Additionally, t10 Drink Trends
Setting up a bar in a restaurant is very different than it was 5 or 10 years ago. That is because of the drink trends that are sweeping the nation. There are various cooking shows on TV that are presenting certain drinks to the general public, and that means that more people want to see these drinks on menus at restaurants they visit.
Micro-distilled Spirits
There are more than 600 small distilleries around the country, and this is up from about 70 only 10 years ago. Additionally, there are vodkas, whiskeys, and more being created locally and this allows people to try new and regional flavors. Also, there are also artisanal blends that include more fruits and spices to be paired with all sorts of food.
Local Beer & Wine
There are wineries and microbreweries using local ingredients to create local beer and wine. When restaurants focus on regional cuisine, it is only natural to have drinks that are produced in the region as well.
Regional Cocktails
Many restaurants are choosing to have one or two regional cocktails. These are being created behind the bar to provide more options for diners. These may be twists on the classics, such as a martini, Manhattan, margarita, or mule. Many will include the regional flavors.
Culinary Cocktails
There are more ingredients from the kitchen being use in the bar – and the other way around. House made sodas are being seen more often and there are culinary influences to the cocktails. Shrimp has use to garnish a Bloody Mary and margaritas may be top with habanero salt.
Moonshine
Moonshine has always view as one of those forbidden drinks and when people see it on the menu, they want to try it. Un-age whiskey is being use to create various types of moonshine – and many flavors are being add to create something fresh. Outback Steakhouse has even created a trio of these cocktails, muddled with fresh fruits and berries.
Edible Cocktails
Not all cocktails are liquid anymore. These go beyond jello shots and become something much more. The food is serve in a cocktail glass and has infuse with the liqueur. This includes such things as boozy marshmallows, and foam that has create with rum and other items, dispense from nitrous oxide canisters.
Botanical Cocktails
There are more botanicals being use inside of cocktails to provide an herbaceous element. Balsamic vinegar, tomatoes, and basil are just some of the ingredients that have found their way inside of martini glasses in recent years.
Gluten Free Beer
Gluten is in everything and there has been a craze of foods that are going out of the way to make themselves gluten-free. Beer is one of them…and that means that they are using brown rice instead of barley to do the brewing.
Nontraditional Wines
Many of the adventurous wine drinkers don’t want to see Chardonnay and Merlot on the menu anymore. They would rather drink varietals that go with the cuisine they are enjoying, which could mean Sangiovese with Italian and Tempranillo with Spanish.
