they help make service snappy , and ensure a properly cold and well-blended cocktail every time .”
The British steakhouse Hawksmoor Chicago goes beyond Freezer Martinis with the Ultimate Martini , served at a frosty 10 ° F . To achieve a silky-smooth texture , the ingredients of Fords Gin , dry vermouth and lemon oil undergo a process of homogenization using an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner and are then served from an insulated flask at below-freezing temperatures .
FLIGHTS MAKE A RETURN
Flights fell out of favor during Covid as consumers didn ’ t want to linger in bars and restaurants too long . But according to Yelp ’ s 2025 Trend Forecast , food and drink flights are on the rise as restaurants add new tasting experiences to their menus .
Yelp analyzed the change in consumer searches , comparing September 2023 through August 2024 vs . the 12 months prior . Wine flights had increased 399 %, while Martini flights rose 162 % as enthusiasts opt to try a range of flavors rather than commit to a full glass .
FUN AND FUNCTIONAL BEVERAGES
Yelp ’ s 2025 Trend Forecast also finds that searches on Yelp for mushroom drinks are up 501 % compared to last year , as are searches for mushroom coffee ( up 87 %) and mushroom tea ( up 10 %). Menus across the country are infusing their drinks with functional mushrooms .
For example , Yelp says , Seattle ’ s Wunderground Coffee infuses adaptogenic mushrooms into its local blends , while Phoenix ’ s Press Coffee expanded its menu to offer mushroom-boosted shakes as an alternative to traditional coffee drinks .
A greater focus on functional uses of tea and coffee will come to light with mushrooms including ashwagandha , reishi and damiana used for their nutritional powers in coffee and adaptogens and teas with intention , such as
The Kimpton Culinary + Cocktail Trend Forecast notes that spiced fruit leather made from leftover or overripe fruit can make a beautiful , sustainable flavor-enhancing garnish .
herbal for after dinner or green teas for energy , Kimpton predicts .
“ I think we ’ ll see alcohol alternatives become more widespread ,” says King at Evelyn ’ s . “ Whether it ’ s adaptogen-based products , zero-proof spirits or hemp-based products , it likely won ’ t be long before we have a much more diverse list of bases for our cocktails ."
SPOTLIGHT ON LESS-SEEN SPIRITS
Tequila and other agave spirits will stay prominent but look for lesser-known options such as shochu and Japanese whiskey to grow in popularity . “ These spirits offer rich , complex profiles that add depth to cocktails and provide more opportunities for creativity in mixology ,” says Jessica Kim , founder and owner at Harumi Sushi . John Gibian , bar lead at The Lion ’ s Share in San Diego , also sees a rise in shochu .
AF & Co . and Carbonate expect to see increased interest in the Mexican spirit sotol , while Niko Novick , executive of beverage at Superfrico in the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas , predicts that “ tequila ’ s cool , rebellious cousin , raicilla , is about to blow up .”
The spirit-free Strawberry No-Garita at The Katharine Brasserie & Bar in the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel uses a strawberry powder and flaky salt rim finish .
Cat Bite Club , which boasts the largest agave collection in Singapore , stocks a wide range of lesser-known varieties — not just mezcal , but sotol , bacanora , raicilla and more . The bar also offers several shochu cocktails , such as the Rice Rice Daisy , with Iichiko mugi shochu , Imo shochu , agricole rhum , baijiu , miso , coconut , coriander and fresh citrus , as well as the Martini Peas with Hachi rice shochu , snap pea , aquavit and blanc vermouth .
Seeing the interest in both agave and rice spirits , Cat Bite Club also launched “ Agave La ” and “ Rice Academy ” in 2024 . These two programs that offer educational master classes and other programming to deepen their knowledge of the categories . www . cheersonline . com Spring 2025 • Cheers 19