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Cocktails will be getting touchy-feely, according to Phillips Distilling Co.' s 2026 Cocktailmanac, a report on the latest trends and cocktails from bartenders across the country. Foams, gels, fat-washes, layers and sip-by-sip transformations are turning drinks into full-on sensory events. Texture isn’ t garnish anymore, the report says, it’ s the plot twist.
Beverage alcohol distributor Southern Glazer ' s Wine & Spirits went to London and Paris for its 2026 Liquid Insights Tour, an educational initiative led by Brian Masilionis, senior director of national accounts, on-premise channel insights, and Debbi Peek, director of mixology, national accounts, on-premise. Carbonation and texture play were key trends from the international tour.
Custom carbonation setups deliver lighter, flash-carbonated cocktails for more fizz-forward beverages. Evolved milk punches incorporated yogurt, clotted cream and even rice pudding, adding new dimensions of silky, creamy texture and effervescence to the cocktail.
The multi-textured Amber Cloud gin cocktail at Friends of Friends in Chicago is topped with chamomile foam and a mist of herbal liqueur.
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Globally, fruity and sweet reign supreme as the cocktail flavors of choice, according to Bacardi’ s Cocktail Trends Report. These preferences are signaling the resurgence of dessert-inspired serves like the Piña Colada, named the number-three top global bar call for 2026 in Bacardi’ s Global Consumer Survey.
In its 2026 Beverage Trends Forecast, beverage development company Flavorman projects that consumers will lean even more heavily into classic, enduring flavors such as mango, strawberry, lemon-lime and vanilla. Flavorman also notes growing interest in emerging fruits and decadent flavors, such as guava, sumac berry, churro and huckleberry cobbler.
Varieties and unique hybrids of citrus such as calamansi, hallabong and sumo will appear on food and drink menus, offering a fresh alternative to their more common citrus cousins, says Kimpton ' s annual Culinary + Cocktail Trend Forecast. These vibrant, flavorful fruits bring unexpected tartness, sweetness and aroma, inspiring chefs and mixologists to experiment with imaginative pairings and presentations such as yuzu-infused cocktails.
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In their 18th Annual Hospitality Trends Report, lifestyle / hospitality marketing and PR firm AF & Co. and creative agency Carbonate note the rise of passion fruit cocktails.“ Passion fruit’ s bright acidity walks the line between tart and sweet, adding lift and balance to cocktails without being cloying,” the report says. Plus, its vivid orange hue provides eye appeal and its exotic flavor adds caché to any cocktail.
The Passion Fruit Martini is one of Bacardi’ s top 20 global bar calls for 2026. Passion fruit figures prominently
The Blue Hawaiian Bianco Negroni at Donna’ s in Los Angeles is part of the highbrow / lowbrow cocktail trend.
Consumers will lean into classic flavors such as mango, strawberry, lemon-lime and vanilla, along with exotic fruits and decadent flavors.
The Porn Star Martini, such as this one from liqueur brand Chinola, ties into the trends of passion fruit flavors and guilty pleasure cocktails.
in the Porn Star Martini, which ties into Food & Wine magazine’ s 2025 Drink Trend of the Year: The“ Guilty Pleasure” Cocktail, such as Cosmos, Lemon Drops and Lychee Martinis.
Phillips Distilling Co.' s 2026 Cocktailmanac forecasts a rise in highbrow / lowbrow cocktail riffs, such as The Blue Hawaiian Bianco Negroni at Donna’ s in Los Angeles.“ Think‘ guilty pleasure’ cocktails, but glowed up— like the classics you’ d never admit you love, reimagined with craft spirits and chef-y upgrades. It’ s nostalgia with a résumé.”
Spring 2026 • Beverage Dynamics 21