Mojitos and Moscow mules are overdone — bartenders think you can order something better.
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Business Insider asked bartenders which classic cocktails they think are overrated.
Long Island ice teas, espresso martinis, cosmopolitans, and tequila sunrises lack complexity.
There's too much room for inconsistencies in margaritas and Moscow mules.
When you're at a happy hour or out on the town, the last thing you want to worry about is wasting $20 on a bad drink. But that doesn't always mean you should just stick to something basic.
Business Insider spoke with bartenders to find out which classic cocktails aren't worth the hype — and what you should be getting instead.
Margaritas are overplayed and inconsistent.You may love a margarita, but your bartender might not make it right.
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Danny Guerena, a bartender at Beeline Bar in Ohio, told Business Insider that because there are so many ways to make a margarita, you're not likely to find the version you're looking for at multiple bars.
Instead, he recommends ordering a paloma. It's a similar tequila-based cocktail, but the addition of grapefruit soda makes it more complex (and consistent).
"Paloma gives you the tequila fix you need while not compromising itself into a million and one variations, flavors, and ingredients," Guerena said.
You don't have to tough out drinking an alcohol-heavy Manhattan.Manhattans are made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters.
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Karli Sandos, a bartender at The Violet Hour in Chicago, said Manhattans are the first thing that comes to mind when she thinks of overhyped drinks.
"Given the opportunity to order a well-made drink, I prefer a Vieux Carre," she told BI. "Your rye, vermouth, and bitters are all still present, but the introduction of brandy and herbal Benedictine adds a beautiful complexity and smooths out any of the rough edges you might encounter."
Consider skipping Long Island iced teas.No one needs that much alcohol in one drink.
"This cocktail lacks clarity and comes across as muddled with very little complexity," he told BI.
The bartender recommended a Bee's Knees as a replacement. The mix of gin, fresh lemon juice, and honey scratches the citrus-forward itch with more depth.
Espresso martinis are one-dimensional.Espresso martinis can be sugar bombs.
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Everyone seems to be ordering espresso martinis these days. But Cierra Jaramillo, a bartender at Whiskey Tango Foxtrot in Texas, told BI that she isn't down with the trendy drink.
"It often lacks depth, offering a one-dimensional, overly sweet flavor profile that feels more like a sugary jolt than a refined cocktail," she said.
Instead, Jaramillo suggested trying a carajillo, which offers a balanced blend of rich espresso and Licor 43, a Spanish liqueur with hints of citrus, vanilla, and spices.
Appletinis are also too sugary.There's something a little off-putting about a bright-green cocktail.
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Jaramillo said vodka-forward Appletinis are an early-2000s cocktail that's out of style.
"Appletinis are typically overly sweet and artificial-tasting," she told BI. "Go for a whiskey sour — it's the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and savory, with the depth of whiskey and the brightness of fresh lemon juice."
Mojitos usually fall short.Some people don't make mojitos correctly.
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Oscar Garcia, a lead bartender at Corvina in Florida, thinks mojitos almost never meet expectations.
"Mojitos require extensive muddling for each cocktail, which is time-consuming for a busy bar," he told BI. "Additionally, the overly muddled mint and watered-down flavor leave you craving more balance."
For an equally sweet and refreshing cocktail, Garcia recommended a rum daiquiri or a hurricane.
Cosmopolitans are underwhelming."Sex and the City" made cosmopolitans sound better than they are.
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Carrie Bradshaw popularized cosmopolitans on "Sex and the City," but Jaramillo said the cocktail doesn't live up to its iconic cultural status.
"We see this as more of a nostalgic drink than one that stands up to the complexity we strive for," she told BI.
Instead, try a French 75, a gin-based cocktail topped with Champagne for a bubbly twist.
Moscow mules are often too diluted.The cute copper mug masks the overly sugary and diluted drink.
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Francesco Lafranconi, a renowned mixologist, bartender, and vice president of beverage and hospitality at Carversteak in Las Vegas, told BI that the refreshing and zesty flavor of a Moscow mule is tough to get right.
"The drink's popularity has led to a surge in mediocre versions with multiple brands of sugar-rich ginger syrups or weak-flavored gingerbeer — potentially diluting its appeal," he said.
The novelty of getting a drink in a copper mug may be tempting, but the one-dimensional flavors don't stand up to the hype. You'll get a more consistent drink if you order a vodka soda with lime.
A tequila sunrise is visually appealing, but it lacks complexity.Tropical drinks are fun and nostalgic, but you can do better than a tequila sunrise.
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Abraham Flota, a bar manager and head bartender at Prospect in San Francisco, said not to be fooled by the pretty gradient effect of a tequila sunrise.
"The tequila sunrise relies heavily on orange juice and grenadine," he told BI. "It lacks complexity and can feel flat in flavor."
The bartender also recommended ordering a paloma in place of the colorful drink.
Sex on the beach is overhyped.Sex on the beach is basically just juice.
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The famous cocktail grew in popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, but Flota said the overly sweet flavor profile overpowers the vodka base.
"Sex on the beach, with the mix of peach schnapps, cranberry, and orange juice, can taste like juice with little complexity," he said. "Instead, try a Cape Codder, a simple yet sophisticated combination of vodka and cranberry juice with a twist of lime."