Happy New Year from all of us at Beaumont!
As we step into 2026, the bar industry continues to evolve, driven largely by the unique preferences of Gen Z. This demographic values experience over volume, prioritising authenticity, visual storytelling, and moderation.
To keep your menu relevant this year, it’s time to move beyond the classics. Here is how to curate a selection that speaks to the next generation of cocktail enthusiasts.
1. Aesthetic is Everything
For Gen Z, the first sip happens with a smartphone lens. A minimalist, well-structured drink is far more shareable than one cluttered with outdated decorations. Try using ice balls or high-quality garnish picks to create a clean, sophisticated look.
2. Transparency and Moderation
Moderation is a lifestyle, not a trend. Give your Low & No serves the same technical respect as your premium cocktails. Use thimble measures to maintain the exact balance of botanical syrups, ensuring your non-alcoholic options never feel like an afterthought.
3. Sustainable and Local Stories
Gen Z gravitates toward brands that prioritise the planet’s well-being. Highlight drinks produced in your immediate area and ingredients sourced from your region. Whether it’s a gin from a local distillery or seasonal fruit from a nearby farm, these elements tell a story of community and sustainability that resonates deeply with a conscious audience.
4. Bolder, Adventurous Flavours
When they do drink, Gen Z is remarkably adventurous, moving toward savoury, bitter, and global profiles. These complex ingredients require precision; use a long bar spoon for layered builds and a robust muddler to extract aromatic oils from unconventional herbs.
Below, you can find three cocktail builds designed to appeal to the Gen Z palate – focusing on visual aesthetics, adventurous flavours, or sophisticated moderation.
1. The Savoury Highball
Savoury cocktails are a major trend for 2026. This drink is crisp, refreshing, and replaces traditional sweetness with a more complex, saline profile.
- Ingredients: 50ml Gin (or a non-alcoholic botanical spirit), 15ml Fino Sherry, 10ml tomato water, topped with premium soda.
- Build over ice in a highball glass and skewer a single, high-quality olive or a pickled green strawberry. This adds a clean, architectural look that is perfect for social media.
Antique Brass Plated Muddler 9″
2. The Cloud Spritz
This serve focuses on texture and the “theatre” of the drink. It uses clarification to create a crystal-clear base that contrasts with a vibrant, aromatic foam.
- Ingredients: 40ml Clarified strawberry and basil cordial, 75ml Sparkling wine (or kombucha), topped with a light elderflower foam.
- Prep the clarified cordial in advance using a fine mesh strainer to ensure it’s perfectly clear. Stir the base gently to maintain the carbonation.
- Serve over a single, large ice cube. The clear ice against the clarified liquid creates a stunning glass-on-glass effect.
3. The Botanical Zero-Proof Sour
This is a non-alcoholic drink that doesn’t feel like a compromise. It uses high-impact ingredients to deliver a complex, mouth-coating texture.
- Ingredients: 50ml Distilled non-alcoholic spirit, 25ml Fresh lime juice, 20ml Hibiscus and pepper syrup, egg white or aquafaba.
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Using a high-quality muddler, lightly bruise a few fresh peppercorns at the bottom before adding the liquids to heighten the aromatic bite.
- Double strain to achieve a silky, tight foam. Garnish with a single, dried hibiscus flower for a minimal, premium look.
