First up is fizz. A tasty and affordable alternative to Champagne, Prosecco is set to be an ongoing favourite cork to pop throughout 2018.
The experts have predicted pubs should expect to see the use of glittering bubble balls, fruit liqueurs as well as fragrant herbs to 'pimp up' traditional Prosecco this year.
Botanical cocktails
The New World Trading Company’s the Botanist in Leopold Square, known for its botanical cocktails and craft beers and ales, is already home to many quirky fizz tipples, including an elderflower and strawberry fizz.
Caribbean-style drinks made with rum, coconut and pineapple flavours will take top billing on cocktail menus in 2018 predicts Leopold Square’s Polynesian Tiki cocktail bar.
Another Caribbean-based drink, rum has been hailed as the next spirit to rise as fast as gin. The rise of the rum cocktail is something to look out for in 2018, the popularity of concoctions including Mojito and Mai Tai have been contributing greatly to the growth of rum throughout 2017 and are expected to do so again this year.
On the subject of gin, after its colossal growth of recent years, the spirit is expected to expand even further with more flavoured gins alongside a more diverse range of mixers throughout 2018.
Predictions reiterated
These predictions echoed the words of the Waitrose Food and Drink Report 2017–2018. This report also stated there will be a trend for whisky producers to experiment with new flavours.
These included Glenfiddich finishing some of its whiskies in IPA casks to deliver a hoppy flavour – “expect more cross-categorising to come,” said the Waitrose research.
Broader beer trends included the ‘craft-isation’ of porters and the fact that stouts are moving in line with their lighter counterparts.