It’s time to say a fond farewell to sipping gin and tonics on the patio and move into fall’s warm and spicy libations. Think apple cider cocktails with bourbon or an espresso martini. Pair them with prepared snacks or hors d’oeuvres, invite friends from your senior living community or neighbourhood, and you have an instant fun and easy get-together. Check out what’s popular in drink trends for the fall:
1) The cocktail
It used to be that you only ordered cocktails at a bar or restaurant, but that’s changed the last few years as people now create their own home-bar versions of Old Fashioneds and Negronis. Those two cocktails rank among the world’s most popular.*
For fall, why not indulge in an espresso martini, a throwback to its creation in 1980s London?* The combination of vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur and a pinch of salt is rich, sweet, and deeply satisfying—and a great dessert substitute!
Or channel traditional fall flavours in a smoky harvest apple cider margarita. Combine mezcal or silver tequila, orange liqueur, apple cider, lime juice and maple syrup for a warm taste of Canadian autumn.*
2) Lower or no-alcohol drinks
The experts at The Alchemist, a Canadian magazine dedicated to cocktail culture, say that non-alcoholic drinks are exploding in popularity, as people embrace healthier living and sobriety. They cite zero-proof spirits like Seedlip, Sobrii and Lumette! as worthy cocktail substitutes. For those who want just a little less alcohol in their mixed drink, lower-proof vodkas, vermouths and amaros are also available at liquor stores.*
3) Sustainability
It’s no surprise, given the widespread effects of climate change, that sustainability and a shift to plant-based ingredients are having an impact on the drinks industry. Bars and restaurants are replacing plastic straws with reusable metal ones, and are turning to non-dairy, plant-based milks and vegetable oils in their drinks.*
4) Drinks and nibbles
Having friends over for cocktails and canapés is easy and requires little preparation. If you don’t have a fully equipped kitchen, buy a selection of frozen, prepared snacks or hors d’oeuvres that can be easily heated up. While you don’t necessarily have to match your canapés with your cocktails, think about the flavours of the drinks complementing the profile of your food, considering cuisine style, body, and spices. A Manhattan is full-bodied and warm and should be matched with an equal-weight food such as a charcuterie board, for example.*
*The following sources provide references for this blog, in order of appearance:
- Vinepair.com. “The 50 most popular cocktails in the world in 2022.” (2022), online: https://vinepair.com/articles/50-most-popular-cocktails-world-2017/
- The Alchemist Magazine. “Top 10 cocktail trends for 2022.” (December 30, 2021), online: https://www.thealchemistmagazine.ca/2021/12/30/top-10-cocktail-trends-for-2022/
- Elle Décor Magazine. “30 crisp fall cocktails to keep you cozy all season!” (August 24, 2020), online: https://www.elledecor.com/life-culture/food-drink/news/g3174/fall-cocktails/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=arb_ga_edc_d_bm_prog_org_us_g3174&gclid=Cj0KCQjw39uYBhCLARIsAD_SzMTj1fj0hi6-fkafIec8b68QdZHuMhar7DLkEK-mIQw61PoA_PRaQzYaApqQEALw_wcB
- The Alchemist Magazine. “Top 10 cocktail trends for 2022.” (December 30, 2021), online: https://www.thealchemistmagazine.ca/2021/12/30/top-10-cocktail-trends-for-2022/
- Ibid.
- Lovetoknow.com. “Cocktail food pairing chart to tempt your tastebuds.” (May 6, 2022), online: https://cocktails.lovetoknow.com/food-cocktail-pairings/cocktail-food-pairing-chart