As people adjusted to indoor dining restrictions this year, at-home bars became a necessity. But you can only make so many cocktails with basic spirits and ingredients found in most kitchens, such as orange juice, milk and cola. You need the latest mixers to up your flavor game and create drinks that rival your local bar or restaurant.
According to alcohol e-commerce platform Drizly, sales of mixers, syrups and bitters have inreased 84% in 2020 and now account for 11.5% of the “extras” category sale for the year (which also includes party supplies, ice, food and energy drinks). The top sellers are listed below.
Shoppers also seek healthy and sustainable options, which are tracked by SPINS in the natural food market. Those categories’ rise will influence the next wave of trendy drinks you’ll want to make at home.
Even Coca-Cola has responded to changing buying patterns, announcing it will discontinue 200 brands. Water and sports drinks are among the deepest cuts, while products like Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Topo Chico Hard Seltzer and caffeinated seltzer AHA will appear on more shelves nationwide.
Fastest-growing mixers year-over-year (2019 vs 2020):
- Rose’s Simple Syrup
- Filthy Olive Brine
- Zing Zang Pina Colada Mix
- Major Peters Margarita Mix
- Zing Zang Sweet & Sour Mix
Top-selling mixers in 2020 (YTD):
- Tres Agaves Margarita Mix
- Angostura Bitters
- Jose Cuervo Classic Lime
- Original Margarita Mix
- Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix
- Rose’s Lime Juice
