www.cheersonline.com
18
• November / December 2014
MOST POPULAR
MIXED DRINKS,
THEN AND NOW
While the top 10 most-popular mixed drinks don't change much
year to year, looking at every fi ve years typically indicates a shift in
trends and consumer preferences. The Beverage Information Group
(the research unit of Cheers' parent company) has been tracking such
trends for the past 15 years with the annual OnTrac survey.
The charts to the right show the top 10 cocktails for 1999, 2004,
2009 and 2014. Looking at the data, Bloody Marys and Screwdrivers
have fallen out of favor since 1999, while standbys like the Gin &
Tonic and Vodka & Cranberry are still showing strength.
The Margarita had been the number-one cocktail since the fi rst
OnTrac study, but its share has slipped from 21.6% in 1999 to 9.4%
this year. The tequila drink was knocked out of the top spot this year
by Jack Daniels & Coke, which had been in the number-three position
for the past three years. The increasing strength in the whiskey cate-
gory may be renewing interest in the Jack & Coke.
The Martini has held the number-two position since 2001, but it
slipped to number-four this year, though its share dipped only slightly
from 10.4% for 2013 to 9.9% for 2014.
OnTrac surveys more than 2,000 on-premise accounts. Participants
include fi ne dining restaurants, casual-themed eateries, hotels, bars
and taverns in 30 major metropolitan markets. The full report is avail-
able in the just-released 2014 On-Premise Barometer Handbook (visit
www.BevInfoStore.com for more information.)
DRINK CULTURE
1999
Drink Share
Margarita 21.6%
Vodka & Tonic 9.5%
Rum & Coke 7.0%
Long Island Iced Tea 4.2%
Martini 3.4%
Gin & Tonic 3.3%
Screwdriver 3.2%
Jack Daniel's & Coke 2.1%
Bloody Mary/ Vodka & Cranberry 1.9%
Bourbon & Coke 1.6%
2004
Drink Share
Margarita 17.7%
Martini 11.8%
Rum & Coke 10.6%
Vodka & Tonic 7.7%
Long Island Iced Tea 4.8%
Cosmopolitan 4.6%
Captain Morgan & Coke 4.0%
Jack Daniel's & Coke 3.3%
Gin & Tonic 3.1%
Vodka & Cranberry 2.7%
2009
Drink Share
Margarita 19.3%
Martini 16.0%
Rum & Coke 5.5%
Mojito 5.0%
Vodka & Tonic 4.9%
Long Island Iced Tea 4.3%
Jack Daniel's & Coke 4.2%
Cosmopolitan 4.1%
Vodka & Cranberry 3.2%
Gin & Tonic 2.2%
2014
Drink Share
Jack Daniel's & Coke 10.1%
Margarita 9.4%
Rum & Coke 9.4%
Martini 9.1%
Long Island Iced Tea 7.6%
Mojito 5.7%
Cosmopolitan 4.6%
Vodka & Cranberry 3.9%
Gin & Tonic 3.5%
Vodka & Tonic 2.7%
