The drinks of 2024 may surprise you (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
I’m beginning to think people must have watched too much Harry Potter over Christmas, me included. Sorry to debunk the myth but in the world of drinks, the arrival of January isn’t remotely like a new term at Hogwarts.
It doesn’t spell a shiny new set of trends, which then magically switch up again at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
It’s sort of a continuation of what’s been happening the year before, maybe with one or two additions.
What a yawnfest, eh? Not on my watch.
So, what should we look out for? Here’s what the legends will be drinking…
Top-end tequila
Yup, it’s still the spirit of the minute, but this time it also extends to agave spirits like smoky mezcal. Just in time for my Mexican honeymoon in the autumn. Coincidence? Almost definitely.
El Rayo Tequila
You only have to look at the premium hipster tequila brand El Rayo, now with a major listing in Sainsbury’s (£34), to see pricier-end craft tequila’s move into the mainstream.
Join Metro Drinks Club and save on wine
Fancy regular access to delicious drinks at tasty prices? Then welcome to the brand new Metro Drinks Club, brought to you in association with Naked Wines.
To mark this exciting occasion, Metro’s wine expert Rob Buckhaven has selected a series of cases from the Naked Wines range – offered at a very special price to Metro Drinks Club members.
Choose between a red, white and mixed 6-bottle case, or splash out on all three, to gain access to the Metro Drinks Club.
For £34.99 per case, including free delivery, you’ll get a best-in-market deal and save over £45 off the market price.
How to join – and save on your first case
Purchase any Metro Drinks Club case and you’re in the club, though you can opt out at any time.
Read more here.
Follow the link to Metro Drinks Club at Naked Wines to join and purchase your case.
Vodka
We’re talking about vodka made from unusual raw ingredients, like Pea Pod Vodka (£38.25, The Whisky Exchange) distilled from British peas. These may not be so versatile in classics like the martini, but they’re a darn sight more interesting for sipping.
Pea Pod Vodka
The Hugo Spritz
Sure, everything’s a spritz these days, but this is said to be the successor to the Aperol spritz if TikTok is anything to go by.
St Germain
Swap the fluorescent orange stuff for an elderflower liqueur, like St Germain (£21.50, Waitrose), a brand made famous by writers and artists in Paris. This is a floral take on the spritz, just in time for the Paris Olympics.
Metro’s Drinks Editor Rob Buckhaven knows a thing or two about popular tipples (Picture: Natasha Pszenicki)
Nolo
The no and low-alcohol category is steaming ahead. While the options used to be pretty dire to say the least, there’s a lot to choose from nowadays. Take Botivo for instance (£24.95, The Whisky Exchange), herbal, bittersweet and beyond delicious with tonic water.
Botivo non-alcoholic aperitif
New wine regions
‘New’, that is, as in thousands of years old but only just on our radar. I’m looking at you, Romania, particularly the winery Cramele Recaş, which has put it back on the map.
Then there’s Georgia, simultaneously the cradle of winemaking but also fresh on the scene with its stunning orange wines and a red grape called Saperavi. Greek wine deserves a mention, as everyone should be sipping their fresh and salty Assyrtiko white wines this summer.
We’ll be drinking top-end tequila, apparently (Picture: Getty Images)
Northeast Asian spirits
Mark my words, 2024 is the year of Korean soju, Japanese shochu and Chinese baijiu. Heck, these unique spirits have already started appearing on drinks lists, zhuzhing up classic cocktails and being poured plentifully in new izakaya-style bars and restaurants, as they should be.
2024 is the year of spirits from North East Asia (Credits: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
New whisky-producing countries
Scotland, Ireland, Japan… so where’s next? Recalibrate your thoughts towards France, India, Taiwan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand this year. India’s delicious single malts are predicted to be even more coveted than Japanese whiskies, while whiskies from subtropical climates mature five times faster than cold-climate countries. Technically, then, these can have more miles on the clock for an intensely aged profile.
More from Metro Drinks Club
Sustainable packaging
Cans go from strength to strength. Their recyclability, lower weight, quick-to-chill factor and rate of energy to create them, make them a smart and snappy format. You’ll also be aware of paper wine bottles and premium bag-in-boxes for wines and spirits. Given that 20-30% of a drink’s carbon footprint is packaging, it’s high time.
AI
Sorry robots, you can’t make good cocktails yet. Fact. But robots can sure point people towards the right cocktail. A recent Bacardi survey suggested that eight in 10 people would explore AI-recommended drinks, though 60% would miss the human contact. Looks like 2024 will see brand innovators leaning into AI to bring drinkers closer to branded cocktails and experiences.
Celebrity drinks
We haven’t seen the last of slebs putting their names to anything from seltzers to champagne. Lately, Ridley Scott has taken time out of promoting his film Napoleon to release his three wines from the Luberon, while Blake Lively is peddling her Betty Buzz softies if you’re cutting down.
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We’re looking into our crystal ball and these are the trends and drinks to know now.