Expert bartenders reveal the drinks you should never ever order at a bar (2024)

FAQs

Do bartenders judge you by your drink? ›

They got the drink slingers' opinions on everything from customers' orders to bar manners, and while some results aren't surprising, others might have you rethinking your co*cktail of choice. Lest you think you were just being paranoid, 81 percent of bartenders will change their opinion of you based on your drink order.

Every rookie bartender should adopt the mantra “slow is smooth, smooth is fast.” Spilling liquor, over-pouring and ruining a drink, breaking a glass, or slicing a finger aren't only embarrassing consequences of trying to do too much, too fast, they'll also eat up a bartender's valuable time during a busy night.

It takes time to muddle the mint properly, the sugar and fresh lime are sticky. Honestly, if it was busy, sometimes I'd just say, 'Sorry, we're out of mint' so they'd order something else."

1. The Commonwealth. With a grand total of 71 ingredients, the Commonwealth is, without a doubt, the most ingredient-heavy drink on this list. We're not entirely sure how so many ingredients fit into a standard coupe glass.

1. Commonwealth. With a grand total of 71 ingredients (yes, you read that correctly), the Commonwealth is, without a doubt, the most ingredient-heavy drink on this list. In truth, we're not entirely sure how so many ingredients fit into a standard coupe glass.

You could but the proper way to ask for your drink to be “stronger” is by ordering a double. Matt breaks it down for us, saying that if you're craving a little more booze,“Order a double. Or an extra shot on the side. But know, we're charging you for it!”

Even if the bartender in question isn't a flirtatious type, they're still surrounded by attractive people and alcohol every day. Coupled with the long hours and late nights, it can be hard on a relationship, unless you have a trusting partner.

A bad bartender does not know how to mix drinks and often has to step away to look up drink recipes. A bad bartender plays favorites and often neglects guests. A bad bartender takes their time to refill drinks. A bad bartender lets their bar accumulate clutter, including empty glasses, napkins, and other trash.

What is the biggest challenge of a bartender? ›

On a daily basis, the most difficult challenge is to satisfy the most demanding palate. We have very demanding customers who know how to drink and what to drink, so driving them to the right decision is the biggest challenge.

But, to most bartenders, the Mojito is the quintessential "it takes too long to make" drink. The Mojito embodies every reason a bartender hates to make a co*cktail. First of all, it requires fresh mint, which must be muddled -- mashed with a special tool to release its flavors. This alone takes a few minutes.

Assuming they have grapefruit juice—and most bars actually do—you can order yourself a nice Paloma. Normally made with tequila and grapefruit soda, you can juke your Paloma by asking for tequila and grapefruit juice topped off with soda water.

The type of alcohol that can get you drunk the fastest is vodka or tequila. Both are in the same range of alcohol content – 110 proof max. Three or more shots can get you drunk real quick, but it still depends on your alcohol tolerance.

The best spirits to sip neat, without mixing with anything else, include whiskey, bourbon, Scotch, tequila, mezcal, gin and rum. If you're unsure where to start with these, no worries.

What is the right attitude for a bartender? ›

Being social, outgoing, and friendly will help a bartender succeed, sell more drinks, and keep customers happy. Keep in mind that being friendly and outgoing are very important; the underlying job of a bartender is to sell drinks.

Bartenders are more than happy to engage in conversation with a customer—it's all part of a day's work, along with shaking up co*cktails, pouring out shots, pulling draught beers and generally making everyone's day better.

Bartenders tend to be predominantly enterprising individuals, which means that they are usually quite natural leaders who thrive at influencing and persuading others. They also tend to be conventional, meaning that they are usually detail-oriented and organized, and like working in a structured environment.

Because we expend most of our social energy at work, bartenders often need quiet time on our days off. This can be hard when you're dating a new person. They often expect you to be the fun-loving, energetic bartender personality that they first met, and it can be disappointing when your off-duty vibe is much different.

Everything from why you shake, when you muddle, to the practicalities of the job, and what we call the five 'P's of world class service: pride, passion, preparation, professionalism and presentation.

It's a commonly known pearl of wisdom and, generally speaking, a widely accepted practice that there are three things you never talk about in bars: politics, religion and race.

Is it OK to kiss at a bar? ›

Kissing is fine, but if you're pinning someone against the wall and hands start going places, you gotta step in. I tell them to chill out—like, you're in a public place, people.

The highest-paid bartender job is a head bartender.

Head Bartenders earn an average salary of $89,366, which is $ 42.96 hourly. A head bartender is responsible for monitoring bar operations, assisting the bar staff, and ensuring the highest customer satisfaction by addressing the guests' needs and concerns.

Bartending is a job replete with stress. Bartenders work in a highly visible, pressure-packed environment. They must simultaneously meet management's expectations and satisfy customers' demands. When the operation gets busy, your bartenders are routinely hard pressed, given far more work than time to complete it.

Bartending is physically demanding. You'll work in a demanding, high-pressure environment. You'll work late nights – and your weekends won't be your own. Work can be boring and monotonous.

Lots of bartenders love making a perfectly balanced classic co*cktail, like a Negroni or Old-Fashioned – and sometimes they add their own twist to it. Some said their favorite co*cktail to make a less well-known traditional recipe or a variation thereof, like a Sazerac, Bijou, or Clover Club.

If you pay with your card, definitely go for the 20 percent tip, but keep in mind that bartenders always prefer cash. Alternatively, you can pay with a credit card and then leave the tip in cash, which is a nice gesture. If a bartender gives you your drinks on the house, he's given you a gift.

The “hard shake” method was invented by legendary bartender, Kazuo Ueda. Somewhat paradoxically, the hard shake is, in fact, quite gentle – intended to force the ice around the co*cktail shaker rather than back and forth from end to end, allowing for greater control of aeration and dilution.

They're busy.

Nine times out of 10, if a bartender is ignoring you, it's because they're doing something else. Even if the bar doesn't seem that busy, bartenders are responsible for a long list of prep work and side work.

The buy-back, of course, is where a bartender gives you a drink for free, "buying back" a drink for you after you've spent some money on a few drinks that night.

How do bartenders refuse drinks? ›

Do's of service refusal

Use tact – politely inform the patron you will not serve them any more alcohol. Do point to posters/signs behind the liquor service point to reinforce your decision. Do explain the reason for refusal of service (e.g. showing signs of being unduly intoxicated).

The mojito is one of the most notoriously disliked drinks for bartenders. Why? It's a mess to make, says Jackson Strayer-Benton, Beverage Director for Hen of the Wood, Doc Ponds and Prohibition Pig in Vermont. "The mojito is an easy co*cktail to recreate at home using fresh mint from your garden or local market.

Bartenders hate making mojitos. According to angry bartender Lisa Millar-Jones, ordering a mojito is a sure-fire way to end up in a barperson's bad books.

So what do rich people drink? Rich people take water, soda, coffee, tea, beer, wine, whiskey, vodka, or a mix of these drinks, depending on the person's preferences.

What to do at a bar if you cant drink? ›

Depending on the bars, you can get juices, smoothies, soft drinks, non alcoholic beers, I even got an elderberry squash with sparkling water once. To every bar/cafe/restaurant/etc owner, please add a few mocktails to your drinks cards.

Order co*ke to look like a rum and co*ke, or get Sprite or soda water to look like a gin and tonic or vodka tonic, for example. Ask for a straw, too, and a lemon or lime wedge if it's a clear soda. You may also want to ask for it in a short glass. Order a ginger ale to look like beer.