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.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/580366
www.cheersonline.com 6 • October 2015 FIRST SIP BELLYING UP TO TACO BELL THE BEVERAGE INDUSTRY WAS ABUZZ last month with the news that Mexican fast food chain Taco Bell had opened the fi rst of its Taco Bell Cantinas. The Chicago location of the new concept (the other is in San Francisco) serves beer, wine and "Twisted Freeze" beverages spiked with rum, vodka or tequila. It's not just that Taco Bell Cantinas offer alcoholic beverages—though that is a pretty big deal—but also the subtle enhancements to the menu and restaurant design. With tapas-like shareable appetizers, communal tables, long benches and big screen TVs, as well as plenty of USB ports and outlets, the Cantinas are designed to encourage lingering. To be sure, Taco Bell Cantinas will never be mistaken for a craft cocktail bar or club. Tastewise, the Twisted Freezes drew mixed reviews from the Chicago food and drinks writers. (The Cantina Punch with rum seems to be the best bet.) What's more, Cantina cashiers are only allowed to pour one alcoholic drink per customer. So you have to get back in line if you want another one. And while the drinks are served in plastic cups, they are dine-in only: You can't take it with you. But considering that the beverage alcohol options are priced from about $4 to $7, and that the new dining options and atmosphere appeal to Millennials, Taco Bell is likely to capture a piece of the on-premise pie. How big a piece remains to be seen. But as Ian Chillag noted in a post on NPR's food blog, The Salt, fast-food restaurants like Taco Bell are typically places that younger people go to on the way to—or from—somewhere else. The Cantina concepts could make the brand a planned destination, and that is a game changer. For more on Taco Bell Cantinas, see page 7. We also look at the brandy and Cognac category (page 12), fall menu pairings (page 20), culinary cocktails (page 26) and POS systems (page 34) in this issue, plus our cover story on what's new in the cordials and liqueurs. The cordials category has seen plenty of fl avor innovation in recent years, from pomegranate and elderfl ower to ginger and chili, as well as a host of cream-based liqueurs. There has also been a resurgence of interest in spirits like Galliano, Chartreuse and crème de violette. Bartenders are bringing back the classic cocktails with these spirits, and creating some modern mixology masterpieces as well. Cheers! Melissa Dowling Editor Cheers October 2015 / Vol. 26 No. 8 Editor Melissa Dowling 203-855-8499 ext. 223 mdowling@epgmediallc.com Associate Editor Kyle Swartz 203-855-8499 ext. 225 kswartz@epgmediallc.com Managing Art Director Dodi Vessels dvessels@epgmediallc.com Production Director Cherri Perschmann 763-383-4425 cperschmann@epgmediallc.com Contributing Editors Tony Abou-Ganim, Amanda Baltazar, John Fischer, Julie Johnson, Maura Keller, Kelly Magyarics, Thomas Henry Strenk Sales Managers Bruce Kostic 203-855-8499 ext. 215 bkostic@epgmediallc.com Mark Marcon 248-761-6231 mmarcon@epgmediallc.com Debbie Rittenberg 215-431-8787 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 nine 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 847-763-9565, Fax 847-763-9569, M-F 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST. Subscription customer service e-mail: cheers@ halldata.com. Copyright 2013 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.