‘Skinny’ cocktail trend on the rise

The popularity of “skinny” cocktails is on the rise with a fifth of regular cocktail drinkers now seeking them out according to a new report by CGA Strategy.

Skinny Bitch 

“We’re seeing the rise of healthier, lower strength serves mirroring similar trends in wine and beer,” said Tom Lynch, commercial director at CGA Strategy.

The Mixed Drinks Report, the annual survey of the on-trade market by CGA Strategy, also revealed that lower strength cocktails like the Pornstar and Espresso Martini have risen in popularity over the last six months.

Classic cocktail the Long Island Iced Tea meanwhile, which blends tequila, vodka, light rum, triple sec, gin and cola, has fallen slightly out of favour.

The report found that the mojito continues to rule the roost as the UK’s favourite cocktail, with 41% of respondents saying they were a fan of the refreshing serve.

Vodka meanwhile, remains the most commonly used spirit in cocktails.

In 2013, Joe McCanta, brand ambassador for Grey Goose vodka, developed a range of low calorie cocktails in response to huge demand for the “Skinny Bitch” in London, a mix of vodka, lime and soda.

“Vodka is the skinniest spirit in terms of calories, as it has no sugar or natural preservatives in it,” he said at the time.

The report revealed that men are taking an increasing interest in cocktails, with 35% of those surveyed saying that they drink them. The volume of cocktail sales in the on-trade has risen 4% in the last six months, with happy hour promotions driving footfall.

“Our latest research reinforces the scale of the cocktail category and the breadth of cocktail consumption when people go out to drink.

“We’re now seeing a greater variety of serves, with adventurous flavours and increasingly sophisticated mixology now permeating the mainstream for the first time,” Lynch said.