It's a new year, and you know what that means: new cocktail concepts. In 2019, we saw the rise of sustainability, unique cocktail flavor combinations, and colorful cocktail presentations. In 2020, similar ideas are still in play but how they'll be used in cocktail culture has changed. With such a diverse bar community, it's hard to pinpoint exactly which trends will take off, but we've created a list of the new cocktail trends to keep your eye on in 2020 to stay on top of your cocktail game.
1. Minimalist Cocktails
Complicated and complex cocktails are out, and simple and stripped-down cocktails are in. Bars are departing from cocktails filled with a laundry list of unique ingredients and moving towards repurposing basic ingredients in an innovative way. Bartenders are focusing on mixing classic flavors with quality spirits to create cocktails consisting of just two or three ingredients. Bartenders will be concentrating on the prep work by incorporating complex flavors into housemade mixers.
2. CBD-Infused Cocktails
2019 was the year CBD-infused cocktails gained popularity and that is showing to further rise in 2020. As legalization continues to expand, the curiosity from consumers and experimentation from bartenders has become the main catalyst for this non-psychoactive compound. It has attracted customers who are seeking to lower their alcohol intake and opt for alcohol-free cocktails infused with CBD. CBD is commonly incorporated into cocktails through infused cocktail bitters and syrups. There are varying flavor intensities of CBD that can either be tasteless or have a concentrated vegetal citrus flavor. The unique taste is commonly paired with complementary flavors such as mint, basil, or hops.
3. Advanced Culinary Techniques
As bartenders and chefs continue to collaborate and learn from one another, bartenders are beginning to hone their skills with tools and methods that would typically be saved for the kitchen. They're utilizing techniques such as sous vide, centrifuge, and spherification to manipulate flavors and create concentrated mixes. The complex techniques are in the prep work while the cocktails showcase simple and pure flavors.
4. Repurposing Ingredients
Sustainability is an important topic that is on everyone's mind to incorporate at their bar. Bar owners and bartenders are becoming more aware of sustainable practices and incorporating them into their prep. In an effort to reduce waste, bartenders are utilizing every ingredient to its maximum usage. For instance, the chef may have an excess of cucumbers in their kitchen so then the bar repurposes those cucumbers and uses them to be muddled into a cocktail or as a garnish to complete a drink.
5. Sour Substitutions
Lemons and limes are the classic citruses used to bring a zesty touch to cocktails, but bartenders are now looking to other resources. Eco-conscious bartenders are repurposing ingredients that would otherwise be thrown away, such as citrus skins, to add an acidic hit. They're getting creative with concocting homemade vinegar-based shrubs and liqueurs packed with high acidity and flavor. Acid solutions are also coming onto the scene with concentrated citric, malic and phosphoric acid used to experiment with different levels of bitterness and consistency.
6. Aromatic Garnishes
The demand for consumers searching for a more multi-sensory experience is driving bartenders to experiment with unique ingredients like inedible, aromatic garnishes. From a small piece of paper doused with fragrant oil to roasted sticks of wood, the innovation of an immersive drinking experience is pushing bartenders to create scents that complement the flavors in their cocktails. These inedible garnishes are designed to peak your sense of smell over taste to take customers on a journey of the senses.
7. Carbonated Cocktails
Bubbles and fizzes aren't only reserved for sparkling wines and champagne anymore. The popularity of carbonated cocktails is on the rise along with the growth of premium mixers. Carbonation is a simple component that offers bars a way to differentiate their cocktails by creating their own in-house sodas. One of the most popular drinks of the past year was the Aperol Spritz that is made with Aperol liqueur, mixed with Prosecco and soda. Adding carbonation to a cocktail is an easy way for bars to showcase their creativity with a versatile, bubbly ingredient.
