We’ve seen better-for-you versions of products that don’t typically fall in the health foods category like energy drinks made with naturally energizing ingredients and ice cream with hidden veggies. This trend is becoming prevalent in the cocktail category with brands incorporating ingredients like antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetable juices, kombucha, and functional ingredients like turmeric. Here’s a brief landscape of better-for-you cocktails in stores and on menus:

Kombucha is emerging on cocktail menus as an alcoholic beverage or better-for-you mixer. Examples of kombucha cocktails on menus include the HG Mule (vodka, ginger kombucha, lime) at HG Supply and Co in Dallas and the Kombucha Whiskey Sour (whiskey, sour mix, kombucha) at Modern Love in Omaha. Kombucha Cocktails is also launching a line of RTD beverages that combine kombucha and spirits in December 2018. In addition to using kombucha as a mixer, you can also find kombucha that has a higher ABV because yeast is used in the fermentation process. The Triple Goddess Ginger Kombucha Beer at Tapster in Chicago has an 8% ABV and RTD Booch Craft kombuchas have a 7% ABV.

Shrubs are dominating cocktail menus. They are a sweet and tangy addition to cocktails and come in interesting flavors largely inspired by fruits, herbs and spices. Some are made in-house, but there are several RTD products on the market for food service or at-home use. Try the Matcha Meadow (matcha-infused sojue, housemade Korean pear shrub and sparkling Jasmine) at Reception Bar in New York City or the White Rose (house-made peach-rose balsamic shrub, simple syrup, dehydrated rose, white sugar and Saint Archer’s Belgian-style White Ale) at Saint Archer Brewery in San Diego. Quaker City Malting Co. also offers a RTD malt liquor shrub beverage.

Superfoods like turmeric (anti-inflammatory), beets (high in nitrates), and spirulina (high in antioxidants) are being used as ingredients in liquors, bitters and mixers. My Boy Blue at Beatnik in Chicago uses a house rum blend, Blue Majik (derived from spirulina), pineapple, coconut, lime, and bitters. Craft Cocktails at Please in Cincinnati are inspired by health and juice bar culture, including the Alisha Budkie (gin, turmeric, elderflower, lime, and a raw egg).

RTD spiked sparkling waters (a.k.a. hard seltzers) have been around for a few years now and it’s a trend that isn’t going to lose momentum anytime soon. They’re like an alcoholic LaCroix with an ABV typically between five and six percent, low sugar, and a light fruity flavor. Most brands like Spiked Seltzer, Truly Sparkling, and White Claw Hard Seltzer use sugar distillate to create the alcohol. Nauti Seltzer, however, has a malt liquor base.

Considering a better-for-you cocktail or mocktail mixer for your next beverage product? We’re here to help you innovate! Email thedrinktank@imbibeinc.com.