As the nights get colder, we tend to seek new ways to warm ourselves up from the inside out. The summer was seasoned with orange wine and an Espresso Martini boom, but what will flavor the fall and winter? Some trends return each cold-weather season, like heavier spirits and cinnamon dustings to replace summer’s poolside seltzers and rosé. But we can also expect some wildcards: new innovations, emerging fads and unexpected twists that heighten an already lively time of year.
Here are some of the drinking trends that might light your fire through the fall and winter of 2022.
Things Are Getting Spirited
As the leaves turn and a fall chill hits the air, spirits sales tend to pick up steam. While tequila has remained popular throughout 2022, the fall and winter will likely see bourbon topping the spirit trends. American whiskey has risen in popularity in the wake of pop culture phenomena like “Mad Men”, inspiring consumers and bartenders alike to revisit the complex spirit, as reflected in the push to declare American single-malt its own official category this year. It’s easy to warm up, Don Draper-style, with options like Bulleit Bourbon Whiskey Blenders’ Select and Balcones’ Texas “1” Single Malt.
Embrace Your Sweet Tooth
Consumers are craving sweet and decadent flavor profiles right now. This could foreshadow a rise in spiced and dessert-ified whiskies like Crown Royal Regal Apple, vanilla, and peach-flavored whiskies to sweeten up your life and your cold-weather cocktails. Check out this recipes for the Crown Royal Vanilla Hot Chocolate.
Vodka Is Back
While standard vodka sales have dwindled in recent years, vodka tops the list when it comes to searches for flavored spirits. We can expect flavors to go seasonal in the coming weeks, moving from classic pumpkin spice to cranberry and peppermint to celebrate the holidays. CIROC has gotten a head start on the holidays with Limited Edition Pomegranate, which mixes well with cranberry juice to become an easy, go-to holiday party cocktail this year. Consider batching the confection in a rose quartz-colored pitcher to showcase the cocktail’s dark berry hue — and impress your dinner guests.
Expect Seasonal Spins On The Year’s Most Popular Cocktails
While Margaritas are typically summer cocktails, seasonal elements like blood orange, pear and nutmeg can help smooth the drink’s transition from summer to fall. Start with the DeLeón Sweet & Spicy Margarita kit to get your base flavors down, then customize as you see fit.
‘90s-Era Cocktails Are Here to Stay
Popular ‘90s drinks have seen a recent resurgence, and they don’t seem to be going anywhere. Espresso Martinis have been all the rage this year, and we all have that one friend who has made the cocktail a pillar of their personality; consider gifting them an Espresso Martini Kit as a holiday gift. Or, try the Ketel One Espresso Martini recipe here! The fashionable cocktail may see a holiday twist in the form of chai or even eggnog notes. The ‘90s nostalgia could continue with Pumpkin Spice Martinis, Appletinis, or the festive cranberry flavor of the Cosmopolitan. The late-‘90s White Russian trend may be made modern with plant milk or made seasonal with some Baileys Apple Pie Irish Cream Liqueur to warm up your visiting relatives on the long Thanksgiving weekend.
People Are Increasingly Sober-Curious
Young consumers prioritizing wellness and seeking quality over quantity have made space for the non-alcoholic and low-ABV markets to skyrocket. While non-alcoholic beer has been around for a while, the non-alcoholic market is growing increasingly innovative and interesting with the rise of non-alcoholic spirits. Many bartenders are also putting more thought and effort into their mocktail offerings. If you’re looking for a special, at-home mocktail this season, mix Seedlip’s distilled, nonalcoholic spirits in aromatic, citrus and herbal flavors with ginger ale to add some fizz.
The last quarter of 2022 starts with the “Sober October” initiative, which encourages people to cut out or cut down on alcohol for 31 days. And beyond New Year’s Eve, we can likely expect to see another boom as people participate in “Dry January” and make New Year’s resolutions to drink less or no alcohol in 2023.
Instagrammable Glasswear
Several of the season’s top cocktail trends align with particular glasses, from the iconic Martini glass to the timeless lowball that holds an Old Fashioned. Cocktail-specific glassware is rising in popularity right now, making it a fashion-forward holiday gift for 2022. While designated glasses are en vogue, they can also be deeply personal when they align with the recipient’s drink of choice and personal style. Whether it’s an avant-garde, asymmetrical Martini glass or a rose-colored wine goblet, glassware carries the qualities of an ideal holiday gift: unique, beautiful and truly useful.
Whether your drink of choice is holiday-themed, nostalgic for the ‘90s or nonalcoholic, let’s raise our glasses to good health and a “Cheers!”-full season.
This article is sponsored by The Bar.
