Is alcohol quality good at bars in Turkey or should I buy at duty-free?
Based on 1 discussions with 3 participants · Last activity: 8 days ago
TL;DR
Alcohol quality at Turkish bars is often questionable — cocktails may be watered down or substituted. Buying at duty-free is the safer bet.
What the community said
Cocktails at bars are paid and alcohol quality is generally poor. Buying at duty-free is strongly recommended for guaranteed quality.
2 days ago Duty-free — best option
Quality can vary by bartender. Male bartenders tend to be faster and more accurate, while some female staff have been observed substituting ingredients — e.g. using Sprite instead of juice in a Tequila Sunrise. Choose your bar counter accordingly.
4 days ago Tequila Sunrise with Sprite instead of juice
Some bartenders reportedly pour different alcohol depending on whether guests tip: regulars or tippers get drinks from bottles kept under the counter, while others get what's on the shelf. The whisky served is noticeably pale — genuine aged whisky should be a deep amber-brown color.
4 days ago Whisky — check the color