Business Insider consulted bartenders to discover which classic cocktails they believe are overhyped.
They pointed out that drinks like Long Island iced teas, espresso martinis, cosmopolitans, and tequila sunrises tend to lack depth and flavor.
Moreover, margaritas and Moscow mules can often be inconsistent in quality.
When enjoying a happy hour or a night out, the last thing you want is to shell out $20 for a subpar drink. However, that doesn’t mean you should always play it safe with basic choices.
Business Insider reached out to bartenders to discover which classic cocktails may not deserve all the attention they receive, along with suggestions for better alternatives.
Margaritas have become clichéd and often vary significantly in quality.
Danny Guerena, a bartender at Beeline Bar in Ohio, mentioned to Business Insider that the plethora of margarita recipes means you’re unlikely to find the exact one you want across different establishments.
As a substitute, he suggests trying a paloma. This cocktail is also based on tequila, but the inclusion of grapefruit soda enhances its flavor profile and ensures a more consistent experience.
“Paloma provides the perfect tequila experience without getting lost in countless variations, flavors, and ingredients,” Guerena expressed.
There’s no need to endure a heavy alcohol Manhattan.
Karli Sandos, a bartender at The Violet Hour in Chicago, mentioned that Manhattans immediately come to her mind when considering overhyped drinks.
“If I’m given the chance to order a well-crafted drink, I lean towards a Vieux Carre,” she shared with BI. “The rye, vermouth, and bitters are still there, but the addition of brandy and herbal Benedictine offers a lovely complexity and smooths out any harshness you might experience.”
It might be wise to reconsider ordering Long Island iced teas.
Ron Oleksa, a skilled bartender and mixologist from Link & Pin in North Carolina, suggested avoiding the Long Island iced teas.
“This cocktail lacks clarity and feels muddled with minimal complexity,” he explained.
Instead, the bartender recommended trying a Bee’s Knees. This cocktail blends gin, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and honey to deliver a refreshing citrus experience with greater depth.
Espresso martinis lack complexity.
These days, it’s common to see people ordering espresso martinis. However, Cierra Jaramillo, a bartender at Whiskey Tango Foxtrot in Texas, shared with BI that she does not appreciate the popular drink.
“It’s often one-dimensional, delivering an overly sweet taste that resembles more of a sugary kick than a sophisticated cocktail,” she expressed.
As an alternative, Jaramillo recommended the carajillo, which provides a harmonious mix of rich espresso and Licor 43, a Spanish liqueur infused with notes of citrus, vanilla, and spices.
Appletinis tend to be excessively sweet.
Jaramillo mentioned that vodka-centered Appletinis are a cocktail from the early 2000s that has lost its appeal.
“Appletinis often come across as too sugary and artificial,” she shared with BI. “Opt for a whiskey sour instead — it’s a harmonious mix of sweet, sour, and savory, combining the richness of whiskey with the zest of fresh lemon juice.”
Mojitos often don’t quite measure up.
Oscar Garcia, who serves as the head bartender at Corvina in Florida, believes that mojitos often fall short of their promises.
“Creating mojitos involves a lot of muddling for each drink, which can be challenging in a bustling bar environment,” he explained to BI. “Moreover, the mint can become overly muddled, resulting in a flavor that is too diluted, leaving you wanting a more harmonious taste.”
For a cocktail that is just as sweet and invigorating, Garcia suggests trying a rum daiquiri or a hurricane.
As for cosmopolitans, they tend to disappoint.
Carrie Bradshaw brought the cosmopolitan into the spotlight through the show “Sex and the City,” but according to Jaramillo, this cocktail falls short of its celebrated cultural significance.
“For us, it’s more of a drink tied to nostalgia rather than one that embodies the complexity we aim for,” she mentioned to BI.
As an alternative, consider trying a French 75, a refreshing gin cocktail finished off with Champagne for a delightful sparkle.
Be cautious with Moscow mules, as they can often end up being too watered down.
Francesco Lafranconi, a well-known mixologist and bartender who serves as the vice president of beverage and hospitality at Carversteak in Las Vegas, shared with BI that achieving the perfect balance of refreshing and zesty flavors in a Moscow mule can be quite challenging.
“The drink’s rise in popularity has resulted in a flood of subpar variations featuring numerous brands of overly sweet ginger syrups or bland ginger beer, which can diminish its overall charm,” he explained.
While the allure of sipping a cocktail from a copper mug is appealing, the simplistic flavors often fail to live up to expectations. For a more dependable choice, consider ordering a vodka soda with lime instead.
Though a tequila sunrise is attractive to the eye, it falls short in terms of flavor complexity.
Abraham Flota, who serves as the bar manager and head bartender at Prospect in San Francisco, advised not to be deceived by the alluring gradient of a tequila sunrise.
“The tequila sunrise is primarily composed of orange juice and grenadine,” he shared with BI. “It falls short in complexity and can taste somewhat flat.”
He also suggested that patrons consider ordering a paloma instead of the vibrant cocktail.
Additionally, he mentioned that sex on the beach is overrated.
The famous cocktail saw a surge in popularity during the 1980s and 1990s, but Flota noted that the excessively sweet flavor dominates the vodka foundation.
“Sex on the beach, made with peach schnapps, cranberry, and orange juice, can resemble juice with minimal complexity,” he remarked. “Instead, consider a Cape Codder, a straightforward yet elegant blend of vodka and cranberry juice finished with a splash of lime.”
Explore the original piece on Business Insider.