From the continued rise of the all-day drink to sophisticated zero proof concoctions, 2024 was a year of both nostalgic and progressive ideas in cocktails. So what’s in store for 2025? We polled experts in spirits and flavor innovation about what trends are on tap. Expect 90s vibes, moderation in diverse forms, and inspiration from your favorite team sport.
The 2024 Winners
First, let’s recognize this year’s most profitable and noteworthy cocktails, according to NIQ’s CGA: the mojito, espresso martini, spritz, Negroni and margarita. The margarita remains by far the most popular cocktail on-premise with a velocity that is around four times higher than the next most valuable choice, the mojito. The spritz has been a big mover in 2024, although sales go up and down seasonally. Meanwhile, the espresso martini is still moving and shaking – velocity in the third quarter of 2024 rocketed by another 116% year-on-year – and another classic, the Negroni, is one of the on-premise’s most lucrative cocktails, sitting around the top of the rankings for average check value and price throughout 2024.
According to Bacardi’s 2025 Cocktail Trends Report, those drinks will still top the charts next year: the margarita and the spritz will follow the mojito as the top three global cocktails for 2025, according to the report. But let’s look beyond the staples.
Lychee Gets a Boost From 90s Nostalgia
Lychee is back. Blame it on the martini resurgence, which is expected to continue.
“The lychee martini in particular, but martinis overall, all started exploding in the 90s in New York, and now they’re back again with really contemporary ingredient twists,” said Brian Masilionis, senior director of commercial development for Southern Glazer’s.
Masilionis is fresh off the distributor’s 2024 Liquid Insights Tour, a coast-to-coast initiative focused on exploring the top trends shaping the wine and spirits industry with research in six markets. The fruit, along with other Asian ingredients, has made a comeback: in Austin, a lychee martini was on draft; in New York, a fried chicken and champagne spot offered a lychee-shaped ice cube in a vodka martini served in a rocks glass, adding flavor as it melts.
Martinis Stay Up, Boost Vodka
Those kinds of contemporary takes on the martini will keep up, particularly with savory ingredients, and in the format of ice-cold freezer martinis, which are basically pre-batched problem solvers for busy bars, as noted in a 2025 Hospitality Trends Report from agencies af&co and Carbonate.
Vodka has also found itself under a martini halo: during the last Liquid Insights Tour in 2022, vodka was the number three category as the lead spirit for cocktails, but shot up to number one this year. While tequila is king of dollar sales because of queen margarita, vodka’s volume rein is now showing up in trend-forward cocktails again.
Boba Is Poppin
Another trend “popping” up? Boba in cocktails, according to af&co. Gen Z has grown up with bubble tea and sales of the Taiwanese drink in bottles and cans have been bubbling up, so it makes sense we’re seeing some very smart bartenders lure younger drinkers in with chewy tapioca pearls.
Make Them Mini
Speaking of tiny fun things, smaller portions of cocktails (mini cocktails) and wine are becoming increasingly popular, giving guests the chance to try more drinks without committing to a full serving. Masilionis says the trend offers bartenders the flexibility to provide trial experiences and low-ABV options while maximizing profitability with higher-margin percentage mini portions, which are especially easy when pre-batched.
Keep It Simple
The 90s vibes have filtered over to cocktail presentations as well.
“In a generation obsessed with 90s nostalgia—whether through sitcoms, fashion, or other trends—cocktails have also embraced this vibe,” said Matt Maretz, principal bartender at Employees Only NYC.
That means high flavor, but stunningly simple presentation.
“Take the iconic Amelia, for instance. This cocktail features just three main ingredients: blackberry, lemon, and elderflower. This trend toward simplicity and flavor-focused cocktails is what we anticipate defining the year ahead at the bar,” he said.
Clarified Cocktails Pick Up
When Masilionis was on the 2023 Liquid Insights Tour, clarified cocktails were all over menus in New York, putting it at the front end of the trend. This time around, milk punches had fizzled a bit in the Big Apple but were prominent elsewhere.
Plus, sustainability and clarification go together “like peanut butter and jelly,” according to Niko Novick, executive of beverage at Superfrico in Atlantic City.
“Clarified cocktails are the next ‘it’ cocktail in the U.S. since more professionals are waking up to the fact that this technique saves money, reduces waste, and extends shelf life. No wonder every top international craft cocktail bar seems to have dedicated most of their menus to it,” he said.
In general, bartenders are drawing deeper cocktail inspiration from culinary arts, with 71% incorporating kitchen staples like milk, oil, and brine into their creations, according to Bacardi’s report.
Low and No Revolution Is Here
For the second year in a row, Tequila and mezcal were the spirits of most interest to bartenders but 0% ABV ‘spirits’ were named the third most-interesting product for bartenders in Bacardi’s Global Ambassador Survey, part of a global shift happening as bases for non-alc cocktails get more innovative.
“While the classic cocktails like the popular espresso martinis and Aperol spritzes will remain popular, there’s a noticeable shift toward low-ABV options as health and wellness take center stage,” said Nick Porpiglia, director of food & beverage at New York’s The Ned NoMad. “This shift doesn’t seem like a passing trend but taking a stronger foothold in the industry for the foreseeable future.”
The ‘It’ Cocktail? The One You Can Drink All Day
Just as non-alc options scramble the traditional occasions for drinking, trends over the years point to more energizing or day-time cocktails continuing to pick up steam.
“What I can say is that if you look at trends over the past few years, the popular cocktails we’ve seen on social media tend to lend themselves to brunches and a more ‘all-day” mindset,’ said Daniel King, restaurant and bar manager at Evelyn’s of Nashville’s Hutton Hotel. “I think that’s why we’ve seen spritzes rise in popularity—they have a lower ABV, so they’re a bit more guilt-free. Espresso martinis have that energizing element that helps keep the party alive!”
Fandom In A Cup
Remember the Honey Duce, the cocktail at this year’s U.S. Open that hit $12.4 million in sales? The cocktail — a mix of vodka, lemonade and a raspberry liqueur, plus its signature melon balls — has been a staple of the tennis tournament for over two decades, but found its moment in the sun this year thanks to Grey Goose’s continued marketing push finally clicking in as tennis’s popularity reached new heights.
“Fandoms are redefining premium entertainment experiences by embracing luxury in unexpected ways,” read Bacardi’s report. That means expect more elevated hospitality add-ons and bespoke travel packages involving cocktails and centered around concerts and live events, whether it’s Formula 1 weekends or star-studded concert tours.