The definitive guide to drinking like a Wall Streeter

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On New Year's Eve you may find yourself drinking with a Wall Streeter or two.

Best that you're prepared. These guys are experts.

Bankers drink to entertain clients, they drink to entertain themselves (when they have time), and they drink because it's tradition.

Wall Street lore has it that before Goldman Sachs went public, its London office had a cellar filled with cases of wine — one for each and every child born to a partner.

But that's just lore.

What's real is that there are rules to drinking like a Wall Streeter. Like any group, they have ideas about the way things should be done, and, more importantly, how they should be drank.

First and foremost, drink scotch.

You don't have to order it every time, but if someone suggests it, by all means you must take it up. Ice is acceptable. In fact, real scotch connoisseurs would say that adding a splash of water can bring the flavors of the scotch out more.

If you want to look like an insider, consider going for a Macallan and Oban. 

If you're going to go with a popular brand, go high-end with it.

Martinis are dry.

The gin vs. vodka debate takes a back seat here for something much more important — your martini does not have a cute flavor. It is not a cosmo, it is not dirty, there are no lychees.

A twist is acceptable.

Know who you're drinking with — not all Wall Streeters are alike.

If you're with a bunch of traders, don't be surprised if they're all drinking something simple, like warm Jameson — no rocks, no water. Very manly, of course.

This harkens to way-back-in-the-day when traders were back-office, blue-collar types. Don't be surprised if you catch a bunch of them going back to their roots.