Technique
Build
To build a drink is to make it straight in the glass it's served in, pouring the ingredients over ice one after another, with no shaker or mixing glass.
In practice
Fill the glass with ice, pour in the spirit and any juice or syrup, then top with the mixer and give it one gentle stir. Highballs like the Gin and Tonic and the Moscow Mule are built, which keeps the bubbles lively.
Drinks to try it with
Build, in short
What does build mean in cocktails?
To build a drink is to make it straight in the glass it's served in, pouring the ingredients over ice one after another, with no shaker or mixing glass.