According to the Diageo Bar Academy minimalist cocktails are trending. This trend focuses on the quality rather than the quantity of ingredient. But what else might be trending this summer and what to our bar’s see as this summers stand-out drink.
A quarter of drinkers will visit a licensed premises to watch sport once a week and this looks set to grow with so much sporting action on offer this summer! A massive 89% of customers will visit a pub again if they know games in the same tournament are being shown! – Bandtrack October 2023 and Sky Business and CGA Report – The value of live sport in British Pubs and Bars.
“This summer I believe we will be seeing a huge growth in the tequila, liqueurs and the no & low markets. Tequila has been a massive part of our summer menu with an incredible partnership with Casamigos that has let us offer guests an amazing selection of fresh summer-based serves that are proving popular on our amazing, activated garden terrace.We are also investing heavily in a larger portfolio of lower alcohol drinks such as Corona Cero, Tanqueray & Strykk. This allows our customers to feel more included within the space if they choose not to consume alcohol.” Callum Wyper – Angels Hotel, Uddingston.
63% of people visit the pub more over the summer AND Four out of ten people consider the presence of a beer garden the main reason in visiting a pub in the summer Toluna Survey 2023.
“I think rum and tequila are on the rise again and over the summer we’ll see light fruity flavours such as peach, apricot, grapefruit and passionfruit coming to the forefront. That’s certainly what has been popular with us, and we’ve just launched a new menu for the summer that showcases this. One of our new cocktails which is proving popular is The Burnt fig containing rum, fig liqueur, apple juice and oat cream topped with a caramelised orange crisp.” Milo Smith – The Old Workshop Aberdeen.
Molinari’s Limoncello Di Capri – the spirit that carries the flavour of Italy’s Amalfi Coast – is now available in 131 JD Wetherspoon pubs. Distributed in the UK by Mangrove Global, this listing will be further activated later this month, in an additional 44 bars nationwide, with the promotion of the Limoncello Di Capri Spritz a delicious twist on the ever-popular, prosecco-topped cocktail. It’s the first time Wetherspoon venues have stocked the quintessentially Italian spirit
“I expect slushies, high quality sours and spritzes to be popular as always. Highballs, with the use of new techniques, are also selling very well. We are definitely seeing more acceptance and intrigue in guests to drink new and exciting things. Spirits wise, Tequila and new age Rums are most definitely on the rise and I’m certainly here for it.” James Grant – The Huxley.
One in three visits to the pub are now alcohol free(1). So we can expect to see more drinkers looking for low and no alternatives this summer, especially in the day time. KAM, Low and No, The customer perspective, July 2024.
“Spritz’s are expected to be really popular, especially in the beer garden. They are super refreshing and great to sip in the sunshine! We are loving a St-Germain or Lillet Spritz! Ross Agnew – Stravaig, Ayr.
Continental Lager has the largest share in the beer category at 27%. CGA OPMS MAT TY 27.01.24
“We’d say the spicy margarita will be taking a firm place in the summertime libations – it’s a riff on the classic that people are devouring like it’s going out of fashion, which it truly is not. It’s brandishing a red dress and wearing a sexy corset on our runway. At The Old Toll, we’ve had the Prickly Pear going strong on our menu for years, which takes the natural sugar from the tequila plant and is blended down with a range of chillies to bring that fiery sweetness to our signature cocktail list.” Grant Mongomery- Old Toll Bar.