Straight describes an alcoholic spirit served undiluted and unmixed — poured neat into a glass with nothing added, not even ice. Whisky, brandy, vodka, and tequila are all commonly ordered straight by drinkers who want to taste the spirit exactly as the distiller made it. Serving straight is also the baseline for judging quality: without mixers to hide behind, flaws in distillation or maturation are obvious. In bars the term distinguishes the serve from on the rocks (with ice) or mixed in a cocktail. Because the alcohol is undiluted, a straight measure is strong — typically 40% alcohol by volume or more — so it is sipped slowly rather than drunk quickly.