The Most Difficult Drink for a Bartender to Make, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the drink you think is the most difficult!

Updated on Apr 26, 2024 06:24

Picture a bustling bar on a busy Saturday night, bartenders darting from patron to patron, crafting a myriad of cocktails. Among these, some concoctions pose such a challenge that even seasoned bartenders pause before starting. These intricate drinks require not only skill and precision but also a deep understanding of flavor and technique. This list captures those complex beverages, each demanding a unique set of skills from the person behind the bar. By voting for the drink you believe is the most challenging to make, you help acknowledge the artistry and effort bartenders put into their craft. Your input directly affects the rankings, offering a real-time reflection of collective opinions.

What Is the Most Difficult Drink for a Bartender to Make?

1

63
votes
Infrogmation of New Orleans · CC BY-SA 3.0

Ramos Gin Fizz

This drink requires a lot of shaking to create a frothy texture, which can be difficult to achieve consistently.
The Ramos Gin Fizz is a classic cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, lime juice, simple syrup, orange flower water, cream, and egg white. It is a tall, frothy, and refreshing drink known for its silky texture and citrusy flavor profile.

Gin: 2 oz

Lemon Juice: 1/2 oz

Lime Juice: 1/2 oz

Simple Syrup: 3/4 oz

Orange Flower Water: 3 dashes
Ramos Gin Fizz in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most difficult cocktail to make
2

33
votes
Erich Wagner (www.eventografie.de) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Old Fashioned

This classic cocktail requires careful muddling of sugar and bitters, as well as precise measurements of whiskey and water.
The Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail that is both simple and sophisticated. It is known for its rich flavors and timeless appeal. The drink is typically made by muddling sugar with bitters, adding whiskey, and finishing with a citrus twist and a cherry garnish.

Method: Stirred

Ice: Cubed ice

Base Spirit: Whiskey

Sweetener: Sugar

Bitters: Angostura bitters
3

33
votes
Sazerac

Similar to the Old Fashioned, the Sazerac requires precise measurements and muddling, as well as a rinse of absinthe.
The Sazerac is a classic New Orleans cocktail known for its complex flavors and history. It is a strong and aromatic drink that combines rye whiskey, absinthe, sugar, and bitters, creating a unique and memorable taste.

Base Spirit: Rye Whiskey

Additional Spirit: Absinthe or Herbsaint

Sweetener: Sugar

Bitters: Peychaud's Bitters

Glass: Old Fashioned glass
4

9
votes
Mai Tai

Victor J. Bergeron

This tiki classic requires a variety of rums and juices, as well as careful balancing of sweet and sour flavors.
The Mai Tai is a classic tiki cocktail known for its delightful combination of fruity and tropical flavors. It is a rum-based drink that is both refreshing and complex, making it a favorite among cocktail enthusiasts.

Base Liquor: Rum

Citrus: Lime juice

Orgeat Syrup: Almond syrup

Orange Curacao: Orange liqueur

Sweetener: Simple syrup or rock candy syrup
Mai Tai in other rankings
- Position 5 of 10 in Most difficult cocktail to make
5

12
votes
Margarita

The perfect Margarita requires a balance of sweet, sour, and salty flavors, as well as a careful choice of tequila and triple sec.
The Margarita is a popular cocktail made with tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice. It is known for its tangy and refreshing flavor.

Base spirit: Tequila

Secondary spirit: Orange liqueur (usually Triple Sec or Cointreau)

Citrus: Fresh lime juice

Sweetener: Sometimes simple syrup or agave nectar

Glass: Margarita glass (rimmed with salt)
6

6
votes
Dtarazona · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pisco Sour

Victor Vaughen Morris

This South American cocktail requires careful shaking to create a frothy texture, as well as precise measurements of Pisco and lime juice.
The Pisco Sour is a traditional cocktail that originated in Peru. It is a sour and refreshing drink that showcases the unique flavor of Pisco, a grape brandy from South America. The Pisco Sour is a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and bitter flavors, making it a popular choice among cocktail enthusiasts.

Base Spirit: Pisco

Primary Flavor: Citrus

Sweetener: Simple syrup

Acidity: Lime juice

Egg White: Yes
Pisco Sour in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular drink in Chile
7

4
votes
Evan Swigart from Chicago, USA · CC BY 2.0

Bloody Mary

Fernand Petiot

This brunch favorite requires a variety of ingredients, including tomato juice, vodka, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce, as well as careful balancing of flavors.
Bloody Mary is a classic cocktail known for its bold and savory flavors. It is a vodka-based drink mixed with tomato juice and various spices, creating a unique and refreshing taste profile.

Base spirit: Vodka

Mixers: Tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, lemon juice

Garnish: Celery stalk, lemon wedge, olives, or pickles

Glassware: Highball or Collins glass

Preparation: Build ingredients over ice in a glass, stir gently
Bloody Mary in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular drink made with vodka
- Position 5 of 10 in Most popular drink in Las Vegas
- Position 8 of 10 in Most difficult cocktail to make
8

0
votes
Sidecar

This classic cocktail requires careful balancing of sweet and sour flavors, as well as precise measurements of brandy and Cointreau.
The Sidecar is a classic cocktail known for its balance of citrus and sweetness, typically enjoyed as an apéritif or a digestif. It is made with cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice, resulting in a tangy and refreshing flavor profile.

Base Spirit: Cognac

Secondary Spirit: Orange Liqueur (such as Cointreau or Triple Sec)

Citrus: Fresh Lemon Juice

Glassware: Coupe Glass or Martini Glass

Garnish: Sugar-rimmed glass or Lemon Twist
9

8
votes
Achim Schleuning (E-Mail: comander02_de@yahoo.de) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Singapore Sling

This tropical cocktail requires a variety of ingredients, including gin, cherry brandy, pineapple juice and grenadine, as well as careful balancing of sweet and sour flavors.
The Singapore Sling is a classic cocktail known for its complexity and colorful appearance. It is a fruity and refreshing drink that combines various spirits and juices.

Base spirits: Gin

Mixers: Cherry liqueur, pineapple juice, lime juice, Cointreau, DOM Benedictine, grenadine

Garnish: Pineapple slice and cherry

Glassware: Collins glass

Preparation: Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a glass filled with ice, and garnish.
10

7
votes
Blue Blazer

Jerry Thomas

This flaming cocktail requires careful pouring and mixing of hot water and whiskey, as well as a steady hand to pour the flaming mixture back and forth between two mugs.
The Blue Blazer is a legendary cocktail that involves setting a stream of flaming whiskey on fire while continuously pouring it back and forth between two metal mugs. The resulting fire show and the unique flavor make it one of the most challenging drinks for bartenders to master.

Glassware: Metal mugs (usually silver-plated)

Ingredients: Scotch whiskey, boiling hot water, sugar

Preparation: Flame the whiskey, ignite a stream of fire, and pour it back and forth between two mugs to create a long, blazing arc at a distance

Difficulty Level: Expert

Flavor Profile: Unique, smoky, and slightly caramelized

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Ranking factors for difficult drink

Number of ingredients

Drinks with several ingredients will typically be more difficult to make due to the increased complexity and the need to measure and mix everything accurately.
Preparation techniques

Some drinks involve specialized preparation techniques, such as muddling, layering, using a shaker, or smoking, which may demand more skill from the bartender.
Type of ingredients

Certain ingredients may be particularly hard to work with, such as egg whites, cream, or less common liqueurs. The difficulty may also stem from the need to combine ingredients with very different tastes and textures.
Garnishes and presentation

Some cocktails require elaborate garnishes or presentation touches, like a salted rim, sugar rim, fruit peels, or decorative glassware. These details can add to the difficulty of making the drink correctly.
Balancing flavors

The combination of different flavors or surprisingly distinct ingredients could make a drink harder to create. The bartender must balance the sweetness, bitterness, acidity, and alcohol content to achieve the desired taste profile.
Temperature control

Properly chilling ingredients or maintaining the temperature of the drink using ice, shakes, or other temperature-control methods may be necessary, adding complexity to the drink-making process.
Consistency

Some drinks, like frozen cocktails, require an even consistency that may be difficult to achieve without the right technique or equipment.
Speed of service

The ability to consistently and quickly create a challenging cocktail without sacrificing quality could make a certain drink type more difficult to master.
Customization

The ability to modify a cocktail recipe according to the customer's preferences while maintaining balance and flavor could add difficulty for the bartender.
Training and experience

Some cocktails may require a higher level of bartender expertise or familiarity due to their complexity or historical significance. The bartender must know the proper techniques and background knowledge to execute such a drink properly.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult drink for a bartender to make. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or beverage is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1444 views
174 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each beverage once every 24 hours. The rank of each beverage is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most difficult drink for a bartender to make

As the saying goes, "bartending is a science, and every drink is an experiment." While some cocktails may seem easy to make, others require years of experience and expertise to perfect. From classic favorites like the Manhattan and Old Fashioned, to more complex drinks like the Zombie and Ramos Gin Fizz, bartenders are constantly challenged to create the perfect blend of flavors and textures. But what is the most difficult drink for a bartender to make? The answer to this question is subjective, as it depends on the individual bartender's experience and skill level. However, some drinks are universally known to be more challenging than others, such as the infamous Tiki cocktails that require multiple ingredients and precise measurements. Regardless of the drink, a skilled bartender must have a deep knowledge of mixology, an understanding of customer preferences, and the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment. So next time you order a drink at the bar, remember the hard work and dedication that goes into creating the perfect cocktail.