Built drinks are the easiest to make. The general method is to fill a glass with ice, and then pour in each ingredient serially. Typically a straw is added at the end so that the ultimate recipient of the drink can stir to mix, although the order in which the ingredients are added usually ensures that substantial mixing will take place.

Built shots are poured directly into a shot glass; the ice is omitted (who wants to do a shot of ice?).