By Melissa Dowling

What beverage trends will heat up in the next 12 months ? We reviewed several beverage industry reports and expert predictions to find out . The continued popularity of low- and no-alcohol products and drinks was a big one ; here are six others that we agree with .

1 ) Ube ’ s purple reign .

Look for Ube , the bright purple sweet potato often found in Filipino desserts and bubble tea , to crop up in more cocktails . It ’ s a food trend highlighted in the 2023 Hospitality Trends Report , presented by the San Francisco agencies AF & Co . and Carbonate .

Ube is already on a number of cocktail menus . One example is the Halo-Halo rum and cachaça cocktail at The Baldwin Bar in Woburn , MA .

2 ) Brine beyond olives .

This dovetails with the 2023 Hospitality Trends Report ’ s drink of the year : Seafood cocktails , or “ coastal ” drinks that embrace oceanic flavors and ingredients — often with an eye-catching edible garnish . One example is the “ Cioppino ” cocktail at Bluestem Restaurant & Market in San Francisco , which includes salted tomato

The Halo-Halo ube cocktail at The Baldwin Bar in Woburn , MA .

water , tequila , lime , citrus , serrano chili and clam juice .

For other brine ideas , Fig & Olive ’ s Dirty Martini uses a house-made escabeche brine . At CO / OP Community Table + Bar in Huntsville , AL , a fall cocktail called The Dirty South incorporated a pickled okra brine . And Rhubarb restaurant based

The Dirty South at CO / OP in Asheville , NC , Community Table + Bar cures tiny green in Huntsville , AL , uses a tomatoes in a marinade to create a pickled okra brine .

unique garnish for its Martinis .

3 ) Sweet , sour citrus .

Beverage development company Flavorman predicts a shift toward “ uncomplicated ” citrus flavors , with growing interest in orange , grapefruit and lime .

Various berry flavors will also be on-trend , Gibson said , while other increasingly popular flavor extracts include botanicals such as butterfly pea flower , black tea and chamomile .

For its part , gourmet flavorings company Monin has named Hot Honey its 2023 Flavor of the Year , and launched a hot honey syrup .

4 ) Colorful cocktails pop . Gabe Sanchez , mixologist and general manager at award-winning cocktail bar Midnight Rambler at The Joule in Dallas , sees bright colors in drinks making a comeback , such as Midori Green and Curaçao Blue , to name a few .

Colorful concoctions align with Bacardi ’ s Global Brand Ambassador Survey 2022 , in which 81 % of respondents note the rise of “ Instagrammable ” cocktails in 2022 .

Monin cites sensory takeover as a macro trend for 2023 , noting that color concepts “ are a quick and easy way of making each dining experience a moment to be savored .”

5 ) Getting experiential .

In addition to color , Monin also says that other eye-catching and emotion-evoking experiences are becoming more prevalent in restaurant and bars . According to Monin ’ s 2023 Trends page : “ Incorporating textures , movements and theatrical components — bubbles , flames , outrageous ice shapes , tapioca pearls , dust and smoke — will become more mainstream and help elevate menu offerings .”

The 2023 Hospitality Trends Report cites drinks finished tableside as something we ’ ll see more of in 2023 . “ Beyond the traditional cart , bars and restaurants are introducing modern tableside tricks like color-changing cocktails , the unveiling of smoke , or bursting of a bubble .” The Instagrammable presentations can help create a signature , bespoke experience that can drive business , the report says .

The Oak Steakhouse in Highlands , NC , offers guests a cocktail cart at brunch on Saturdays and Sundays for tableside preparations of build-to-yourliking Bloody Marys and Mimosas , while The Betty in Atlanta has a Martini cart during Happy Hour ( 5-7 p . m .) on Thursdays , Fridays and Saturdays .

Clique Bar & Lounge in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has the Up All Night cocktail , prepared tableside and topped with fresh berries and whipped cream , plus an oversized sparkler .

6 ) A nod to nostalgia .

Experiences that stimulate nostalgia are in demand , says the Bacardi 2023 Cocktail Trends Report . A recent Mintel study revealed that consumers aged 25 to 44 are most likely to enjoy things that remind them of the past .

The Hospitality Trends Report notes that the macro trend of brands leaning into nostalgia is manifesting itself within the hospitality industry — including childhood sweets getting the grown-up treatment .

The Up All Night rum cocktail at Clique Bar & Lounge in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is prepared tableside and finished with an oversized sparkler .

“ We ’ re seeing restaurants and bars around the country introduce everything from cocktails based on sugary breakfast cereals and ice cream floats , to drinks with popsicles , pop rock rims , and even the return of the jello shot .”

www . cheersonline . com Spring 2023 • 5