In high spirits
Much has changed in the drinks industry in recent times. With a thirst for knowledge, we spoke to five beverage professionals to discover what’s new in the world of spirits.
Founder of Shaker Spirits and Escale French Apéritif
What are the latest spirit trends?
Low and non-alcoholic products are continuing to experience growth. Major companies are investing massively in this category, such as Martini 0%. However, I believe that consumers will be more driven by craft and high-quality brands with a strong heritage.
How do you assess a spirit’s quality?
First of all, a high-quality spirit needs to give customers the same feeling whether it is consumed neat or in cocktails. Flavors and aromas need to be rich and evolve with time. Even when the glass is empty, the aromas should still be there.
Which is your favorite spirit and why?
Definitely whisky. I have more than 150 bottles at home, and my collection continues to grow. What I like the most about whisky is the know-how of the people that make it. I also love the different tastes and flavors of this spirit.
Which spirit is a must in most cocktails?
It depends on the market. Vodka and gin are still extremely popular in cocktail creation. Vermouth and bitters are also sought after at the moment. Negroni, Americano, dry martini and other classic cocktails are trendy.
What key terms should alcohol enthusiasts know?
Distillation, maceration and maturation are important terms. These help to identify where the aromas and flavors come from.
TONY ABOU-GANIM
Owner of The Modern Mixologist and partner at Libertine Social
What are the latest spirit trends?
The trend of “to-go” cocktails will continue. I also believe that we will see more and better quality ready-to-drink cocktails sold off premises. Simple, triple-ingredient cocktails and wellmade highballs is what we can expect at bars.
How do you assess a spirit’s quality?
My mother was a great chef, and she always said that you have to taste everything to learn what you like and what surpasses others in the same category. Over time, if you apply this rule, you will come to identify the characteristics of a specific spirit category and what sets one brand apart from others, at least in your opinion.
Which is your favorite spirit and why?
If I had to pick one spirit, it would be Campari. From a simple Campari and soda to negroni —which is my favorite cocktail — Campari not only brings that unique, bitter-sweet element to a cocktail, bit it also works with virtually any other base spirit, from gin to blanco tequila.
Which spirit is a must in most cocktails?
I have always loved working with vodka, a spirit category I feel has not been given the respect or attention by the craft bartending community that it deserves. People love vodka; in fact, over 25 percent of all spirits consumed in the United States are vodka.
JAD BALLOUT
Co-owner and bartender of DEAD END PARADISE and Electric Bing Sutt
What are the latest spirit trends?
Gin is still big in 2021 and new gin brands containing rare botanicals and unique ingredients are appearing on the market. Shochu will be a new trend in cocktail bars in 2022. Recently, a well-known bartender called Shingo Gokan launched his own brand of shoshu and it’s great.
How do you assess a spirit’s quality?
You must pay attention to the taste, smell, character, alcohol level and balance of aromas.
Which is your favorite spirit and why?
I was recently introduced to shochu, the Japanese spirit, and I loved it. You can enjoy it as a boilermaker shot and beer, on the rocks, or you can even mix it with cocktails and highballs. The flavor profile of each shoshu depends on which ingredients are distilled. The most common are sweet potato, barley, rice and buckwheat.
Which spirit is a must in most cocktails?
I feel that pisco is a very cocktail-driven spirit. The flavor of pisco opens up when it is mixed, which is why pisco sour is such a fantastic drink.
Bacardi portfolio brand ambassador for Levant and North Africa
What are the latest spirit trends?
Pre-batched cocktails are trending now more than ever due to the lockdowns. Consumers are missing their favorite bars, so ready-to-drink cocktails provide a way to stay connected.
What makes the perfect spirit?
In my opinion, there isn’t one perfect spirit that fits all; it depends on the occasion, the preferences of the consumer and the mood.
Which is your favorite spirit and why?
It depends on the occasion, but I always think of whisky first because I love its taste. I would describe the character of whisky as bold and confident. It is a standout spirit.
Which spirit is a must in most cocktails?
This is very subjective. A good bartender always knows what to mix with which ingredients to make different variations using the same spirit.
What key terms should alcohol enthusiasts know?
There are so many. Alcohol by Volume (ABV) is a significant one. It denotes the percentage of alcohol in each bottle. It’s important to know how much alcohol there is to be able to compare it to other similar bottles in the same category. For example, different gins can have different ABV values. One might taste softer because its ABV is 40 percent, while the other might taste strong because it contains 47 percent alcohol.
WALID MERHI
Beverage director of Baky Hospitality group, Egypt
Head of bar at Ferdinand Gastropub, Beirut
What are the latest spirit trends?
Pre-batched cocktails have become very popular. Another trend we have been witnessing is the use of local products and ingredients, which are high in quality and less expensive than imported brands.
Furthermore, low-alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks are on the rise. Basic and advanced fermentation methods are starting to go viral, like kombucha and fruit wines. Consumers of alcohol-free beverages are spoiled for choice with a huge range of coffees and cold brews, mocktails and non-alcoholic spirits and beer on the market.
How do you assess a spirit’s quality?
Smell it; the smell of alcohol should never be so strong that it prevents you from detecting other aromas. Taste it; you should have a long-lasting finish after the alcohol fades, and your mouth should never feel irritated. Having an anesthetic-like aftertaste is a bad indicator no matter how high the level of alcohol is.
Which is your favorite spirit and why?
I’m a big fan of whisky; a sherry cask neat single malt that’s served raw from the barrel and sipped in its natural habitat is perfect.
What key terms should alcohol enthusiasts know?
Every spirit or category has its own glossary, but knowing what type of alcohol we are consuming and its production method can help classify things: spirit or liquor, distilled or fermented, aperitif or digestif, etc.
Flavor profile terminologies can also help us select and explain our needs: sweet, sour, bitter, dry, peaty, spicy, fizzy, light, straightforward (strong).