As the number of health-conscious consumers grows, a lot of hospitality businesses have developed mocktail menus. They often include a combination of popular mocktails and craft ones. The menu should be aligned with the style and the atmosphere of the establishment. For example, a beach bar is likely to offer refreshing non-alcoholic mixed drinks that are commonly associated with hot summer days. On the other hand, a restaurant business might be more interested in offering popular mocktails that pair well with dishes. In this post, we’ll shed some light on the most popular mocktails in the hospitality sector and how such businesses can benefit from them. Make sure to read our posts on bar inventory management and how to create a cocktail menu for your business.
Key takeaway: In recent years, non-alcoholic mixed drinks have become very trendy. Most hospitality businesses add popular mocktails to their cocktail menus. Some mocktails are alcoholic-free versions of classic cocktails.
Most Popular Mocktails
The influence of the foodie culture can be seen in both the food and beverage industry. A growing number of people wish to try new flavors or ingredient combinations. However, classical cocktails are still among the most popular ones. That can also be said for non-alcoholic mixed drinks. Whether you’re planning an outdoor event or wish to include mocktails when doing menu design for a hospitality business, check out these most popular mocktails.
- Virgin Mojito (also known as Nojito) is a light and very refreshing option for hot summer days. Nojito variations with berries, cucumbers, coconut water, or other ingredients are also among the most popular mocktails.
- Virgin Pina Colada combines creamy texture and sweetness to give you a tropical and refreshing experience.
- Arnold Palmer is a very common non-alcoholic mixed drink that combines the sweetness of iced tea with the tartness of lemonade.
- Shirley Temple is another popular mocktail that is suitable as a pairing for various dishes and is enjoyed by people of all ages.
- Watermelon Basil Cooler combines fresh watermelon juice, basil, lime juice, and soda.
- Citrus Coconut Refresher combines coconut water, mint, soda, and lime (or lemon) juice. Its tropical and light taste makes it a popular mocktail for the summer.
- Virgin Martini is made with sparkling water, bitters, and olives. A hint of olive juice can be added for a more complex flavor.
- Non-alcoholic Margarita is yet another very popular mocktail due to the popularity of the classical Margarita cocktail.
- Virgin Mary is a non-alcoholic spin-off of the classical Bloody Mary cocktail. It’s a great pairing for spicy dishes and other meals due to its strong savory flavor.
- Non-alcoholic Sangria is a variation of the classical Spanish mixed drink made with alcohol-free wine or some type of red juice (usually cranberry or pomegranate juice).
Popular Craft Mocktails
The classical and popular mocktails mentioned above are among the most beloved non-alcoholic mixed drinks. However, in order to increase bar profitability, managers in the hospitality industry need to go beyond just offering non-alcoholic versions of popular cocktails. That’s why craft mocktails have become very trendy. They can be found on the menus of upscale bars, resorts, and other businesses in the restaurant industry. Here are a few examples of craft mocktails that can be excellent additions to an establishment’s beverage menu.
- Dry ice mocktails use food-safe dry ice pellets to create a unique bubbling and fog experience.
- Color-changing mocktails like Butterfly Pea Lemonade are very Instagrammable and can even help with marketing for bars.
- Serving mocktails as a DIY kit at the table can be a unique experience for guests. In addition to giving them a chance to interact with their beverage, it also allows them to customize the drink.
- Nitro-infused mocktails have a creamy texture with cascading small bubbles. The usage of nitrogen in bars has become very trendy and can be seen in nitro cold brew coffee or nitrogenated beer.
How Hospitality Businesses Can Benefit from Mocktails
As mixed drinks have a higher profit markup compared to other beverages, business owners in the hospitality sector need to look for ways to improve their cocktail menus. One of the ways to do so is by combining popular mocktails with unique and craft ones. As non-alcoholic beverages have increased in popularity in recent years, hospitality businesses can benefit greatly from developing a mocktail menu.
Another way for the food service sector to benefit from mocktails is by using them in their marketing content. Recipes of popular mocktails on the website blog, images of Instagrammable mixed drinks on social media, and encouraging customers to share their experiences online are a few of the ways to boost restaurant marketing.
Having seamless procedures and operations is another way to boost profitability from mixed drinks. That includes managing inventory well (see more about how to manage bar inventory and the benefits of beverage inventory software), reducing inventory shrinkage, and improving efficiency. Batching cocktails, including bundles in the menu, and training waiters to upsell mixed drinks are a few ways to improve the operations of your establishment.
Whether your place serves primarily popular mocktails and cocktails or focuses on craft mixed drinks with a unique customer experience, the menu should be regularly updated and adapted. The easiest way to do so is through restaurant data analytics and QR codes for restaurant menus.
Frequently Asked Questions about Popular Mocktails
There are various resources from multiple niche markets on BlueCart’s website. From tips on how to open a bar to guides on how to boost restaurant customer acquisition, managers can find valuable advice in our posts. Check out our answers to common questions regarding popular mocktails and their role in hospitality.
What Is the Easiest Mocktail to Make?
The Arnold Palmer, also known as the half and half, is one of the easiest mocktails to make. It has only two ingredients – iced tea and lemonade. It’s also sold by retailers as a ready-to-drink mixed beverage. In addition to the two ingredients, the drink can be garnished with lemon slices and ice. For a mocktail to be easy to make, it should have minimal ingredients and require no specific bar tools. Examples of such non-alcoholic mixed drinks include a Virgin Mojito (also known as Nojito), Shirley Temple, Cranberry Ginger Fizz, Orange Sunrise, and Cucumber Mint Sparkler.
What Are Other Popular Zero-Proof Mixed Drinks?
Although mocktails are very trendy in bars and restaurants, other non-alcoholic mixed drinks are also popular options. Juice blends are a great example. They are easy to make and are favorites for many customers. Milkshakes and smoothies are other types of mixed drinks that can be included in the menu. Milkshakes are primarily associated with family-oriented establishments due to being a dessert-style mixed drink. On the other hand, smoothies are often ordered by health-conscious customers. Lemonades are another type of classical non-alcoholic mixed drink. In addition to classical citrusy lemonades, there are also berry-based varieties and trendy alternatives like jalapeno limeade.
How to Pair Mocktails with Food?
Mixed drinks are an excellent beverage choice to pair with food. Since there’s a wide variety of popular mocktails, they can be combined with all courses of a meal – appetizers, salads, main dishes, and even desserts. When pairing mocktails with food, it’s important to choose the right type of mixed drink. For example, a delicious steak can be paired with a cranberry-based mocktail. On the other hand, a mixed drink with cucumber and mint can be an excellent choice to complement a fresh and light summer salad. Check out our full guide on cocktail and food pairing.
BlueCart: Inventory Management for Hospitality Businesses
Whether you’re looking for software to help you calculate the profit margin on cocktails or need a vendor management platform, BlueCart is the right choice for you. With solutions related to wholesale order management, cost of goods sold tracking, and more, our platform is a preferred option for many hospitality businesses. If you operate a company in the food service sector, sign up for BlueCart today. Our SaaS solution can also help distributors who wish to increase their wholesale sales and streamline their processes. Schedule a demo and see BlueCart’s features for suppliers.