- Manhattan ▲ +32%
- Scotch ▲ +23%
- Bourbon ▲ +17%
- Old Fashioned ▲ +17%
- California wine ▲ +14%
- Pfalz ▼ −36%
- Nahe ▼ −28%
- Orange wine ▼ −15%
- Rosé ▼ −10%
- Spritz ▼ −5%
October vs September, same restaurants in both months. October had five full weekends, which lifted almost everything.
Year over year: the Spritz (+27%) and the Martini (+26%) are the cocktails of the year. Austrian wine fell 31% and Grüner Veltliner 45%, its lowest October share on record. Japanese whisky is down 16%.
The Manhattan rose at about twice as many restaurants as it fell. That’s a real trend, not one busy bar. On the wine side, German and Austrian wines had a hard autumn just as California wine took share. If a Grüner or a Pfalz Riesling is sitting on your glass list, it may be time to rotate it.
- Check your Manhattan build and your rye and vermouth stock before the holidays.
- Rotate slow German and Austrian wines off the glass list.
- Keep the Spritz on the menu; it’s seasonal, not over.