Reinventing a cocktail menu season after season is a challenge for anyone in the restaurant business. The recipe for success? Don’t be afraid to have fun with flavours and be attentive to your customers’ tastes. To help you develop a refreshing menu that reflects your business objectives, our experts analyzed Technomic data to pinpoint the top 4 trends of 2024.
Cosmo 2.0
The cosmopolitan – the elegant pink cocktail served in a martini glass and popularized by the TV series Sex and the City – is making a comeback in 2024. In addition to the classic recipe (vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and lime), new versions are appearing on the market and attracting new converts.
“At the height of summer, why not offer a frozen version of our Cosmopolitan? All you need are the ingredients, some ice cubes, a good blender and a pretty glass,” suggests Priscila Bragio, Product Manager for the Fairlee brand at Lassonde.
Looking for more inspiration? Have you ever offered your customers a white cosmo? Simply replace the red cranberry juice with our white cranberry cocktail.
Mocktails that mock the conventional
Non-alcoholic cocktails continue to be popular this year, and you need to be imaginative to keep your offer fresh and stand out from the competition. Now’s the time to mix up some juicy concoctions bursting with fruit.
Combine one, two or even three different juice flavours such as strawberry, berry, mango and banana, or try our Fairlee piña colada and margarita mixes. Then add syrups, herbs and why not throw some non-alcoholic spirits or wine into the mix? The possibilities are endless!
The key to a successful mocktail menu lies not only in the skilful blending of flavours but also in the speed of execution by your staff. Products that are easy to store and use, such as Fairlee’s ready-to-mix and ready-to-drink options, can make all the difference when you want to increase efficiency without cutting corners on quality.
Don’t have the in-house resources to create original recipes? Our website offers a range of inspiring ideas, including La Romanza, a strawberry-lime mocktail garnished with basil leaves. Or try out some classics like an alcohol-free mai tai or mojito.
Lemonades that keep it fresh
Tart, refreshing drinks are the ideal choice for quenching your customers’ thirst. Last year, the number of beverages on menus increased by 26.1% and lemonade alone increased by 17.2% (Technomic, 2024).
Since competition is fierce, try diversifying your offer with various flavours. “By offering lemonades that blend different flavours, you’ll pique customers’ curiosity and attract a new clientele,” our expert explains. “Use Lemon Juice NFC and mix it with other flavours such as strawberry, peach, raspberry or mango. You could also add spirits like gin or vodka, or mint and other fresh herbs. By getting creative with ingredients, you’ll be able to create original, high-quality refreshments.”
Short on time? Our strawberry basil lemonade or mango mint lemonade will brighten up your menu in a flash. They’re the new classics!
Looking for inspiration? Check out our Beer Lemonade recipe or our Palm Trees Please recipe.
Planting some new ideas
If you want to stay ahead of the trends, plants and roots are increasingly making their way into mixology. Ingredients such as aloe, ginger, cactus, chamomile and coconut are now being blended into beverages – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic – and consumers are eager to try these innovative creations.
Though this is more of a niche trend, experimenting with plants offers unlimited possibilities and allows you to attract a different segment of customers seeking new and unique offerings. Give it a try, but make sure you’re familiar with all the possible flavour combinations first. For example, aloe vera goes perfectly with our Lime Juice NFC. You could add gin, cucumber and a little simple syrup to this base for a delicious, refreshing drink.
Likewise, ginger is finding its way onto more and more cocktail menus. It’s often paired with vodka and lime in a Moscow mule, but you can add a surprising twist by substituting rum.
Whatever trends you decide to add to your menu, it’s important to choose quality products that can also boost your efficiency. Fairlee’s range of bases and ready-to-mix options will not only satisfy your customers, they’ll also increase your profitability. Cheers!
Need more inspiration? Explore our range of products to create a menu that meets your customers’ needs.