From Domestic Hedonism To Mindful Moderation, the Bacardi Survey Reveals Spirits Trends Sparked by Cultural Shifts Last Year – CSRwire.com

Published 02-01-21

Submitted by Bacardi Limited

HAMILTON, Bermuda, February 1, 2021 /CSRwire/Bacardi Limited, the world's largest privately-held spirits company, has its eye on the future. It just released theBacardi Cocktail Trends Report, the company's second annual edition, revealing how recent cultural shifts have re-shaped the beverage industry. Created in collaboration with The Future Laboratory (TFL), a London-based consultancy, the report predicts the changes that will happen in cocktail consumption in 2021. It also relates insights collected from the global network of Bacardi ambassadors, as well as bartenders and other industry experts.

"The pandemic has shifted mindsets and accelerated emerging trends, and the Bacardi Cocktail Trends Report is a window to these changes," says Brenda Fiala, Global Vice President, Strategic Insights and Analytics for Bacardi.

"These insights help us navigate the consumer landscape and set the course for future growth, as we enter a new year in which adults of legal drinking age are looking forward to reestablishing connection, creating new rituals, and toasting to simple moments of celebration with loved ones."

Prior to lockdowns, only 1% of spirits sales were online as people werent really aware of shopping of bottles or cocktails via their browsers. Within weeks of lockdowns, consumers discovered they can buy spirits online and have them delivered right to their door, leading to exponential growth of online spirits sales. A new culture of convenience, enabled by the meteoric rise of e-comm, is on the rise.

Drizly, an alcohol e-commerce platform, grew by 350% in 2020, according to IWSR. An appetite for convenience, and a new abundance of caution, have together sparked a 131% rise in ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktails in the U.S. (Nielsen CGA).

As this category flourishes further this year, expect to see some new players in the game.

The Italianaperitivois being embraced across the globe, spiking interest in bitters in particular. As consumers thirst for a familiar reprieve from lockdown life, classic cocktails are also growing in popularity, as are pursuits of fun twists on these time-honored staples.

More people are pushing the boundaries of experimentation with cocktails like the chili whisky sour and turmeric-infused gin and ginger cocktails, suggesting the emergence of gustatory thrill-seeking.

The classics are back but with a futuristic twist, says Martin Raymond, co-founder of The Future Laboratory. He further predicts that, At home, weve learned to make these drinks. But once bars are up and running again, well be expecting our favorite bartenders and places to match, confound and challenge us with the future faced fusions and variation builds and tastes theyve been perfecting during lockdown super-charged bitters, volatile sweets when we expect gentle sours, even hyper-local elixirs that distil the best weeds, mosses, and lichens with the exactness of a chemist. If yesterdays bartender was about skill and mixology, tomorrows one is a about alchemy and disruption.

According to Bacardi, 20% of customers are now keen to explore drinks that weren't on their radar pre-lockdown, including premium versions of their favorite spirits or of others they haven't sampled before. As a result, we'll see more elevated, to-go options, as well as premium batched cocktails.

In North America, the best premiumization opportunities are in tequila (60%), dark rum (32%), and mezcal (29%). In Europe, gin is booming, and it is the top trending spirit globally (51%), based on insights gleaned from the Bacardi Global Brand Ambassador Survey.

This desire for more environmentally conscious consumption has also entered into bars and restaurants. 58% of Bacardi brand ambassadors in North America say they have noticed an increase in bartenders interest in zero-waste ingredients.

Bars and restaurants are starting to take note of this shift. Many have adopted hybrid menus that offer drinks in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions, and many more likely will this year.

Download the completeBacardi Cocktail Trends Report 2021andInfographic.

About Bacardi Limited

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARD rum, GREY GOOSE vodka, PATRN tequila, DEWARS Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSONS Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF vodka. Founded more than 158 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs more than 7,000, operates production facilities in 11 countries, and sells its brands in more than 170 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visithttp://www.bacardilimited.comor follow us onTwitter,LinkedInorInstagram.

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From Domestic Hedonism To Mindful Moderation, the Bacardi Survey Reveals Spirits Trends Sparked by Cultural Shifts Last Year - CSRwire.com