8 Drinks Trends to Look Out For in 2023

From the return of the martini riffs of the ’90s to the rise of pre-batched cocktails, here are eight drinks trends to watch for in 2023.

American Single Malt

The American Single Malt Whiskey category has been growing steadily over the past five years. This is due in part to the increasing demand for health conscious, wholesome drinks. However, the category lacks a definitive taste profile, so the distillers are trying to define its character.

While some of these products are very similar to their Scotch counterparts, there is still a lot of room for innovation. For instance, some of these whiskies are aged in new oak barrels. Others are finished in used bourbon barrels or sherry casks.

While the rules surrounding American single malt are relatively vague compared to other whiskey categories, there is a movement afoot to make the product more official. According to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), the agency will soon codify the category, which will improve its overall status.

In the meantime, the TTB is inviting comments on the proposed standards. It wants to know whether the whiskey is flavoured, if it is a blend, and what the minimum aging requirement is.

According to the TTB’s proposed rulemaking, American Single Malt will be a legally recognized category by early 2023. In addition to establishing a clearer market identity for this unique liquid, the new regulations will also help separate it from its Scottish counterpart.

A Return to Drinking At Home

It’s no secret that many American adults have been drinking more booze in the last few years. As a result, the alcohol industry has had to come up with new ways to get their product in front of the consumer. Fortunately, a few companies have tapped into that elusive human desire to sample a drink or two. To the delight of the masses, these intrepid spirits have crafted the next generation of alcoholic beverages dubbed the modern gin and tonic. Using a mix of premium ingredients, they have crafted an all natural beverage that aficionados can feel good about. Despite the fact that a gin and tonic might be a tad overkill, consumers are clamoring to try it out.

The big question remains: Will the booze fueled boogie be the toast of the town in the not so distant future? Until then, we’ll have to count our blessings and pray for the best. In the interim, the beverage of choice can only be sipped in moderation. That’s not to say there’s no room for a little social spicing up the cocktail hour.

The Pornstar Martini

The Pornstar Martini is a cocktail that evokes an exuberant attitude. It was created by Douglas Ankrah in the early 2000s. He wanted to create a drink that was alluring.

The drink came to Ankrah on a warm summer day. He thought it looked like a pornstar, and he named it the Pornstar Martini.

A Pornstar Martini is a delicious drink to enjoy on a special occasion. This drink is made from a mixture of vanilla vodka, passion fruit liqueur, and Prosecco. You can order this drink at many bars and restaurants.

You can also make this drink at home. Just add the ingredients to your blender pitcher, and blend for two minutes. After that, strain the pulp through a fine mesh strainer.

Pornstar Martini is one of the most ordered cocktails in the UK. In fact, it was the most popular cocktail in 2022. However, it has been replaced by another drink.

The new trend in cocktails is to use bold flavors. For example, Chinola is now making an appearance on menus. Similarly, Vanilla Martini is a sexier cousin to the classic martini.

Decadence at the Bar

In 2023, the trend for decadence at the bar will be the order of the day. Consumers will be spending more on premium bottles. They’ll also be drinking more whimsical drinks. This includes everything from quirky cocktails to unexpected spirits.

A cocktail that has been around for a while, the Espresso Martini will likely peak in popularity in 2023. Bartenders are also looking to make a splash in the non-alcoholic beverage space. The number of non-alcoholic options is steadily growing. Likewise, the number of people buying non-alcoholic beverages is steadily on the rise.

One of the drinks trends to look out for in 2023 is the rise of agave-based spirits. This category of booze has seen rapid growth over the past two years. And the growth is predicted to continue.

Other after-dinner drinks that have been making waves include flavoured vodkas. Sales of flavoured vodkas have increased by more than three percent since the beginning of the year.

As the cost of living rises, consumers are more conscious about their habits. They are trying to find healthier ways to spend their money.

The Revival of ‘90s Martini Riffs

The nineties saw a boom in the creation of ‘tinis’. They became a staple at cocktail bars. However, they came with a price. The ‘tini’ was a cloying drink. But now, bartenders have given it a makeover.

The ‘tini’ is a martini with a difference. Instead of using dry vermouth, it’s often infused with lemon or a citrus juice. Alternatively, it may be infused with a coffee liqueur, such as Kaluha. Or, the recipe could even be a wet Martini, in which gin or vodka is added to support vermouth.

A new trend for cocktails in 2023 is pickle martinis. Pickles have been infused into potato chips and ice cream, and are now making their way onto cocktail menus.

Another popular martini is the dirty one. It’s an innovative drink that incorporates brined olive juice and vodka. While it might seem like an oxymoron, it’s a real craze.

Originally called the Espresso Martini, the cocktail was first invented by Dick Bradsell. Today, riffs on the classic martini can be found all over the world. Some bars offer the cocktail with vodka instead of gin, or as a vermouth-free option. Others have replaced the espresso with coffee.

The Continuing Rise of Pre-Batched Cocktails

The continuing rise of pre-batched cocktails is something to watch for. These drinks save bartenders and restaurants time and money. They are especially useful during busy service periods.

Pre-batched drinks are made with premixed ingredients that can be poured into a single glass. This eliminates the need for staff to work with fresh elements, which lose their taste and freshness quickly.

Consumers are seeking simple, convenient and high-quality alcoholic beverages. As a result, many bars and restaurants are offering pre-batched cocktails.

Ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails have been the beverage industry’s success story. But some industry experts are wondering if the category can continue to grow.

The growing demand for convenience, quality and flavor has led to innovations in the RTD cocktail category. New products are being designed to capitalize on wellness trends and packaging trends. Some innovative companies are even using technology to create smart home cocktail systems.

In response, industry leaders like Bacardi are making pre-batched cocktails more accessible to consumers. For example, the company will offer 10,000 sample kits to reopen bars in Europe in June 2021.

Large Craft Breweries Becoming Beverage Companies

Craft beer is a relatively new phenomenon, but it has gained a lot of momentum in recent years. In fact, the number of craft breweries in the United States has nearly doubled in the last decade, as well as the number of jobs created in the industry.

The growth of the craft brewing industry is a fascinating story of regulatory history in the United States. It began during the Great Recession, when a surge in the demand for unique products caused the creation of small, independent breweries.

While the majority of craft brewers remain small, some large firms have started to acquire them. Molson Coors and Anheuser-Busch InBev have purchased scores of small breweries in the past decade.

These big firms have a lot of power over the market, and they have used their resources to pressure retailers to drop independently owned beers. Some of these breweries are still standing, but others are permanently closing.

According to government data, more than 70,000 people work in the craft brewery industry. That’s more than three times the number employed during the economic recovery.

Small Craft Breweries Pulling Back and Staying Sma

If you ask any brewery owner about their biggest challenges, chances are you’ll get a pretty similar list of items. The main ones include: rising costs, rising rents, and seemingly intractable supply chain problems.

Despite these challenges, small craft breweries are still pulling in the dough. They produced nearly two-fifths of all beer sold in the United States in 2017, bringing in $26 billion.

In addition to producing beer, these firms have played a large role in expanding the U.S. beer palate beyond the standard American lager. This has resulted in a variety of new breweries and establishments.

Interestingly, the industry has expanded despite the fact that beer consumption is down in the U.S. During the Great Recession, the brewing sector was hit hard. While the resurgence of craft breweries has helped the nation’s beer scene rebound, it’s also been the source of many new jobs.

The ‘craft’ brewing industry has been expanding at a rapid pace. According to the Brewers Association (BA), in 2010 the bar for a ‘craft’ brewer increased from two million to six million barrels per year.