What does "up" mean when referring to a drink?

When a drink is described as "up," it means that it is served chilled but without ice. This typically involves the drink being shaken or stirred with ice to chill it, and then strained into a glass, which usually does not contain ice. The result is a cooler drink that is smooth and neat, allowing the flavors to shine without the dilution that comes from melting ice.

This term is commonly used with cocktails like martinis, which are traditionally served "up" in a stemmed glass, emphasizing the drink's clarity and presentation. In contrast, serving a drink "on the rocks" would mean pouring it over ice, which is fundamentally different from the "up" serving method.