People love to educate themselves about what improves their quality of life, what makes their world more interesting and enjoyable, and what builds their connections to the other people around them.
But mostly they want to know what tastes great. Those other things are of course important too, but they all can lead to experiencing delicious and unusual food and drinks.
The foodie population has always been interested in the latest trends regarding what they eat, but there has also been a noticeable shift toward unique cocktail ingredients and innovative combinations that drive the most current tastes and behaviors. Mixologists have been quick to respond with an array of new concoctions using unexpected and sometimes unconventional ingredients.
Consumers are more than enthusiastic about enjoying something new. Premade cocktails in cans and cocktail delivery have ushered in a new era of alcohol consumption, but the current wave of interesting ingredients is changing the look and taste of how we envision a great cocktail.
Less is More
Alcohol consumption can fluctuate but one trend that is experiencing a surge is the desire for low-alcohol and non-alcohol cocktail options. The reasoning behind this consumer behavior includes decreasing alcohol use as part of establishing healthier lifestyle habits.
Of course, some people may want to eliminate drinking alcohol altogether, but many simply want to still enjoy it, but at significantly decreased levels. Alcohol distillers and mixologists have taken this trend to heart by creating options with lower alcohol content. Having a variety from which to choose has significantly expanded beyond only non-alcoholic beer choices and moved toward including many cocktails with reduced alcohol and mocktails with no alcohol.
Bitters and Botanicals
The word bitters might not necessarily evoke thoughts of something delicious to drink, but bitters are a mainstay for classic cocktails as well as trendier drinks. Bitters are spirits infused with a wide range of botanical and spice ingredients. Proportionally, their alcohol content may be in line with other types of liquor, but because of the intensity of their flavor the amount of added alcohol to a drink is very small. One or two dashes of bitters can go a long way to add depth to any cocktail.
Bitters are created from herbs, spices, fruits, roots, and even tree bark but some more inventive selections have unusual flavors like chocolate, plum, and mint. Familiar brands include Angostura, Peychaud’s, and orange which are essential cocktail ingredients for well-known drinks like Manhattans and Rob Roys.
As consumers become more knowledgeable about ingredients and combination possibilities, mixologists are delving more deeply into using bitters as a defining ingredient in many signature cocktails. And in keeping with the aforementioned trend of reducing alcohol consumption, bitters plus sparkling waters and sodas are a refreshing substitution for higher alcohol content cocktails.
Green Olives and Pearl Onions Have Competition
Certain garnishes have their time-honored place alongside traditional cocktails. A martini without an olive or a gimlet without a pearl onion would seem almost naked without their usual garnishes. And while a crisp stalk of celery is still a delicious accompaniment to a spicy Bloody Mary, more unusual ingredients have been reinventing the typical embellishments.
Mixology innovators have seen beyond what a limited world of tired old garnishes was once and have incorporated the beautiful, the unusual, and sometimes the bizarre. Cocktails are now accessorized for taste as well as aesthetic appeal.
Citrus wedges from orange, lemon, and lime have evolved from mere slices hanging from the side of a glass to tiny carved works of art or dehydrated slivers concentrated with flavor. Edible flowers like honeysuckle, hibiscus, elderflower, and lavender add not only a splash of color but can infuse many cocktails with a subtle essence from their petals.
The heady scents and flavors of many herbs add botanical depth to the simplest and most complex of drinks. Mixologists are finding new ways to use basil, mint, rosemary, and sumac to complement recipes with herbal notes. With some of these items it can’t be denied that their presence is visually appealing, but their aromas and flavors are adding new dimensions to traditional and innovative cocktails.
Terroir: Not Just for Wine
Just like the concept of terroir- the unique taste imparted from the environment in which something is grown- is associated with the complex flavors of wines, it can also be considered a feature of cocktail ingredients.
Locally sourced food has been a culinary buzzword for many years now. Most often we think of it as it is applied to meats, cheeses, fruits, and vegetables. But it also comes into play as mixologists understand the importance of using local ingredients for their cocktail recipes. What is grown in local soil – from berries to herbs to fruit trees- adds an almost elemental dimension to the flavors within what is harvested.
People who are connected to and invested in the produce of their communities appreciate that their origin can be somewhat tangibly identified in what they eat and drink. Fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other botanicals that are locally harvested influence flavors thus making this trend in cocktail creation popular with those consumers who gravitate to what is local.
Raising the Bar
How do mixologists do this? They do it by enjoying traditional drinks but not fearing to innovate even with some highly unusual cocktail ingredients that may make a lot of us do a double take. There may be a few rogue mixologists who have found ways to incorporate ingredients like camel’s milk, tobacco syrup, and CBD oil into their latest creations. Some cocktails have gone the way of probiotics and fermented beverages to add a healthy, easily digestible component to the mix. But the common denominator seen across every trend is a vibrant combination of mixology ingenuity and high-quality ingredients that produce exceptional cocktails.
Have you tried to add some trendy or unusual cocktail ingredients to your mixology repertoire? Learn more about the latest in spirits at your favorite liquor retailer and taking advantage of cocktail delivery to help you raise the bar.
