by Allie Merrick
The cavitini is a caviar vodka combo. Garnish is two olives, a cucumber slice and caviar. Photo courtesy mybarfly.com.
What’s fashionable to pour? In the wine and spirits industry, this changes just about as fast and as often as the speed at which models change backstage during a runway show. And like a runway show, the pour is all about the presentation to the public. What can be molded to fit and feed the masses, will be celebrated by many with the raising of glasses. So, what’s in fashion in the world of wine and spirits at the moment? Here are five answers to that question.
Not only do we see skinny girls on magazine covers, but now we see them on shelves at liquor stores as well. The Skinnygirl brand is a concept that takes the form of a flavored vodka collection, a ready to serve cocktail series and a wine selection consisting of California blends that are available in white, red or pink. All the rage, perhaps not yet in Milan, but certainly stateside, Skinnygirl has carved out a lucrative little niche for herself.
Organic and biodynamic are two qualifying terms for a sizable segment of those committed to going green. When making a wine purchase, or any purchase for that matter, the same question is asked. Can I recycle that? Here enters green packaging. In this scenario, if consumers can salvage what they sip from, they feel better about the sale. This is a case where the packaging is the priority – not the product.
While a Tom Collins may be classic, it’s not necessarily couture, as the status quo is no longer in style. With a vast number of liquors and infusions of which to choose from, comes an almost infinite number of cocktail options. I give credit where it’s due and raise my glass to all the bartenders out there who no longer hear “I’ll have a rum & Coke,” but instead get the request “May I have a Cavitini?” That said, change as fashion will, I continue to order myself a stiff rum & Coke.
To get the party started, there are all sorts of options for sipping. What’s trendy at the moment is everything from margarita popsicles to kahlua and coffee in a can (coming soon to a liquor store near you), premixed shots and cocktails in many forms are very popular- especially for those who favor convenience over classic preparation.
For the purist, what is popular now is what was popular then. A single malt Scotch or a single batch Bourbon can leave a whiskey lover with little else to ask for. When asked if they want ice with that, the purists will politely decline while almost feeling insulted. To taint such perfection with even ice as a subtle additive is out of the question, of course.
So, what’s the trend when tipping back? It depends on the discernment of your own palate and what pleases you most when it comes to what’s poured. Try what others like, but trust what you love.
Allie Merrick is the co-host of My Wine Words, the NW Wine Correspondent for Northwest Wines To You and creative contractor under her own label Allie Merrick, Inc.
One Comment »