The Mango cocktail at Sexy Fish Miami is a clarified milk punch garnished with a delicate house-made cumin meringue .
are more shelf stable , once again reducing waste .”
Kimpton also cites clarified drinks as a trend , along with other transformative techniques such as sous vide for prep and serving and forced carbonation for effervescence . “ These techniques allow for combinations like homemade sparkling coconut water or salted plum syrup , as featured at Kimpton Kitalay Samui ,” the report says .
Examples of clarified cocktails already abound . For instance , the new Crane Club in New York has a clarified cocktail called Field Notes , made with vodka , umeshu , Genmai matcha , red bean and coconut .
The Banana Daiquiri at The Bamboo Room in Chicago blends centrifuge-clarified banana cordial , Caribbean white rum , and lime acid poured over freshly shaved banana snow . It ’ s served in a hand-blown glass banana with freeze-dried banana , macadamia nuts and toasted coconut .
The Mango cocktail at Sexy Fish Miami is a clarified milk punch with Grey Goose vodka infused with spices , including cumin , black peppercorns , cinnamon , star anise and coriander seeds , along with mango , sorghum and a touch of sencha tea . The drink is garnished with a house-made cumin meringue .
Beau du Bois , vice president of bar and spirits for southern California restaurants Marisi , Roma Norte , and Puesto , leans on the Justino method for Marisi ’ s Apricot Old Fashioned . It ’ s prepared with apricots blended at a high speed with bourbon , then clarified using a centrifuge before combining with bitters , resulting in a crystal-clear , flavorful cocktail .
MINIMALISM AND SIMPLICITY
In addition to the clarified cocktails , Tabrow also noticed that the international bars he visited hardly used garnishes , “ and when I did , they were a little slice of fruit , a powder , or something small meant to be consumed during the cocktail .”
Nick Porpiglia , director of food & beverage at The Ned
The Amelia at
Employees Only NYC , with blackberry , lemon and elderflower , embodies the trend toward simplicity and flavor-focused cocktails .
NoMad in New York , believes that minimalism and simplicity will become more prominent , with a stronger emphasis on the botanicals in base spirits and the creative integration or combination of new herbs and spices .
“ Aligned with the growing focus on sustainability , the trend seems to be shifting toward highlighting the inherent qualities of base spirits , allowing their natural flavors to shine rather than masking them with overly complex or confusing ingredients ,” Porpiglia says . “ The goal will be to celebrate purity and craftsmanship .”
Simple cocktails with minimal , high-quality ingredients will reign supreme in 2025 , says the Kimpton report , “ and a highball is an adaptable solution with options including Japanese whiskey , tequila or gin .”
In a generation obsessed with ’ 90s nostalgia — whether through sitcoms , fashion , or other trends — cocktails have also embraced this vibe , says Matt Maretz , principle bartender at Employees Only in New York . “ Many of our most popular drinks at Employees Only are simple , yet their flavor presentations truly make them shine .”
One is the Amelia cocktail , which features just three main ingredients : blackberry , lemon and elderflower . “ Its simplicity is enhanced by the way these flavors are showcased , not to mention the cocktail ’ s stunning presentation ,” Maretz says . “ This trend toward simplicity and flavor-focused cocktails is what we anticipate defining the year ahead at the bar .” • www . cheersonline . com Spring 2025 • Cheers 21