It’s all about the multi-tasking these days; even in the food and beverage industry. Why eat regular oatmeal when you can eat protein-added oatmeal? Making a smoothie? Throw some seeds in the blender. You don’t always think of health when you think of alcoholic drinks, but if you’re going to have a cocktail, why not have one that provides some nutritional benefits as well?
Enter the new water cocktail trend.
Because of their natural qualities, plant waters, such as coconut water, have been taking the place of sports drinks over the last few years. Now we’re also starting to see them take the place of traditional mixers in new cocktail trends.
Gone are the days of the brightly colored, sickly-sweet cocktail mixers. Plant water is more natural and generally less sweet. The plant water cocktail trend gives mixologists new, more subtle flavors to experiment with while also giving health-conscious consumers even happier happy hours.
Plant-Based Waters
The first plant water on the scene was coconut water. Now you can also find these:
- aloe water
- maple water
- bamboo water
- watermelon water
- cactus water (made from prickly pear cacti)
- birch water
All of these plant waters are crowding out soda and sports drinks on grocery store shelves today.
A Natural Alternative To Soda And Bottled Mixers
People have been scrutinizing what they eat for years. Is it organic, free-range, and natural? Now they’re starting to put more thought into what goes into their alcoholic drinks. Cold-pressed juices, natural shrubs, bitters, and house-made soda are becoming more popular at bars.
Producers of plant waters claim that they are hydrating and contain, among other things, phytonutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, and electrolytes. (Not to mention they’re vegan and gluten-free if you’re into that kind of thing).
Will they make you healthier? We’ll leave that to the experts. For our purposes, they are a great, natural alternative to mixers, and people are loving this new cocktail trend.
Get In On The Water Cocktail Trend
Water cocktails have summer refreshment written all over them. Since plant waters are more subtle in flavor, use them in drinks with more delicately flavored spirits.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Watermelon water-ade
- Coconut water Pina Colada
- Cactus water Margarita or Cosmopolitan
- Cucumber aloe water Moscow Mule
- Maple water Figaro or Fizz
Get your shakers ready! Here are a few more cocktail trend articles for you:
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