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Custom drinks, local beer among top drink trends

Menu Trends & Directions kicks off with presentations on F&B trends

Customizable drinks, locally produced beer and classic cocktails are among the biggest trends in beverages, Nation’s Restaurant News food editor Bret Thorn told attendees of the Menu Trends & Directions conference.

The two-day conference kicked off Tuesday in Orlando, Fla., with presentations by menu trends expert Nancy Kruse and Thorn, who discussed what consumers are drinking these days in a session called "Turning Your Beverage Menu into Liquid Gold."

“Customers like to customize their drinks like they customize their food these days,” Thorn said. “But unlike food, it seems Americans are willing to give up what they like for something that is good for them.”

With adult beverages, the most popular cocktails are still the classics, he added. Two sources, Technomic and the National Restaurant Association's "What's Hot" chef survey, listed locally produced beer as a current trend, and they both reported a growing trend of food and beer pairings.

Technomic added organic and gluten-free beers on their trend list as well as bold and spicy cocktail seasonings. The NRA's "What's Hot" chef survey highlighted micro-distilled spirits, culinary cocktails made with savory components and fresh ingredients as among the top beverage trends.

With wine, Technomic listed Merlot as the top red wine, closely followed by Cabernet Sauvignon. Pinot Noir was about half as popular. Chardonnay was the heavy favorite among white wines.

“The more things change,” Thorn noted, “the more they stay the same.”

Contact Pamela Parseghian at [email protected].
 

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