Cocktail Culture for Alcohol Brands: History, Trends, and On-Premise Strategy— Expert Talks
Description
The spirits industry has fundamentally changed. While brands once viewed bars as non-negotiable, many of today's most successful brands have achieved success through a targeted approach at retail and e-commerce. Yet the on-premise isn't just surviving, it's evolving into a channel where brands need to be more strategic than ever.
On this episode of the Park Street Insider Podcast, we explore why understanding cocktail culture remains essential for achieving brand success. With on-premise sales up 4% year-over-year and venue counts rising as we enter the peak holiday season, the bar world continues to serve as the critical channel ground where consumer trends are born, not just observed.
Charlotte Voisey, Executive Director at Tales of the Cocktail and former Global Head of Ambassadors at William Grant & Sons, reveals how the most significant shifts in cocktail culture took root and why direct dialogue with bartenders delivers strategic intelligence that shapes smarter brand decisions. Then Overproof's Chief Analytics Officer Ed Dobbles breaks down exactly what's winning in the 2025 on-premise: which cocktails dominate menus, what flavors consumers crave, and why emerging brands have a unique advantage right now.
Featured Guests:
Charlotte Voisey, Executive Director, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Ed Dobbles, Chief Analytics Officer, Overproof
Mentioned in this episode:
Watch on YouTube:
The Evolution of Cocktail Trends in the Last 25 Years
Cocktail Trends: How Bar Menus are Changing
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