Recently, Business Insider reached out to bartenders to discover which classic cocktails they consider to be overrated.

According to their insights, beverages like Long Island ice teas, espresso martinis, cosmopolitans, and tequila sunrises tend to be fairly simplistic.

Furthermore, there is significant potential for variability in drinks such as margaritas and Moscow mules.

When enjoying a happy hour or a night out, the last concern anyone wants is squandering $20 on a subpar drink. However, this doesn’t necessarily imply that one should always opt for something mundane.

Business Insider consulted with bartenders to discover which classic cocktails may not live up to their reputation and what alternative drinks you might enjoy instead.

Margaritas are often regarded as overhyped and vary significantly in quality.

Danny Guerena, a bartender at Beeline Bar in Ohio, shared with Business Insider that the plethora of margarita recipes means you might not find the same quality or style at different bars.

As a better alternative, he suggests trying a paloma. This drink is another tequila-based cocktail, but with grapefruit soda added, it offers a more intricate flavor and greater reliability.

“Paloma provides the perfect tequila experience without diluting itself into countless variations, flavors, and ingredients,” Guerena stated.

You no longer need to endure sipping on a heavy Manhattan.

Karli Sandos, a bartender at The Violet Hour in Chicago, mentioned that Manhattans are the first drink that comes to her mind when considering overrated cocktails.

“When I have 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 introduces a wonderful complexity and smooths out any rough edges that might arise.”

It might be wise to pass on Long Island iced teas.

Ron Oleksa, a bartender and mixologist at Link & Pin in North Carolina, advised against ordering the Long Island iced teas.

“This cocktail lacks clarity and seems muddled with minimal complexity,” he shared with BI.

As an alternative, he suggested trying a Bee’s Knees. This cocktail mixes gin, fresh lemon juice, and honey for a citrus-forward experience with greater depth.

Espresso martinis have been criticized for their lack of complexity.

Recently, a surge in popularity for espresso martinis has been noted. However, Cierra Jaramillo, a bartender at Whiskey Tango Foxtrot in Texas, expressed her reservations about this popular beverage.

“It often lacks depth, offering a one-dimensional, overly sweet flavor profile that feels more like a sugary jolt than a refined cocktail,” she explained.

Instead, she recommended the carajillo, which features a harmonious mix of rich espresso and Licor 43, a Spanish liqueur infused with notes of citrus, vanilla, and spices.

Appletinis tend to be overly sweet.

According to Jaramillo, vodka-based Appletinis represent a cocktail trend from the early 2000s that has lost its appeal.

She remarked, “Appletinis often taste too sweet and artificial. Instead, opt for a whiskey sour. It combines sweet, sour, and savory elements beautifully, featuring the richness of whiskey alongside the zesty freshness of lemon juice.”

Mojitos frequently disappoint as well.

Oscar Garcia, who serves as the lead bartender at Corvina in Florida, believes that mojitos often fall short of the mark.

“Creating a mojito demands significant muddling for every drink, which can be quite tedious in a bustling bar environment,” he shared with BI. “Moreover, the mint can be overly muddled, resulting in a diluted flavor that leaves one yearning for a better balance.”

For those in search of an equally sweet and refreshing cocktail, Garcia suggests opting for a rum daiquiri or a hurricane instead.

He finds cosmopolitans to be rather disappointing.

Carrie Bradshaw brought the cosmopolitan into the limelight on “Sex and the City,” yet Jaramillo argues that the cocktail doesn’t quite hold its treasured cultural reputation.

“To us, this drink feels more like a blast from the past rather than one that reflects the depth we aim for,” she shared with BI.

Instead, consider enjoying a French 75, a delightful gin cocktail finished with a splash of Champagne for a fizzy delight.

Moscow mules, on the other hand, can often be overly watered down.

Francesco Lafranconi, a respected mixologist, bartender, and vice president of beverage and hospitality at Carversteak in Las Vegas, shared with BI that capturing the vibrant and refreshing taste of a Moscow mule can be quite challenging.

“The drink’s increase in popularity has resulted in an influx of subpar variations made with various sugar-laden ginger syrups or diluted ginger beer, which can lessen its overall charm,” he remarked.

While the allure of sipping from a copper mug is undeniable, the simplistic flavor profile often fails to meet expectations. A vodka soda with lime typically offers a more reliable choice.

Though a tequila sunrise catches the eye, it falls short in terms of depth and richness.

Abraham Flota, who serves as a bar manager and head bartender at Prospect in San Francisco, cautioned against being misled by the visually appealing gradient of a tequila sunrise.

“The tequila sunrise is primarily made with orange juice and grenadine,” he shared with BI. “It lacks depth and can seem somewhat flat in terms of flavor.”

The bartender suggested opting for a paloma instead of the vibrant cocktail.

Additionally, he expressed that sex on the beach is overrated.

The well-known cocktail saw a surge in popularity during the 1980s and 1990s, yet Flota mentioned that its excessively sweet flavor tends to overshadow the vodka foundation.

“Sex on the Beach, with its blend of peach schnapps, cranberry, and orange juice, can come off as just juice with minimal depth,” he explained. “In contrast, you might want to consider a Cape Codder, which is a refined combination of vodka and cranberry juice, enhanced with a splash of lime.”

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