The Bartender Knows Best: Don’t Order These Drinks at the Bar!
Don’t Order These Drinks at the Bar!
Bartending is interesting work. You get to meet all kinds of new people every day and hear their stories. But it’s also hard work too. When things get busy, getting everyone a perfectly-prepared drink as quickly as possible can be a huge challenge. Sometimes when patrons order certain Drinks at the Bar, bartenders die a little inside. They’ll never let you know it, but here is what they all wish you would stop ordering the next time you belly up to their bars.
Mojitos
While there is nothing wrong with a mojito, the problem lies in the preparation of it. If you want a truly spot-on mojito, don’t order one of these Drinks at the Bar. It takes at least 5 minutes of muddling that mint to perfection. If you want a mojito, order one when the bar isn’t slammed or go to a place with an extensive list of mojitos on their drink list.
Mimosas
These seem easy enough. They’re just champagne and orange juice, right? The problem with these though is more concerning for the patron than the bartender. First of all, it’s generally sparkling wine that is used for these at the bar. And to that end, it’s not the best quality either. Especially if you’re getting in on some bottomless mimosa brunch. If you can live with subpar mimosas, then go for it, but otherwise, order something else.
Long Island Iced Tea
Unless you’ve just turned 21 and are an inexperienced drinker, there’s really no excuse for this one. It’s filled with vodka, gin, rum and tequila among other things. None of it is of high quality either. It’s just a mish-mash of alcohol and if you’re drinking it to get trashed, there are better ways to enjoy your drink and get your buzz on. When you order one of these, a bartender can’t help but think, “Amateur.”
Lemon Drops
Now this is a drink that bartenders absolutely hate because of the sticky mess it leaves behind. Once one is made, the bar and surrounding areas are sticky and icky until closing time. Nothing is more irritating to a good bartender than a sticky surface because you can’t see it until it’s too late.
Appletini
Another one that has been done to absolute (or shall we say Absolut?) death is the appletini. It thinks it’s clever with the “-tini” ending on there but nothing beats the original. A traditional martini can be a little strong to some so when the Appletini and its various versions came about, it signaled to bartenders that those who ordered them were lightweights that clearly didn’t go out often.
Rum and Coke
This is one of those stuck-in-a-rut drinks. Bartenders feel sorry for the people that order them. There’s so much more to the world of libations than rum, which is sugary on its own poured into even more sugary soda. This isn’t high school where you’ve stolen off with one of your parents’ bottles and are mixing it with soda to cut the taste. You’ve grown up and so have your taste buds. Act accordingly.
When I want to unwind, and have a drink at the end of the work day. I too moseying on down to my closest beach bar or Tiki hangout. I also find the “Bartender Knows Best!”