It’s that time of the year to reflect on the key cocktail trends of 2021 and look to the future and what drinking trends 2022 will bring.
Cocktail Trends 2021 2022 – Photo © Cocktails & Bars
While the Quarantini defined 2020, no singular cocktail has symbolised 2021. In light of the state of flux and uncertainty we live in, many trends predicted for 2021 are expected to carry on to 2022.
Cocktail Trends 2021 2022
Previously associated with “bottom shelf liquor”, the Ready to Drink (RTD) category has evolved considerably enjoying a boom in recent years with RTD cocktails becoming the fastest-growing alcohol beverage category in the U.S. market (source).
The continued growth of the premiumisation trend feeds into the appeal of premium RTD offerings coupled with innovative and attractive packaging. This reinvention of RTDs by brands or bars is likely to continue in these uncertain times and along with alcohol delivery services, cocktails at home will continue to be on trend.
The low-alcohol and no-alcohol category continues to grow, no doubt fuelled by the mindful drinking movement as well as younger generations drinking less and seeking alternatives. Hard seltzers may not have a wide appeal across all age groups but will continue to fizz and sparkle until they meet the fate of Frosé.
Globalisation may have shrunk as a side effect of the pandemic but the upside is that it has put the focus on drinking local, supporting local distilleries within our states or at our own doorstep. This trend is likely to continue coupled with the pandemic’s impact on the transportation and logistics industry worldwide.
Online masterclasses and virtual tasting events have come a long way since the early days of Zoom. As much as one yearns for the human interaction and real social connection, there’s something to be said for connecting with local and international brands and distillers from the comfort of your own home.
Cocktail bars, arguably the hardest hit in our industry have been reinventing themselves, providing cocktails at home services with some expanding on food offerings. We’ve seen the Australian Bar Awards return to the scene and new bars and distilleries opening.
As we said a year ago, now that we have mastered the bread and butter of cocktails – the Martini, Negroni and Espresso Martini – it’s time to get back into bars for that innovation we all know and crave.
And we’ll drink to that in 2022.
