Fancy a drink, but don't know what to order? Well, pull up a stool and make yourself comfortable – because our Cocktails & Bar Snacks report is live on the trendhub and there's something on the menu for everyone! In this menuwatching report, we delve into trends in base, flavour, format, serveware, no and low ABV, new twists, accompaniments, snacks and more.
Here are three key takeouts from this year's report:
- Booze Optional – Overall ABV consumption may be on the decline, but that doesn't mean cocktails are becoming any less inventive or delicious! 'No and low' ABV creations are receiving a serious glow-up – even the old moniker "mocktail" is being dropped in a move that raises these drinks to the status they deserve. Bartenders shake, stir, ferment, condense and infuse boldly original concoctions using specialist ingredients – often house made – that offer every bit as much of a party for the palate as their high-proof counterparts.
- Bring It Back – Icons from a bygone age are being rediscovered by a new generation of drinkers eager to delve into the storied history of cocktails. Everyone knows the Martini, right? But how about the Martinez, its sweeter cherry-tinged precursor? Or the original 'Brat' drink if ever there was one… the creamy green Grasshopper that's popping up on menus from Singapore to San Francisco. And don't forget about nostalgic nibbles; old-school snacks like devilled eggs and shrimp cocktails are bringing kitsch-cool to the menu, too. Driven by a quest for heritage (and a healthy dash of borrowed nostalgia) this nod to the past may just usher in a new golden age for the cocktail.
- From Root to Shoot – Your friendly neighbourhood mixologist may be hiding a secret… green fingers! A trip to a contemporary cocktail bar won't just take you across the top row of spirits but out into the garden, too, as creative cocktail-istas look to the veg patch for new flavour inspiration. From root veg like carrots, beets and turnips to bright green beans, peas, cabbage and cucumber, the full spectrum of flavour available from the ground is showcased through highly inventive shots, slurps, even slushies. What better way to get your five a day? Parsnip Paloma, anyone?
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