There’s a lot that excites us here at Craft Gin Club - and, as our name suggests - it’s often a brand-new gin, decadent cocktail recipes, or fun gin events. Something else that makes us a bit giddy? Looking ahead at the coming year in the world of gin and discovering what shiny new trends are on the horizon for us to dive into! Want a sneak peek at what we’ve discovered? Read on!
We chatted to our in-house gin experts and our Family of Distillers to predict the top gin trends of 2023 - and trust us when we say we’re set for a fun and adventurous year!
Whether it’s trying a new cocktail trend, tasting gin that’s been produced in a completely new way, or giving innovative new mixers a go - we’re here for it!
5 of the biggest gin trends for 2023:
Upmarket Mixers
We know craft gin is a key element of any sip, but upmarket mixers are on the rise. During lockdown, with many of us mixing up drinks at home, we grew confident in experimenting with mixers instead of the usual tonic (something we love doing in our Gin of the Month boxes!). And as more people opt for nights in over nights out, they are seeking bar-quality drinks.
We’ve always known the importance of a quality mixer here at Craft Gin Club (check out our delicious range here) - they instantly elevate your ginny tipple (and at-home experience), whether that’s for a Friday night G&T or a special celebration cocktail.
This year, expect to see a new breed of premium mixers - think daring flavour combinations, rare ingredients, as well as artisan processes. Examples of this? Zesty and fragrant Bibite Polara Green Mandarin and the purple, punchy Artisan Violet Blossom Mixer. This reflects the premiumisation trend across all products in the drinks market - which is just the tonic. Go on, treat yourself…
2. Sustainable Switch-up
Credit: Greenall’s
As the cost of living increases, lots of gin brands are looking for ways to reduce packaging costs whilst striving to make their products more sustainable.
Refill pouches are a popular solution as there’s less glass involved - meaning fewer production costs and it’s much more kind to the planet (plus - we don’t mind having a 1.5L pouch of beloved craft gin - like Schofe’s Winter Gin Pouch!).
The concept is simple - instead of throwing your empty bottles, simply refill them!
Keep your eyes peeled for paper bottles, too. Arriving on the scene in late 2022, brands are already trialling them and they have serious eco-creds: each carbon-positive paper bottle removes up to 3.16kg of CO₂ from the atmosphere.
“Paper bottles are a win-win! Not only is the packaging recyclable, but it’s five times lighter than glass, so there’s no doubt many more brands will be signing up and making the switch in 2023!”
3. Retro Cocktails
The trend (and demand!) for nostalgia has been around since the pandemic for the sweet comfort it brings. So, it’s hardly surprising that retro cocktails have been having a gin-naissance ever since.
According to a report by Waitrose, a Tequila Sunrise and other retro cocktails were some of the most searched-for sips in 2022. Bright, kitsch, and fun: think Piña colada cocktails, Purple Rain cocktails, Long Island Iced tea, and Grasshoppers.
Mixologists are beginning to revisit these classic cocktail recipes and reinvent them with tasty twists… Yes, please!
““Popular tequila cocktails like margaritas are being made with gin (if you haven’t tried our Ginarita cocktail, then do so sharpish!) and the same in reverse too - think tequila versions of your favorite Negroni and French 75 recipes.” ”
4. Year of the Spritz
Spritz sips have exploded onto the scene, and the good news is, they are here to stay. In fact, they are so popular - they are definitely not just for summer!
Looking beyond the Aperol Spritz, expect to see many more experimental variations of this neo-classic cocktail in 2023. The spritz boundaries will be pushed - you’ll spy other yummy aperitifs and vermouths (like Campari and Cointreau) as an alternative spritz serve, all of which can be elevated with a measure of your favorite gin.
Looking for a gin spritz recipe? Make sure you check out our Elderflower & Gin spritz recipe, or our Ginny Aperol Punch below. Cheers!
5. CBD Tonics & Gins
If you opt for a G&T to wind down, this trend takes it to another level. The UK CBD market is estimated to be worth almost £1 billion per annum by 2025 - so it’s no wonder that gin and CBD are the latest dynamic duo.
Drink producers are incorporating CBD (a non-psychoactive component of cannabis) into their tipples (from the likes of Silent Pool and MUHU Spirits). And although CBD is often known for its health benefits (such as mood and physical health), you’ll see craft distillers capitalising on the tasting notes of CBD too in 2023!
Watch this space for more CBD-infused gins, bitters, tonics, and cocktail recipes this year, as mixologists explore tasty, high-quality hemp recipes.
“Distillers are now carefully choosing the blend of botanicals in gin to work in harmony with the CBD!”
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