Three Bar and Drink Trend Predictions for 2021

A mixologist, Andrew Brendmoen serves customers at Smokey Bones in Lakeland, Florida. Andrew Brendmoen tracks industry trends to make informed decisions behind the bar.

With the COVID-19 pandemic presenting serious challenges for restaurants and bars, industry publications and mixologists have predicted several trends for 2021. Here are three drink and bar phenomena that may be on the horizon.

More To-Go Cocktails
Whether for pick-up or delivery, to-go cocktails and cocktail kits will continue to give customers a convenient way to imbibe cocktails, according to The Spirits Business. The trend was so important to the beverage industry in 2020 that the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. described it as a “lifeline.”

Fewer Tiki Bars
Speaking with Wine Enthusiast, author and mixologist Shannon Mustipher said more and more people are associating the phrase “tiki bars” with cultural appropriation and colonialism. That doesn’t mean people will stop enjoying fruity rum drinks – she simply expects more bars to embrace “nautical” and “tropical” themes.

Hard Lemonade Drinks
With multiple companies expected to launch hard lemonade drinks in 2021, Vine Pair predicts more customers will seek alcoholic lemonade beverages. To prove the point, it said the Leinenkugel seasonal shandy’s sales came up just $3 million shy of those of Lagunitas IPA in 2020, the leading India pale ale on the market.

The Negroni – A Classic Bittersweet Italian Apertif

Based in Lakeland, Florida, Andrew Brendmoen is a professional in the hospitality industry who tends bar at Smokey Bones. Experienced as a mixologist, Andrew Brendmoen is well-versed in a wide range of mixed drinks and cocktails appropriate to a popular bar setting. One classic Italian cocktail that has made a Stateside resurgence in recent years is the Negroni.

Invented a century ago, the Negroni started as a showcase for red vermouths, with a touch of Campari adding bitterness, Over the decades, British gin was added to the mix, as a way of upping the alcohol quotient without affecting taste. Today, the standard Negroni combines equal parts sweet vermouth, Campari, and gin, and stands as one of the most popular bitter aperitifs worldwide.

Typically served on the rocks with a stir, Negroni is a drink that is sometimes shaken and strained like a martini, and served in a cocktail glass with a twist of lemon. One recent variation of the aromatic bittersweet cocktail is the white Negroni, which combines dry vermouth and French Suze bitters. An anise flavor may also be imparted through prepping the glass with a rinse of white absinthe.

Florida Panthers Make History with AGM Hire

The recipient of a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary social science from the University of South Florida, Andrew Brendmoen has worked as a bartender and server at Smokey Bones in Lakeland, Florida, since 2011. When he isn’t working, Andrew Brendmoen enjoys playing and watching hockey.

The Sunshine State is home to two National Hockey League (NHL) teams: the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. The former made history in November by hiring Brett Peterson as assistant general manager (AGM). Peterson is the league’s first-ever Black AGM. The 39 year old was previously employed as vice president of hockey for Wasserman Media Group and has been an NHL player agent since 2009.

Born in Northborough, Massachusetts, Peterson won an NCAA National Championship with Boston College in 2001 and later played five seasons in the AHL, ECHL, and IHL. In addition to assisting general manager Bill Zito with hockey-related decisions, Peterson will work to expand access to hockey in underserved communities through his involvement with the Florida Panthers Foundation. He already has experience in this regard as an advisor to the NextGEN AAA Foundation. The nonprofit organizes hockey programs for underprivileged youth and ices an all-minority team at the Beantown Summer Classic Tournament.

Three Most Popular Cocktails in the US According to Nielsen

Andrew Brendmoen is a resident of Lakeland, Florida, who spends much of his leisure time on the beach, working out, or playing golf. Drawing upon nearly a decade of bartending experience, Andrew Brendmoen works at Smokey Bones, where he prepares and serves bar drinks.

In 2019, Nielsen conducted research to find out what was the most popular cocktail in the US. It also categorized popular cocktails by market and time of day. Below are the three most requested cocktails in the country:

1. Margarita – Despite costing nearly 50 cents more than the average cocktail in the US, margaritas reign supreme with 56 percent of bar customers citing it as their usual order. It is most popular in the afternoon and evening, while the martini is the most popular cocktail at night.

2. Martini – The martini is a top-three drink in major markets including Boston, Miami, New York, and Tampa. These drinks generally have more alcohol than margaritas and are preferred late at night, whereas mimosas, with relatively less alcohol, stand out as the go-to cocktail in the morning.

3. Old Fashioned – Although it ranks third nationwide, the old fashioned, which consists of bourbon or rye whiskey as well as sugar, bitters, and orange peel garnish, is the most popular cocktail in Chicago. It is also a top-five cocktail regardless of the time of day.

The Last Three Winners of the Stanley Cup

Andrew Brendmoen earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary social science from the University of South Florida and is an experienced mixologist who serves drinks and delivers food at Smokey Bones in Lakeland, Florida. Away from work, Andrew Brendmoen enjoys playing and watching hockey.

Awarded annually to the champion in the National Hockey League (NHL), the Stanley Cup is the most prestigious trophy in the sport. Below are the last three teams to win the Stanley Cup:

1. Tampa Bay Lightning (2019-20) – The Lightning finished the shortened regular season with a record of 43-21-6 for 92 points. The team defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets, Boston Bruins, and New York Islanders in the first three rounds of the playoffs before defeating the Dallas Stars 4-2 in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final.

2. St. Louis Blues (2018-19) – Ranked last in the league through 20 games, the Blues became the first team in NHL history to be in that predicament and reach the Stanley Cup Final. St. Louis defeated the Bruins 4-3 in the final round to win its first-ever Stanley Cup. Ryan O’Reilly led the team in scoring with nine points in the seven-game series.

3. Washington Capitals (2017-18) – Like the Blues, Washington won its first Stanley Cup the year prior. The team finished the regular season with 105 points and defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the Stanley Cup Final.

The White Russian – A Classic Dessert Cocktail

Andrew Brendmoen is a Lakeland, Florida, professional who serves as a bartender at Smokey Bones in Lakeland, Florida. An experienced mixologist, Andrew Brendmoen possesses extensive knowledge of cocktails, including the White Russian.

First created in the 1960s, the White Russian came about when cream was added to the traditional Black Russian, a combination of Kahlua and vodka. The beverage has a taste not dissimilar to iced coffee, as the sweet, rich coffee flavor of the Kahlua is offset by the cold milk and vodka. Some aficionados replace the whole milk or heavy cream with coconut milk, which adds a hint of nuttiness to the flavor.

Since the 1990s, the White Russian’s claim to fame has been its prominent appearance in the Coen Brothers’ cult classic The Big Lebowski. “The Dude,” played by Jeff Bridges, constantly mixes and sips the drink in the film. The cocktail has become a favorite among those with an affinity for low-key drinks that are suitable for any occasion, from dessert to weekend brunch.

What Is a Mixologist?

For nearly ten years, Andrew Brendmoen has been serving Smokey Bones as a bartender. Besides taking orders and delivering food, Andrew Brendmoen acts as a mixologist, preparing and serving drinks for patrons. Bartending is a profession that involves numerous skills, including hospitality and serving alcoholic beverages quickly, but more recently, many bartenders are also required to master the skills of mixology.

Generally, the concept refers to the in-depth study of the craft of mixing drinks and how their various elements combine. Many mixologists take a culinary approach to drink creation, which means that instead of just adjusting or combining recipes, they also infuse creativity and experiential knowledge in the process.

The mixologist is often responsible for creating a drink menu with innovative cocktails based on the style of the establishment or seasonal ingredients. As a result, the drinks are often housemade, unique, or historical. Unlike those who simply work as bartenders, mixologists also typically have mastered many slicing techniques that enable the creation of curated garnishes.

The Classic Martini and Its Variations

A resident of Lakeland, Florida, Andrew Brendmoen has an extensive background in bartending and customer service. A skilled mixologist, Andrew Brendmoen takes pride in his ability to create a variety of cocktails with a twist.

In its classic formulation, the martini is a cocktail that combines gin and vermouth (though some use vodka in place of gin). One fundamental choice is between a sweet “Italian” vermouth or a dry “French” vermouth. This has nothing to do with whether the martini is wet or dry, which instead refers to the quantity of vermouth in the drink. One part vermouth to three parts gin is standard, with any more vermouth crossing the line to “wet.”

One classic variation of the martini is the Churchill martini, which simply leaves out the vermouth and is straight gin and ice, with olives or a lemon twist as the garnish. The bone dry martini has just a trace of vermouth, which is accomplished by using vermouth to rinse the glass, then pouring out the liquid before adding chilled gin.

Made popular by President Franklin Roosevelt during the Great Depression, the dirty martini is one that combines equal parts olive brine and vermouth. The vesper martini, on the other hand, was featured in the Ian Fleming James Bond novels, as well as the 2006 version of Casino Royale, and features one measure of vodka, three measures of Gordon’s, and a half measure of Kina Lillet (a liqueur flavored with quinine). Shaken until ice cold, it has a slice of lemon peel as a garnish.

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