Name

Mimosa is an extremely simple cocktail that’s made from sparkling wine and fruit juice (normally orange) and is a popular choice at leisurely weekend brunches. The name was inspired by a plant called acacia dealbata or in other words, the mimosa trees. This tree has orange-yellow colored flowers which resemble the color of this bubbly drink. 

Why Mimosa Is A Great Drink Name

Mimosa is a beautiful sounding, euphonious name. In Spanish, mimoso means affectionate and loving and the association with the yellow flowers creates an additional romantic feel for this popular weekend drink. Mimosas are usually consumed during the day at sunny brunches with friends and family who are close to you so besides being a delicious pick-me-up, this cocktail also brings you into the right mood for those occasions.

Red Bull

How Red Bull Got Its Name

Red Bull is one of the most popular energy drinks in the world today. The recipe originates from a drink called Krating Daeng which means red gaur in the Thai language. This drink used to be the go-to beverage for truck drivers in Thailand to be able to stay up on long rides.

Dietrich Mateschitz, the Austrian businessman discovered that this beverage helped him overcome his jetlag on his business trips to Asia and brought it to Europe. He named it Red Bull and added the sparkly texture so that it could be marketed as a party mixer.

Why Red Bull Is A Great Drink Name

The red color in the drink name represents energy and the bull refers to power and perseverance. Mateschitz simply changed the name of the animal to something that a European audience could better resonate with instead of the gaur more typical for Asian countries. Red Bull drinkers reach for this drink in order to bring themselves to peak energy and performance or simply stay awake so the strong symbolism was an excellent way to get this message across.

Rumble In The Jungle

How Rumble In The Jungle Got Its Name

Rumble in the Jungle is a citrusy cocktail with a rum base. There are different versions of it and some recipes use special ingredients like pandan leaves or coconut flavor in order to bring out the jungle feel. Rumble in the Jungle refers to one of the most legendary fights in history when Muhammad Ali beat George Foreman and became the heavyweight champion of the world for the second time.

Why Rumble In The Jungle Is A Great Drink Name

Rumble in the Jungle is a catchy drink name for multiple reasons. First of all, it has a rhyme that gives it a great rhythm. It’s also a perfect name choice for drinks that use ingredients that resemble the jungle, such as coconuts or pandan leaves. Last but not least, it has a cultural reference with a positive association, so drinking it won’t just taste good but will instantly make you feel like a champ.

Angel’s Trumpets

How Angel’s Trumpets Got Its Name

Angel’s Trumpets is one of the signature cocktails of the Four Seasons Hotel that is described as clean, floral, and fluffy. It’s made with vodka and absinthe mist as a base and paired with unique floral ingredients such as gentian hydrosol and muyu jasmine verte.

Angel’s trumpet is a flower that’s believed to induce hallucinations and euphoria. Very fittingly, Four Seasons claims that after drinking this one of a kind mix, “heavenly notes transport you to flowery meadows where woodland nymphs dance to a mesmerizing tune.”

Why Angel’s Trumpets Is A Great Drink Name

Angel’s Trumpets is a premium cocktail made with extremely high quality ingredients and craftsmanship. It deserves a name just as heightened and this rare flower was the perfect choice to do justice to it. Besides an association with nature, this plant has also given the perfect opportunity for this drink to be spiced up with a mythical story that makes it all the more alluring.

How The Most Popular Drinks Got Their Names

The beverage industry is extremely competitive and it’s not easy to rise to the top. Yet, these famous drinks and beverage labels became one of the bests in their respective categories and are known all around the world. Let’s look at what we can learn from these well-known beverages and their naming strategies.

Johnnie Walker

How Johnnie Walker Got Its Name

Johnnie Walker was a real person, born in 1805 in Scotland as a farmer’s son. He started his own grocer’s shop where he stocked a line of single malts. Later, he discovered his talent for whisky as he created a unique blend of them and unlike other sellers at the time, kept it consistent with the same taste and sold it as his own label. 

Why Johnnie Walker Is A Great Drink Name

The Johnnie Walker brand is built on over 200 years of tradition and experience. It has an extremely strong origin story that revolves around a man from humble beginnings with an entrepreneurial spirit. We’re more likely to come across this underdog, rags to riches trope today amongst startup founders but the moral of the story remains the same. Anyone who resonates with the entrepreneurial spirit of Johnnie would surely reach for this label and drink it proudly on a night out.

Manhattan

How Manhattan Got Its Name

This popular cocktail goes back to as early as the 1800s and it’s made with rye, sweet vermouth, and bitters. According to a legend, Manhattan was specifically created for a banquet hosted by Lady Randolph Churchill (mother of Winston Churchill) at the upscale Manhattan Club in New York.

Why Manhattan Is A Great Drink Name

The origin story of this drink definitely positions it as a premium cocktail and makes you feel fancy when you order it on a night out. Drinks that are named after a city tend to be popular, especially if they can be associated with its vibe, like Moscow Mule or Singapore Sling.

Grey Goose

How Grey Goose Got Its Name

Grey Goose is one of the most popular vodka labels out there with the emblematic flying bird on its bottle and the fitting tagline “fly beyond.” They say the name was inspired by the geese that drink from the fountain in front of the Hotel de Ville in Cognac, France, the place where Grey Goose vodka is made.

Why Grey Goose Is A Great Drink Name

The icy blue and gray tones of the branding go well with the transparent cold drink and the name fits perfectly into that concept. Besides an interesting origin story, birds also symbolize freedom and a feeling of being carefree that the target audience of the label seems to connect with.

Margarita

How Margarita Got Its Name

Legend says that the origin story of the Margarita is connected to an actress called Marjorie King. Bartender Carlos “Danny” Herrera made the drink in 1938 in Tijuana, Mexico for her because allegedly, she was allergic to everything except tequila. Herrera named the drink Margarita which was a Spanish way of saying Marjorie’s name, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Why Margarita Is A Great Drink Name

The combination of sweet, salty, and sour notes makes this cocktail a vibrant drink that’s often portrayed in movies as something housewives would drink on the porch on a relaxing afternoon. Besides Margarita being a beautiful name, the story around this flavorful drink also makes you feel like a movie star.

Familia Torres

How Familia Torres Got Its Name

Familia Torres is the number one wine brand in the world with a 150-year-old history. The Torres family the label was named after has been making bottles for the last five generations. In fact, even Majesty King Alfonso XIII visited their winery in 1904. Since then Familia Torres has received many awards and it was the only Spanish winery mentioned in the “Hall of Fame” by the American magazine Wine Spectator.

Why Familia Torres Is A Great Drink Name

Naming your brand after your family is a big commitment that not many entrepreneurs make in today’s rapidly changing world. However, there’s immense value in tradition when it comes to branding. Brands evolve over a long period of time so the ones that have some kind of history to build upon usually win in the long run. It’s the “survival of the fittest” brand that earns the highest brand recognition.

5 Tips For Creating Your Own Drink Name

Know Your Audience

The number one rule in branding is especially true for broad industries like the beverage market. Run research on where and when people consume drinks similar to yours. A light, fruity drink feels more refreshing on a relaxing summer evening or brunch, while more robust tasting liquor is more fitting to seated indoor events where they can be savored slowly.

Customers in different age groups and with different levels of purchasing power also have distinct drinking habits that you need to take into consideration. Map out your customer avatar in detail and find out what their consumption habits are to get an idea of what type of drink names might resonate with them.

Use Symbolism

Brand names that say more than what they literally mean are the most powerful. If you name your beverage label or cocktail after a plant, flower, or animal associated with the qualities you want to convey you can use it to create subliminal messaging in your branding strategy. For example, birds are associated with freedom while bulls are associated with strength. Find out what your target audience wants so you know what tropes you can use to speak to them.

Tell A Story

Besides symbolism, origin stories are extremely powerful in brand names. Think of drink name ideas that can be tied to mythical stories or legends with a positive, empowering message. If you have a unique story of how you came up with the recipe of your drink or the idea to start a label, even better: tell your own unique story in a name that best represents it. It won’t just make it catchy but also attract media attention.

Keep The Tradition

If you have a beverage label that has been passed down from generation to generation in your family or within your business, be sure to leverage that. People trust brands that have been around for a long time so it’s worth using that experience to your advantage.

Use The Drink Name Generator

You don’t have to come up with your drink name ideas by yourself, that’s what the BizNameWiz Drink Name Generator was created for! Just type some words into the generator that you want to associate with your brand or product and get thousands of ideas you can choose from. Shortlist the ones that you find most memorable and rate them from 1-10 to find the winner, or ask others around you for their rating to get an outside perspective.

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