If you're looking for the latest trends in the spirits industry, you've come to the right place! In this article, we'll take a look at what we think we might see in 2022. Read on to learn more about the latest trends in the drinks world. Cheers!
Sustainability and transparency
For those who enjoy spirits, sustainability is a major concern. As the consumption of alcohol rises around the world, we must be mindful of how our choices impact the environment.
The drinks industry has a huge potential for being environmentally friendly. From using certified raw material to recyclable packaging and eco-friendly delivery methods - every stage of alcohol production needs to be focused on sustainability.
Tim Etherington-Judge, the co-founder of Avallen Spirits, highlights the importance of sustainable agricultural practices in alcohol production. Raw materials have the opportunity to not only reduce their impact, but actually do good, as it is nature that controls the thermostat of the planet. If we can move to more sustainable agricultural practices, this will have a positive impact.
Not all sustainability claims are true, however. Some brands exaggerate their claims about sustainability, known as greenwashing. To stop these false claims and bring more transparency in the industry, the UK government created the Green Claims Code that will come into force next year.
The code includes guidance for businesses making environmental claims in the UK as well as tips to help consumers identify genuine environmental claims about products and services. Hopefully, the Green Claims Code will reduce the greenwashing claims and help promote sustainability across different industries, including our beloved drinks.
Booze goes crypto
Have you heard of NFTs? These are non-fungible tokens that represent the digital asset. NFTs may present a model for the future of trading high-end wine and spirits. Some rare bottles are now actively sold as NFT and there is even a marketplace created for this purpose. It's called Block Bar and it was launched on October 19. This is the NFT marketplace for buying and selling luxury spirits in blockchain.
On 19 October, 15 non fungible tokens (NFTs), each representing a rare bottle of 1973 Glenfiddich, a 46-year-old single malt Scotch finished for 21 years in an Armagnac cask, debuted on the marketplace, priced of 4.7 ether each - or $18K! All these bottles were purchased by the end of the next day. Some of them were flipped and flopped again, with asking prices between $189,000 and $288,000.
This is a great demonstration of how technology will play an increasingly important role in the spirits industry. With the help of NFT technology, brands can connect consumers with their products in progressive ways.
Premiumization of spirits
Luxury libations is one of the top trends that will form the drinks industry in 2022. The Bacardi trend report found that consumers are seeking outultra-premium experiences, noting this as another opportunity to create more premium products.
The study also said 50% of bartenders around the world reported an increase in customer demand for more expensive drinks. It's clear we're headed towards a "premiumization" era!
In order for a spirit to be considered "premium," it must meet certain criteria including, but not limited to: quality ingredients, production methods and techniques, distillation process, aging times and lengths, packaging materials and design.
In recent years, the premium categories will be single malts, cognac, armagnac, calvados, agave-based spirits, sparkling wine, and rum - according to the IWSR report.
More women in the industry
The most common misconception is that there aren't many female spirit professionals because it's such a male-dominated industry. In reality, females make up 30% of those working with alcohol (and 40% of wine).
As the spirits industry continues to grow, so does the number of women occupying influential positions within it. Though they remain a minority, these women are making their mark on the world of booze and helping to create a more inclusive and diverse industry. From distilleries and bars to brands and retailers, women are making their mark in every corner of the industry.
In this blog post, we were celebrating women in the spirits industry and their amazing startups. In 2022, we’re expecting more female-owned drinks brands at Lassou. Stay tuned to check them out!
Here’s to functional drinks!
Drinks with functional benefits were booming in 2020-2021 and we are taking them in 2022 as well!
As the world becomes more health-conscious, the demand for low- and no-alcohol beverages that are better for you is increasing. Hence, we’re expecting much more low and no alcohol options for those sober-curious and mindful drinkers!
Functional drinks are low and non-alcoholic beverages containing non-traditional ingredients that are beneficial for our mind and body. There are beverages to help you wake up or relax, boost your immune system, deal with daily stresses, improve digestion or help your body recover from exercise. In the end, functional drinks are all about receiving positive effects from the products we consume without any negative outcomes. Read more about functional drinks.
Drink local
Local craft distillers have had a great amount of support from their communities in 2021, and we can expect this practice to continue through 2022 as well. Consumers are choosing products that are unique or delicious - there's actually quite an abundance available in the local markets! Producers offer all types of alcoholic drinks like non-alcoholic functional beer, single malts whiskies, non-alcoholic aperitifs and much more.
There are actually a lot of benefits of buying locally produced spirits and drinks. These include investing in local economies, helping small brands to survive, and reducing your environmental footprint. Cheers to local booze! Check them out and shop local at Lassou.