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Learning about cocktail trends for 2025 sooner than later will set you up for restaurant success in the new year. While many eateries tend to focus on emerging food trends, many lack innovation when it comes to their cocktail menu. So, we encourage you to offer an original selection of trending mixed drink recipes. You'll also be able to leverage your beverage program as a tool for product differentiation in a very saturated market.
Are you interested in the power of selling trendy cocktails but feel uncertain about which ones to add to your menu? No worries–we’ve got you covered! Read on to learn all about the emerging drink trends for 2025 and more.
5 Most Anticipated Cocktail Trends for 2025
There are several cocktail trends that industry leaders are anticipating for 2025. Learn about five of them below. You won’t want to miss out on these ideas while they’re trendy!
1. Non-Alcoholic Beverages
In recent years, mocktails haven’t gotten the credit they deserve! As a healthier alternative to alcoholic beverages, more consumers are inclined to order a mocktail now than ever before. So, we highly recommend you have comparable substitutes for various types of alcohol behind your bar.
2. Retro Cocktails
If there’s one thing that beverage industry leaders have learned in the last several years, it’s that celebrity brands have the potential to be wildly successful. This concept tells us that old-fashioned themes and elements of pop culture can positively impact drink sales as well.
A prime example of the influence of pop culture in the food and beverage industry is how establishments will design limited-edition menus when there’s a major concert or sporting event happening in their city. With this in mind, we expect to see beverages on cocktail menus that revolve around nostalgia and old-time classics. Pretty soon, Italian cocktails like the Negroni and Garibaldi, or TV-inspired beverages like the Cosmopolitan recipe will be trendy again.
3. Floral Cocktails
We often see botanical and floral flavor notes when it comes to different tea varieties. You have variations like lavender, jasmine, chamomile, and hibiscus. So, why not experiment with these floral infusions in the realm of cocktails? Luckily, we’re beginning to notice this cocktail trend in some areas, like hibiscus margaritas and lavender martinis.
Think about this: Many consumers enjoy various types of matcha due to its earthy qualities. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise when similar ideas turn into cocktail trends.
4. Herbal Cocktails
Similar to floral cocktail trends, there’s been an increase in popularity among herb-infused cocktails, too. Expect to see different types of spices like rosemary, thyme, and sage in emerging cocktail trends. The world is already familiar with the use of spices in cocktails thanks to the classic Bloody Mary drink recipe. So, anticipate a lengthier variety of savory drinks on cocktail menus in the next several months and years to come.
5. Sustainability in Cocktail Recipes
You’ll likely find that eco-friendly restaurants serve more sustainable beverages in 2025 than ever. One of the easiest ways they can do this is by using locally sourced ingredients, like juices and other mixers. Another way that bars and restaurants can implement sustainability efforts is by eliminating waste.
4 Specific Alcohol Trends for 2025
While you have trending recipes, you also have emerging trends when it comes to individual ingredients. From wine to spirits, changes and adaptations are taking place in every category. Discover which alcohol trends will likely enter almost every bar and restaurant at some point during 2025 below.
1. Flavored Alcohol
Vodka is the primary spirit that comes in countless flavors. And as you browse behind a bar or through your local liquor store, you’ll find brands like Jack Daniels that offer a handful of flavored spirits–in this case, it’s Tennessee whiskey. And while all of these beverages serve a significant purpose, we expect to see new flavors across other liquor categories. For instance, flavor-infused rum, gin, and tequila may be on the horizon come 2025.
2. Japanese Spirits
Sake has grown in popularity throughout the last several years. But sake is a type of wine. Now, it’s time for Japanese spirits to take center stage. So, don’t be surprised if there’s a sudden demand for something like Japanese whiskey or Umeshu-based cocktails (beverages made with plum wine).
3. New Whiskey Variations
Don’t worry–traditional whiskey and bourbon aren’t going anywhere! However, these bar staples may evolve into more unique product offerings in the near future. This evolution in bars across America could result in things like single malt whiskey types and unique aging processes.
4. Agave Spirits
Just like whiskey, spirits agave-based spirits such as tequila and mezcal cocktails will remain beverage industry staples. However, flavorings and new aging processes are expected to enter the scene to deliver premium offerings. Once this takes place, it won’t be long until you notice these spirits in more cocktails than you remember.
4 Restaurant and Bar Industry Trends for 2025
Okay, so we’ve established that there are trends to look out for when it comes to beverages. But what about the environment in which bar staff serves them? Below, you’ll learn more about five areas of the restaurant and bar industry as a whole that are adjusting to trending concepts.
1. Tech-Savvy Bars
Restaurant tech solutions have been taking the industry by storm for quite a few years now. But how can technology, even artificial intelligence (AI), impact cocktail trends? Well, these solutions can make it easier for consumers to order drinks, while reducing work overload for the bar staff. Whether we start to see robotic drink mixers instead of a bartender doing the work may only be a matter of time!
2. Cocktail Subscription Boxes
There are many companies that offer wine subscription box services, like Winc and Firstleaf. However, we don’t see too many subscription services that sell liquor. But here’s the thing–wines can differ, but spirits can only be so unique from one another. So, where’s the opportunity?
We expect to see subscription services where spirits are paired with mixers. Or, boxes of already-prepared cocktails. This way, people can try or craft new recipes, enhancing their mixology skills from home.
3. Healthy Cocktails
It seems that as each new year rolls around, there’s a heightened interest in healthy living. So, don’t be surprised when health-conscious beverages start selling out at your bar or restaurant! Healthy cocktail trends don’t just pertain to macronutrients. Instead, these trends will exclude ingredients like corn syrup, dyes, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives.
4. Hybrid Food Service Establishments
Successful business owners know that inclusivity is the key for long-term profits. After all, how can it not turn out that way when you can accommodate various customer profiles simultaneously? The easiest way to do this as a restaurant owner is to break up your establishment into multiple sections. For instance, you can have a cocktail bar, a fine dining room, and a casual eatery separate from one another. This way, you can appeal to customers with varying interests.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cocktail Trends for 2025
Trends may come and go. But when you have the time and resources to plan for them, you can attract the utmost attention to your business. That’s one of many reasons why it’s so important to stay on top of market data and trending topics in adjacent sectors. In other words, if you operate a cocktail bar, you should be familiar with emerging trends amongst fine dining establishments. If you’d like to review a brief recap of the information we’ve gone over previously and additional information, check out the FAQ section below.
What Are the Biggest Cocktail Trends for 2025?
The biggest cocktail trends to look out for in 2025 include:
- Non-alcoholic drinks
- Herbal cocktails
- Retro cocktails
- Low-calorie cocktails
- Sustainable cocktails
- Pop culture-inspired drinks
How Can Sustainability Impact Bars In 2025?
As sustainable restaurants grow in popularity, it’s only plausible to assume that alcoholic drink trends will lean more eco-friendly, too. Business owners in the food service industry are constantly seeking ways to maintain a “green” establishment. When it comes to sustainable cocktails, the best way to nurture this initiative is to source local ingredients and eliminate waste.
Will Mocktails Be More Popular In 2025?
Yes, many experts in the food and beverage industry expect mocktails to increase in popularity throughout 2025. With a shared interest in healthy living among consumers, you should expect to see more people opt against alcoholic beverages.
What Are Emerging Trends In the Restaurant Industry?
A lot of the emerging trends in the restaurant industry revolve around technology and artificial intelligence (AI). For instance, a major innovation that’s been taking the restaurant sector by storm is the use of digital menus. There has also been a rise in the popularity of in-house order fulfillment technologies.
Is Flavored Alcohol Becoming More Popular?
Yes, mixology experts expect that flavored alcohol will become increasingly popular in 2025. Vodka, whiskey, and rum are the top types of alcohol that offer unique flavor variations. And while you can do an awful lot with them, don’t be surprised if other beverages incorporate flavorings as well. Even in the wine and beer categories, it’s slowly but surely becoming more mainstream to distinguish fruity and spicy flavor notes. This idea is especially true considering that there’s been a surge in popularity across herbal and floral cocktails in the last couple of years.
Let BinWise Help You Implement Cocktail Trends In 2025
The implementation of a beverage inventory management system can allow you to do more with less. As a result, your business can be significantly more profitable and efficient. Does that sound like the way you envision your business to be in 2025? If so, book a demo today to learn about the platform in much greater detail.