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When you’re at a busy bar, ordering complicated drinks can slow things down, as they often require special ingredients or take extra time to prepare. This can often lead to longer wait times – or frustrate the bartender. To keep things running smoothly, here are 12 drinks you should avoid in a crowded bar.
Bloody Mary
A Bloody Mary involves a long list of ingredients, including tomato juice, vodka, spices, and garnishes like celery or olives. Some recipes also call for lemon juice, salt, pepper, and horseradish, making it a time-consuming drink to prepare.
Hot Drinks
Drinks like mulled wine or spiked hot chocolate need to be heated, mixed with spices, or steeped. This can be time-consuming to make in a busy bar, so it’s better to opt for a quicker, ready-to-pour option.
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Piña Colada
This tropical favorite typically requires a blender, which means it takes longer to make. Plus, its garnish—typically a pineapple slice or umbrella—adds extra time to the process.
Irish Coffee
This hot drink is tricky to prepare quickly, requiring hot coffee, whiskey, and whipped cream to be balanced just right. It’s best to save this drink for a slower, more relaxed setting.
Long Island Iced Tea
With five types of alcohol and various mixers, the Long Island Iced Tea is one of the most complex cocktails to make. Its long ingredient list can disrupt the flow in a busy bar.
Drinks With Egg Whites
Cocktails like the Amaretto Sour or Whiskey Sour are delicious, but their frothy texture requires dry shaking, which takes extra time and effort.
Margarita
Margaritas often require freshly squeezed lime juice and, in some cases, a blender. Both of these steps take time, making it less practical to order in a busy bar.
Caipirinha
Caipirinha requires muddling fresh fruit, which adds an extra step to the preparation. This slows down the pace and takes more attention than simpler cocktails.
Mojito
The Mojito is a refreshing cocktail but is not the best choice in a busy bar. Similar to a Caipirinha, a mojito requires muddling fresh mint leaves, lime wedges, and sugar, which takes extra time and effort compared to simpler cocktails. The process of properly crushing the ingredients to release their flavors adds another layer of complexity. This attention to detail slows down service, making it a less efficient option in a crowded environment.
Hot Toddy
A Hot Toddy requires boiling water, which isn’t always easy to have ready at a busy bar. Save this comforting drink for quieter moments.
Your Own Recipe
If the bar is busy, opt for something the bartender might already know. Giving the bartender instructions on what to make overcomplicated things at a busy bar makes it an impractical choice when speed is essential.
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Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned requires precise stirring and a combination of ingredients like bitters, syrup, and orange zest. This careful process takes a few extra minutes, which isn’t ideal when the bar is crowded.
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