Cheers is dedicated to delivering hospitality professionals the information, insights and data necessary to drive their beverage business by covering trends and innovations in operations, merchandising, service and training.
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www.cheersonline.com 6 • January/February 2017 FIRST SIP TO YOUR HEALTH THE START OF A NEW YEAR always brings a fl urry of resolutions to lose weight, exercise more and eat better. And most of these good intentions fall by the wayside in a matter of weeks. But the clean-eating movement is bringing about real change in consumer habits, and we're seeing more of that refl ected in beverage alcohol. It's not just a focus on reducing calories for weight loss or maintenance, but about people being aware about what they're putting in their bodies. I expect this to continue and accelerate in 2017 based on several factors: Interest in lower-proof products. From low-ABV spirits and cocktails to lower-alcohol wines and sessionable beers, consumers have been seeking ways to cut back on the potency of their potables. Some of this is due to health concerns or an eye toward responsible consumption; in other cases—especially on-premise—lower-octane drinks enable consumer to have more than one. The return to pure, natural fl avors. The wild and crazy vodka fl avors of the past decade were fun, but suppliers are cutting back on the out-there expressions and focusing on fl avors found in nature, such as citrus and berry fruits. Case in point: Absolut in January introduced Absolut Lime—nearly 30 years after the launch of Absolut Citron. A push to more responsible sweeteners. As the health risks from too much processed sugar come to light, consumers will look to natural ingredients such as honey, maple syrup and agave. Seattle-based food and beverage consultant Kathy Casey predicts we'll see more alternative sweeteners, such as date and coconut palm sugars. The rise of health-conscious cocktails. Veggie-based beverages have been popping up at craft cocktail bars for a few years. Some mixologists are now adding specifi c herbs, spices and produce to recipes to boost fl avor and health benefi ts. For example, New York cocktail bars Slowly Shirley, Dante and Oiji offer several drinks made with ingredients such as anti-infl ammatory turmeric, energy-boosting mugwort, strong antioxidant matcha and fi ber-rich carrots. Victor Tango's in Dallas offers a Lunar Eclipse cocktail made with tumeric-infused vodka, carrot juice, honey, lemon juice and Angostura bitters. While many of the healthier cocktails aren't necessarily complicated, often times the ingredients and preparation can be more than the home mixologist wants to take on. That's an on-premise advantage worth exploiting. Cheers! Melissa Dowling Editor Cheers January/February 2017 • Vol. 28 No. 1 Editor Melissa Dowling 203-855-8499 ext. 2223 mdowling@epgmediallc.com Managing Editor Kyle Swartz 203-855-8499 ext. 2225 kswartz@epgmediallc.com Managing Art Director Dodi Vessels dvessels@epgmediallc.com Production Director Cherri Perschmann 763-383-4425 cperschmann@epgmediallc.com Contributing Editors Erika Bolden, Andrew Freeman, Jack Robertiello, Thomas Henry Strenk Senior Regional Sales Managers Bruce Kostic 203-855-8499 ext. 2215 bkostic@epgmediallc.com Mark Marcon 763-383-4456 mmarcon@epgmediallc.com Debbie Rittenberg 763-383-4455 drittenberg@epgmediallc.com List Rental MeritDirect, Jim Scova jscova@MeritDirect.com 914-368-1012 Reprints Robin Cooper rcooper@epgmediallc.com Cheers ® is published by EPG Media & Specialty Information Editorial offices at 17 High Street, 2nd Floor Norwalk, CT 06851 Tel: 203-855-8499 • Fax: 203-855-9446 CEO Marion Minor Sr VP/Audience Development Joanne Juda-Prainito Sr VP/Finance & Operations Gerald Winkel VP/Beverage Group Amy Collins Cheers (ISSN 1051-564X—USP Number 007-239) is published eight times per year (January/February, March/April, May, June, July/August, September, October, November/December) by EPG Media & Specialty Information, 17 High Street, Norwalk, CT 06851. Periodical Rate Postage paid at Norwalk, CT and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Cheers, P.O. Box 2123, Skokie, IL 60076-7823 SUBSCRIPTIONS: One-year subscription rates: USA $35.00; Canada $50.00; air mail to other countries $75.00. All subscriptions payable in U.S. dollars. Payment must accompany order. To subscribe write: Cheers, P.O. Box 2123, Skokie, IL 60076-7823, or call the Cheers customer service line at 847-513-6025, M-F 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST. Subscription customer service e-mail: cheers@halldata.com. Contents copyright © 2017 by EPG Media & Specialty Information, 17 High Street, Norwalk, CT 06851. Reproduction without the express written consent of the publisher is prohibited. EPG Media & Specialty Information, publishes Cheers, Beverage Dynamics, StateWays, Wine & Spirits Industry Marketing, Handbook Advance, Liquor Handbook, Wine Handbook, Beer Handbook and Fact Book.