Sip on This: The Truffle Cocktail and Other Top Drink Trends For 2018

Updated on 12/10/2018 at 5:15 PM

If the last few years in cocktails have been marked by the moscow mule, it seems that things are about to change. New flavor profiles and a resurgence of liquors, including gin and mezcal, are hitting the palate in a big way, and more consumers are looking for richer, more in-depth cocktail concoctions.

"People are becoming more aware of what they are ordering and have access to a ton of information," Kyle Tran, beverage director at the New York, NY-based Library of Distilled Spirits, told POPSUGAR. "They come in and they want to almost stump you, but are really open to having a conversation about their favorite drinks. They will tell you what they like and then ask what you can make them that's similar but with a new twist," he said.

Additionally, he said, fresh ingredients and new flavors have been top of mind for the imbibing crowd this year, including the Library of Distilled Spirits's signature drink, the Madman, made with black truffle.

"It really is good, fresh ingredients that people care about in their cocktails, and we are lucky enough to have access to great ingredients. This allows us to expand the cocktail list a bit while also offering customers new flavors that they may not have had before," said Tran.

Evan Hosaka, lead bartender at Rosina inside The Palazzo Las Vegas, echoed Tran's sentiments, telling POPSUGAR that a modern twist on the classics will continue to trend in popularity this year, but seasonal ingredients and customization will be the key. To that, he explained that Rosina offers a beverage called The Seasonal Fix. Guests can customize the beverage with their liquor of choice, and it is served with seasonal ingredients such as muddled fruit and herbs.

Thomas Waugh, a 15-year craft libations veteran, noticed that consumers want both new and fresh but also reminders of yesteryear. For his new venture, The Pool Lounge, located in NYC, he chose a menu that riffs on classic drinks, celebrating the season's fruits, vegetables, spices, and even smoke. "We create drinks that focus on single flavors that are prime for the season," said Waugh. "The art is to amplify the flavors and achieve a multilayered complexity by building the recipes around them with complementary spirits and ingredients.

What else is going to be the drink in your cup this year? We have the scoop on the top-trending cocktails that will be making their way across the bar in 2018.

Tiki Drinks

While tiki drinks may have had their moment in the past, they are coming around again, but this time, it's more serious. Gone are the days of premade tiki-inspired mixes; here come the serious mixologists catering to the discerning palate. Custom, craft-made tiki drinks are made with layers of flavors, with each bringing an experience all its own to the drinker.

Another plus: Not only do they remind people of the islands, but they are usually served in glasses that are perfect for Instagram.

Edgy Flavors (Like Black Truffle!)

People are going to want exclusive ingredients and flavors that they aren't going to find anywhere else, as well as fresh, seasonal ingredients. Look for savory and out-of-the-box ingredients, like black truffle, to find their way to a bar near you as palates become a bit more sophisticated.

Pickled Drinks

Pickled foods have been a top food trend for the last year, with promise to grow. However, the pickling process isn't just limited to foods anymore. Fermented additives are making their way into cocktails to add layers of flavor not found before.

Smoky Flavors

Smoked flavors are going to be grow throughout 2018. Mezcal, the smokier and more savory sister of tequila, is having a moment in cocktail culture that is sure to continue to take off through the rest of the year.

Additionally, smoking cocktails have also become common practice at bars. Smoking boxes and techniques give spirits and mixed drinks a fuller, more robust flavor, which makes for the perfect drink to sip.

Smoked cocktails have hit the home entertainer as well, with smoking boxes becoming more affordable and readily available to cocktail aficionados who prefer to drink at home.

Aloe Liqueur

While you may think of aloe as what you put on your sunburn, aloe liqueur is beginning to pop up on cocktail menus across the US. According to Juyoung Kang, lead mixologist at The Dorsey, the lounge's Three Names of Jeju cocktail has been in demand as of late because it is refreshing in nature. It's a variation of the classic last word cocktail made with gin, fresh lime, aloe vera, and green chartreuse.

Juleps

The moscow mule has reigned supreme in the last few years, but 2018 is the julep's turn. This classic cocktail is becoming more popular as people are turning to bourbon as their go-to beverage. Variations on this drink, too, will be in demand, as its core ingredients mix well with everything from coffee to rose water.

The Daiquiri

According to Andrew Robertson, bartender at New York, NY-based Library of Distilled Spirits, a well-made daiquiri is something he looks for at other establishments, he said.

"If a place can make a good daiquiri, then I'll definitely hang out and see what they have to offer," he told us.

Robertson predicts that more people will turn toward the classic drink during 2018 as a return to the cocktails of years gone by coming back around again.

Gin

No, we don't mean your grandpa's gin and tonic, but there is a reason there are so many gin cocktails on the bar menu. New flavor combinations and infusions are beginning to make gin an in-demand spirit since it's complex enough to handle sweet, sour, and strong beverages, like Butcher & Banker's signature Double Standard Sour.