Like all of us, 2017 was a complicated year for wine. Drought and the tragic wild fires that burned through northern California and its vineyards left a raw edge on an other wise successful year for the wine segment. Shaken, but not defeated, what is on the horizon for 2018 wine trends? Let’s take a look at which trends will open up, breath, and come to maturity in 2018. Read more
For the unfamiliar—or the unimpressed—cocktail culture can seem unapproachable. But to take part in the cutting edge of cocktails in 2018 means to simply enjoy the ride by letting your curiosity lead you to new flavors and exciting drinks. So what’s the future hold for 2018 cocktail trends? Some past trends continue with new twists and new flavors quench drinker’s changing tastes. Cozy up to these new cocktail trends and when you see them dotting the menu at a local bar, don’t hesitate to jump on the bandwagon. Read more
It’s exciting to be in the restaurant space. Food, drink, and technology trends have people excited. You’re excited. I’m excited. We’re all really excited. But we’re also all getting exhausted. As the trends in dining and drinking shift and reshape every few months, it’s important to think about what changes are happening in the business of managing a restaurant. How are the duties and responsibilities of restaurant managers changing, too. What new ideas and tools are coming out that are important for managers to have a grasp on and use. What does the future mean for restaurant managers? Let’s take a look.
Going out with friends is all fun and games, until it’s Monday morning and you’re keeled over your desk with a hangover the size of your bar tab from the night before (which, if you’re unlucky, can be pretty large). To keep from hurting the morning after, we present the mocktail: a “mock” cocktail with all the deliciousness and none of the alcohol. Cocktail bars and restaurants are working their hardest to make the nonalcoholic drinker feel just as welcome as any other bar patron, and this is evidence. Additionally, for drinkers who want something between sobriety and total inebriation, we’ve found a happy middle ground: low-proof cocktails. Day drinkers aren’t born, they’re made, and these low alcohol drinks will keep your buzz going all day long. Read more
If you eat a meal but don’t Instagram a picture of it, did you even really go out to eat? Instagram has been the center of trends in the food and beverage industry for years. Now, millennials are using the photo-sharing app to redefine the restaurant experience.
For the social media skeptics out there, it may be time to reconsider your doubts. While it may have once felt impractical, these days a social media presence is almost imperative for the success of your company. In fact, 92% of marketers said that social media is important to their businesses. Social media marketing demonstrates huge opportunities to increase sales, increase brand recognition, and decrease marketing expenses. Still not convinced? We’ve compiled a list of the top business advantages of having a social media presence. Read more
Email marketing is a tactic used to spread your marketing message to the public by sending email campaigns. To keep up with the fast-paced world of business, you need a tool that is rapid, convenient, and allows for interactive communications between you and your audience. Perhaps the most popular form of email marketing is newsletters. This can be attributed to the fact that a newsletter is quick to set up, inexpensive, and relatively easy. For business owners and restaurateurs alike, email marketing is going to be more important than ever to the growth of your business. Keep reading to find out how.
“Healthy” cocktails are becoming more and more popular as mixologists and bartenders fill your favorite beverages with immune-boosting vitamins and nutrients. While we understand how a healthy cocktail may sound like an oxymoron, there are ways to vamp up the nutritional value and cut down on damaging properties. The days of simply using a sweet and sour bar mix for speed and efficiency are long gone. Bartenders today are responding to the push for fresher, healthier options, and aren’t afraid to embrace housemade mixes with unprocessed, heart-healthy ingredients.
2016 saw an increase in craft breweries producing craft lagers. Craft lagers are the latest beer trend and the one with perhaps the widest appeal. The lighter style is a welcome relief from the hop bombs with high alcohol that hit you over the head like Bamm Bamm’s club. And it’s great for craft brewers to be producing styles that your grandfather’s grandfather can enjoy. Craft lagers are also a way for restaurants, both chains and independents, to jump on the craft brew train and not alienate their customers. But, according to Uncorkd menu data, restaurants are missing out on this trend in a really big way. Let’s take a look at the numbers. Read more
If any beverage was tailor-made for the summer time, it would definitely be beer. Crisp and refreshing, beer is an effortless and affordable way to cool down after a hot summer day. From your classic citrusy wheat beers to hoppy IPAs to summer lagers, the possibilities are endless, so why not venture away from your typical six pack and try something new? We know, we know, there’s a lot to choose from, but you don’t have to drink them all right away. Consider this your summer beer bucket list.