One thing we love just as much as food trends is that of the beverage variety. Here are some of the surprising spirits and quirky cocktails trending this year.
1. The new Negroni.
This spin on the boozy aperitif everyone knows and loves is called the Negroni Sbagliato (pronounced spal-yacht-oh). Where the classic calls for a measure of gin, the Sbagliato instead tops the drink with Prosecco or sparkling wine, adding a lightness to the bitter vermouth and Campari combo.
2. The ’90s throwbacks.
Nostalgia isn’t just a food trend this year, it’s also making its way to the bar. Drinks like Espresso Martinis, Cosmopolitans, and Lemon Drops are all making a comeback. Offer some of these ’90s darlings on the menu and add a cute little drink umbrella for added retro flair.
3. The savoury sippers.
Move over Caesars, there are some salty new cocktails hitting the scene. This has less to do with the liquor and more to do with the garnishes that go into them. Think next-level dirty martinis with blue-cheese stuffed olives and hot sauces. Think spicy margaritas with chilli sauce and jalapenos. And if you want to get really fancy, try offering an adobo-inspired gin & tonic with soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and black pepper.
4. The low (or no) alcohol libations.
Half and zero-proof cocktails are getting more and more popular with people looking to have a fancy beverage, minus the buzz. With the rise in simple syrup mocktail mixes, bars and restaurants are offering booze-free versions of classics, like Mocktail Marys (instead of Bloody Marys) and Nojitos (a booze-free knock off of Mojitos).
5. The candy cocktails.
Just as the name suggests these playful drinks are super fun and taste as sweet as candy (some are even garnished with it!). To offer them up to your customers, you could try the Pink Starburst Martini made with vanilla vodka, watermelon sour, and lemon soda garnished with pink Starbursts. Or do a Pop Rocks Shot, made with blue raspberry vodka and triple sec rimmed with, you guessed it, blue Pop Rocks candy.
6. The super slushies.
From Frosé (slushified rosé wine) to frozen Negronis, there are all kinds of frozen favourites popping up at bars and restaurants this year. The best part? This style of drink works for both alcohol-based cocktails and mocktails alike so there’s no end to the possibilities.
7. The rockin’ RTDs.
The ready-to-drink category has really exploded over the last couple of years, and it’s showing no signs of stopping. Easy-to-drink outside or on-the-go, these cocktails are a great summertime favourite to offer your delivery customers.
We hope you enjoyed those trends and can incorporate some of them into your business to stay on top. Cheers!
