Summer is a great time for light, refreshing cocktails, nothing creamy or heavy.siamionau pavel/Shutterstock
- Business Insider asked bartenders which drinks they would never order in the summer.
- Refrain from ordering an Irish coffee when temperatures are on the rise.
Summer is one of the best times to kick back and relax, which, for some people, means hitting the bar with friends.
Whether you're going to a crowded spot on the Las Vegas Strip or a small neighborhood establishment, there's no getting past the soaring alcohol prices. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, getting a beer, cocktail, or glass of wine at a restaurant or bar is two to three times as expensive this summer as it was last year.
The last thing you want to do is waste your money, so to help narrow down your options, Business Insider asked bartenders which drinks they never order in the summer.
Don’t order a hot drink.
It's kind of a no-brainer to ditch hot Irish coffees in the summer. jordaneil/Shutterstock
If it's hot outside, steer clear of hot drinks at the bar.
"It is way too hot during the summer to be ordering any warm coffee-based drink such as an Irish coffee," Charles Mcintyre, lead bartender at Bar WooWoo in the Sky Rock Sedona hotel in Arizona, told BI.
Other drinks that fall in this category include hot toddies and mulled wine.
Nick Jackson, head bartender at The Rum House in New York City, also said that in the summer, bars may not even have the equipment or ingredients needed for traditional hot cocktails.
Skip the creamy cocktails.
A brandy Alexander is a nice creamy drink for the fall or winter. S_Photo/Shutterstock
If you're looking for a refreshing drink on a nice, warm night, milk isn't a great choice.
"I wouldn't order heavy, creamy cocktails like a White Russian or a brandy Alexander," said Eric Lopez, a bartender at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach.
Avoid sugary drinks.
Dirty Shirleys, a Shirley Temple with a shot of vodka, have gotten popular. Ws Studio1985/Shutterstock
According to Lopez, sugary cocktails like a Dirty Shirley (a Shirley Temple with a shot of vodka) can be dehydrating. Plus, after the sugar spike, you may crash and be too tired to continue your night out.
"Instead, I would opt for a Singapore sling or a classic mai tai or a cucumber cooler to refresh and keep you hydrated," he told BI.
Keep the bloody marys to a minimum.
The drink itself is already heavy, and the garnishes can make it worse. The Drunken Tomato/Shutterstock
Will Hancock, bartender at Linger Longer Lounge in Phoenix, said to avoid spicy, tomato-based cocktails, like a bloody mary or a bloody maria (tequila instead of vodka).
"I can't think of a more counterintuitive summer beverage than a spicy, salty, and thick tomato soup with cheese or smoked meat as a garnish," he told BI. "You'll be dehydrated before you can finish it."
Refrain from whiskey if you can help it.
Save the Manhattans for the end of the night. Suzanne Pratt/Shutterstock
Although an old-fashioned or a Manhattan might sound good, think twice before ordering whiskey-based cocktails in the summer.
"These whiskey-forward cocktails tend to fall into the 'nightcap region,' designed to highlight the aged spirit and wind you down," Demi Park, bar manager at Paradisaea in California, told BI.
Deep-flavored, heavy drinks aren't refreshing and likely won't keep you going on a long summer night.
Ditch the piña coladas.
Piña coladas are too sugary. Glowe/Shutterstock
Kat Gallardo, mixologist at Four Flamingos in Florida, shared the controversial opinion that piña coladas are a no-go in the summer.
"The most ordered cocktail at a beach bar is, in reality, an unbalanced sugar bomb," she told BI. "That shot of rum disappears after being in the blender."
Gallardo recommended a Papa Doble made with light rum, grapefruit juice, maraschino liqueur, lime juice, and simple syrup if you want less sugar and more rum.
Save the egg nog for winter.
Who knows if the bar even stocks the ingredients to make eggnog in the summer? Africa Studio/Shutterstock
According to Jason Bradley, senior food and beverage operations manager at the Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, eggnog is a delicious beverage choice … for winter.
"Unless I'm celebrating Christmas in July, you won't see me looking in the direction of a cocktail with whole eggs as an ingredient in over-100-degree weather — they'd probably scramble," he told BI.
For your bartender's sake, don’t order a Ramos gin fizz.
Bartenders have to shake a Ramos gin fizz for a long time, which is tedious on a hot summer night. Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock
A Ramos gin fizz is a perfectly suitable drink at a quiet cocktail bar or restaurant, but it can take a toll on busy bartenders during hot, crowded summer nights.
"The work that goes into the cocktail with the egg and heavy cream is master-level dedication," said Tyler Chauvin, assistant general manager of food and beverage at Swingers NoMad.
The complex cocktail, made from gin, citrus, simple syrup, egg white, heavy cream, orange flower water, and club soda, typically requires shaking for up to 15 minutes to get the signature foamy top.