@barchemistry TikTok/Drew Beamer Unsplash
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If you’re looking to avoid a gnarly hangover after a night of drinking, there are a few drinks you should avoid, according to this bartender. Bar Chemistry (@barchemistry) is a very popular bartender on TikTok, with over 2 million followers. He recently shared his list of “the five drinks that will give you the absolute worst hangovers possible.”
Bar Chemistry’s video has been viewed over 2.5 million times since June 21.
Long Island Iced Tea
He starts his video with his fifth-place choice: the Long Island Iced Tea as well as its two “cousin” drinks, the Adios M———– and the Tokyo Iced Tea.
“I put them all in one because they’re all basically the same drink,” he says.
The Long Island Iced Tea contains five different types of liquors—vodka, gin, tequila, white rum, and triple sec—along with lemon juice, simple syrup, and cola. The Adios M———– also combines several different liquors with blue curaçao, sour mix, and Sprite or 7Up. And the Tokyo Iced Tea is similar but with melon liqueur instead of blue curaçao.
The bartender believes the combination of different liquors with sugary mixes and syrups makes these drinks a perfect recipe for hangovers. “No s—, it’s gonna give you a hangover,” he exclaims.
L.A. Water
Bar Chemistry calls his next pick, the “L.A. Water,” his “least favorite drink ever.”
He also calls out the number of liquors that make up this drink. Here are its ingredients:
- Vodka
- Gin
- Tequila
- Rum
- Triple sec
- Sweet and sour mix
- Melon liqueur
- Raspberry liqueur
“This … has like nine different types of random-flavored liqueurs and liquors that don’t make any sense. [They] have no business being even near each other. And for some reason somebody thought to put them all in a cup,” he says.
Bar Chemistry says that the worst part of this drink is that “it doesn’t even taste good. There’s literally no benefit to drinking this.”
Jägerbomb
The third beverage that grinds his gears is one he calls a “classic,” and that’s the Jägerbomb. Jägerbombs are comprised of Jägermeister and an energy drink, usually Red Bull.
Unlike the L.A. Water, the TikToker admits the flavor of this drink is actually palatable. But it’s the caffeine mixed with sugary alcohol that will lead to a nasty day ridden in bed. Sugar is one of the main ingredients in Jägermeister.
“The mix of the caffeine plus the sugar plus all the b——- that they have in Jäger nowadays. It’s a no-go for me,” he says.
Four Horsemen
The “Four Horsemen” takes the No. 2 spot on the bartender’s list. This shot combines several whiskey varieties—bourbon, Tennessee, Scotch, and Irish whiskey. The TikToker says he’s never witnessed anyone actually order this shot and questions whether it’s even real.
“I don’t know if anyone actually really drinks this or if this is just a myth. But it’s literally just all four Johnnie Walkers poured into one. That’s not even a cocktail. You’re just mixing different types of whiskey. You’re a demon,” he says.
He encourages viewers who have had Four Horsemen in the past to come forward in his comments section and detail their experiences with the drink. He did have one taker. That viewer shared, “I threw up immediately after I took the 4 horse men! Never again.”
Flavored soju
The No. 1 cause of hangovers, in Bar Chemistry’s experience, is the flavored variants of soju. The distilled liquor is often derived from fermented grains such as wheat, barley, and/or rice, according to Good Housekeeping. The magazine notes the alcohol by volume percentages of soju range anywhere from 17% to “as high as 45%.”
“Now this may seem unassuming or even girly to some people. Because it’s all flavored and tastes delicious, and it’s like 18%. But that’s exactly the issue. Tastes like juice, weak enough where you really don’t taste any alcohol at all. But strong enough that it sneaks up on you and punches you all in the face at once,” Bar Chemistry says.
The TikToker says the price point of soju only further compounds the issue. “Even in America, where it’s expensive, it’s like $12 to $15 a bottle. And I’ll tell you right now from experience, I’ve never had a worse hangover than when I’ve been forced to drink this s— all night,” he says.
@barchemistry why are we still drinking shit like this without protection!? wrap your liver before you abuse it like this #cocktails #bartending #bartender #supplements #health
Hangover Treatments
The Mayo Clinic notes the most effective ways to treat a hangover are hydration, food, medicine, and time, with the latter being the only “cure” for a hangover. It recommends drinking fruit juice or water—just steer clear of more alcohol or other dehydrating drinks like caffeinated beverages and soda—and eating toast, crackers, or soup. The Mayo Clinic also suggests taking a pain reliever and sleeping through the pain to pass the time.