In the world of bartending, mixologists are revered for their craft, creativity, and ability to whip up delightful concoctions that leave patrons coming back for more. However, every bartender has their pet peeves when it comes to drinks – cocktails that make them cringe and hope the order isn’t for them. In this in-depth exploration, we delve into the most hated cocktails among bartenders, why they provoke such disdain, and what you can learn from their unpopularity.
The Appletini
Let’s start with an old favorite – the Appletini. This sweet, neon-green cocktail is a common target for bartender frustration. The reasons behind the disdain are clear: it’s often seen as a beginner’s drink, loaded with artificial flavors, and its syrupy sweetness can be a nightmare to clean from glassware.
The Long Island Iced Tea
Despite its popularity among patrons, the Long Island Iced Tea is a notorious headache for bartenders. This deceptively strong cocktail combines vodka, rum, gin, tequila, and triple sec, along with sour mix and cola, resulting in a high-alcohol, multi-ingredient monstrosity. It’s time-consuming to make and often leads to overindulgence.
The Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon may look visually appealing with its vibrant blue hue, but it rarely earns any points behind the bar. Bartenders are often unimpressed by its simple recipe of vodka, blue curaçao, and lemonade, considering it uncreative and lacking depth of flavor.
The Mudslide
Bartenders cringe when someone orders a Mudslide. This dessert cocktail combines vodka, coffee liqueur, Irish cream, and vanilla ice cream. It’s challenging to prepare and clean up after, and the sticky residue can be a nightmare. Additionally, it’s often seen as too heavy and sweet.
The Miami Vice
The Miami Vice is a notorious headache for bartenders due to its dual-layered appearance, which requires careful pouring and perfect layering of piña colada and strawberry daiquiri. It’s time-consuming, and any minor mistake can ruin the presentation.
The Redheaded Slut
This shot is infamous for its name, which many bartenders find offensive, but it’s also disliked because it’s typically ordered in quick succession and can be a hassle to make. It consists of Jägermeister, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice.
The Cement Mixer
The Cement Mixer shot is the epitome of disgust for bartenders. It’s made by layering Irish cream liqueur and lime juice, and the mixture curdles in the mouth, creating a terrible texture and flavor combination. It’s often ordered as a prank or challenge.
The Alabama Slammer
The Alabama Slammer is often seen as outdated and uninspired by bartenders. Made with Southern Comfort, amaretto, sloe gin, and orange juice, it’s overly sweet and doesn’t showcase the bartender’s skills or creativity.
The Sex on the Beach
Despite its seemingly sultry name, the Sex on the Beach cocktail is often viewed with disdain by bartenders. It’s sweet and fruity, often ordered as a way to mask the taste of alcohol, and its ingredients list is extensive, making it a time-consuming order.
The Prairie Fire
The Prairie Fire is a spicy shot that combines tequila and Tabasco sauce, creating a fiery concoction that many bartenders would rather avoid. It’s often ordered as a dare, and bartenders find it unpleasant to serve.
While bartenders are known for their professionalism and dedication to customer satisfaction, there are certain cocktails that tend to irk them for various reasons. From the overly sweet and time-consuming to the downright unpleasant, these cocktails have earned their place on the “most hated” list among bartenders. However, it’s important to remember that the world of mixology is all about diversity and catering to a wide range of tastes.
So, if you happen to enjoy one of these cocktails, don’t hesitate to order it – just be mindful of the bartender’s perspective and appreciation for a well-crafted, balanced drink. In the end, bartenders will continue to serve these unpopular cocktails with a smile, all in the spirit of providing exceptional service to their customers.
Cheers!
