Non-alcoholic products are the bass players of cocktails. They may not be the star everyone came to see, but you can’t get the perfect groove without them.
We recently spoke to Breakthru Illinois Beverage Specialist Michael Page who told us about trends and innovations in the three categories of non-alcoholic beverages that consumers are craving, both at the bar and at home.
Mixers
Once thought of as a collection of syrupy sweet offerings, non-alcoholic mixers have matured, along with consumers’ tastes.
According to Page, “In today’s world where people are much more health-conscious, customers want ingredients that are less sweet and a bit healthier with a major push to incorporate more sophisticated flavors in these beverages.”
Page sees this move towards a more refined palate continuing. “There is so much more to non-alcoholic mixers than just soda water and ginger beer,” Page said “We’re seeing more depth of flavor, with more elaborate, complex flavors. In addition to more natural fruit flavors, we’re seeing herbs and botanicals, you might solely plan a cocktail around these flavors. People want to feel like they are enjoying a cocktail, rather than Kool-Aid in a fancy glass.”
Energy Drinks
Mixing spirits with non-alcoholic energy drinks continues to rise in popularity and doesn’t look to be losing steam any time soon.
“I think there’s room for that category to grow,” Page said. “Many of the flavors in energy drinks are very dominant, so it requires a little bit more finesse to make them sing in a cocktail.”
However, when using energy drinks in cocktails, Page emphasized responsibility when serving, cautioning, “You’re mixing a depressant – alcohol – with a stimulant, which can keep the party going longer than people realize.”
Non-Alcoholic Beer
No rundown of non-alcoholic products would be complete without low and alcohol-free beer. The brew formerly known as “near-beer” is the new frontier for craft brewers who are looking to capitalize on the health-conscious consumers who have reduced or eliminated alcohol for wellness or lifestyle reasons. A profitable perk of carrying non-alcoholic beer is that the category generates 1.5 times more revenue per unit when compared to its counterpart since there is no alcohol tax to pay.*
*source CNN Money