Beverage Archives - Libbey B2B - Product & Service Solutions

Retro Trend

by uscb2b on January 1, 2017

Retroactivity. The 1970s are back, on trend and making a groovy impact on the food and drink categories. Cocktails from this era are a big part of the historical experiences that consumers have been googling in an effort to recreate for home entertaining excitement and social gatherings. From the popular, creamy cocktails like White Russians and Grasshoppers to revived classics such as Jell-O side dishes and fondue, retro food and drinks are making a fun comeback.

Rehad women sitting in the armchair with coktail. Photo in retro color style.

The 1970s introduced some of the most unique and easily-recognized trends in history. Millennial home entertainers are doing their research to recreate popular cocktails and food recipes from the era. They are embracing the cocktails their parents used to drink and look to YouTube and Pinterest for inspiration and education. With the wide array of information on the 1970s trends, social media is helping consumers craft trendy food and drink pairings and create interactive ways to entertain their guests. The consumer demographic behind the 1970s trend is most often female and in the age range of 26-40.

The trend is predicted to continue past 2016 throughout the globe. The 1970s has inspired London restaurants offer nostalgia a part of their menu lists, while the famous brand of canned precooked meat named “Spam” is featured on the menu of several restaurants in Hawaii.

“Spam” is featured on the menu of several restaurants in Hawaii.

The Retro Tiki Craze

Another popular trend of the 1970s was tiki – a term used to describe both a style of cocktail and the subculture surrounding it. The rebirth and commercialization of tiki in the 1970s manifested itself in sweet, fruity cocktails, like Tequila Sunrises and Mai Tais, topped off with tiny umbrellas or showcased in tiki-head ceramic mugs. Today, the tiki trend has become mainstream and is making an impact in the food and drink categories.

In glass design, specialty shapes are one of the main segments experiencing growth. Tiki drinks and their companion vessels are widely seen in bars and restaurants and have been increasing in sales at retail. The Tiki God beverage ware and pineapple textured drink glasses are purchased in stores and online by home entertainers who want to showcase their creativity for thematic parties.

Bartender prepares cocktails in Libbey's Pineapple Glasses Item #56880

Bartender mixing drinks into Bamboo Cooler Item #32802

The 1970s trend is predicted to continue beyond 2016 and to expand globally. It is fun, familiar, and, hopefully, a bit flattering to the original era.

Classic Cocktails

by uscb2b on December 4, 2016

A Classy Comeback. In the cocktail category, history is repeating itself once again. The vintage trend is back to make classic cocktail mixes such as the “Old Fashioned”, Negroni, Tom Collins, and Manhattan chic again.

The classy demographic behind this trend is typically male and between 21 and 35-years old. He appreciates the vintage, nostalgic value of these classic cocktails and wants to celebrate their traditional authenticity. This young, sophisticated male enjoys refinement, social nightlife activities and frequenting high-end establishments. He is also very knowledgeable on the latest mixology trends.

Close up of barman hands pouring alcoholic drink in to a jigger to prepare a cocktail, with basil leaves and lemons on the bar counter.

The Old Fashioned is one of the most requested classic cocktails, and the industry is coming up with new ways to meet the demand. Savvy cocktail companies have innovated convenient ways to recreate the “Old Fashioned” recipe and offer it as a kit that can easily be placed in your carry on for in-flight enjoyment (so long as you are not the pilot). This smart cocktail kit is pre-packaged with a mini bourbon bottle, recipe card, mixer ingredients, and can be purchased online.

The vintage trend is expanding beyond just mixed drinks, and is responsible for some of the growth we are seeing in whiskey and brown spirits. Making up 31 percent of alcohol consumption, brown spirits continue to grow more than any other spirit category. Young, sophisticated males are willing to spend extra dollars on brands they consider to be premium, and they are willing to indulge in this affordable in on a regular basis.

Libbey Provides the Perfect Vessel for Any Classic Cocktail

Outside the brown spirit category, classic drinks like mojitos and cosmopolitans are also trending. Consumers are consulting online sources, as well as bartenders and mixologists, to learn proper ways for recreating these sophisticated cocktails for at-home enjoyment. This call to action is helping to drive demand for higher-quality, authentic drinking glassware to complement the cocktail experience.

Whiskey Glass Empty — Carats DOF Item #925500

Empty Whiskey glass on white background — Distill Whsikey Glass Item # 2999SR

Cocktail Coupe Empty on white background — Coupe Item #601602

Empty Martini Glass on White Background — Martini Glass Item #601404

DOF Glass Empty on white background — Double Old Fashioned 15 Oz. Glass Item #816CD

Made in U.S.A.

by uscb2b on November 1, 2016

A Great American Story. The Made-in-the-USA trend began about 10 years ago when mounting concerns over the American job market urged consumers to buy products made stateside. Today, it’s still going strong. This trend has affected multiple consumer categories from automobiles to clothing to, you guessed it, food and beverages.

craft_cocktails_illustration

Locally-crafted food and drinks have made a big impact on the Made-in-the-USA trend, especially in the sprits industry where American bourbons and whiskeys have become extremely popular with mixologists. Consumers appreciate the locally-crafted cocktails featured in their favorite restaurants and bars. Today, there are over 1,000 small distilleries in the U.S., up from 92 in 2010. And, new openings of local breweries and distilleries are expected to continue driving this trend’s growth for years to come.

Young, social males and females (ages 21-29) make up the consumer base, who wants to eat, drink and socialize. This social consumer group seeks recommendations from their peers and educates themselves on the background of the products they purchase. Not only do they enjoy learning “the story” behind how their products are made and manufactured, but they are willing to pay more for Made-in-the-USA products – a great value proposition for companies. These products have developed a premium image in the U.S. and globally. Products from well-known American cities like New York, Chicago, and Brooklyn are seeing growth in global demand.

Libbey is #1 Largest Glass Tableware Manufacturer in the Americas

Item #5139 Empty Mixing Glass — Item #5139 Mixing Glass

We manufacturer some of the industry’s best, most durable, and high-quality beverage ware products with our innovation technology capabilities. Along with our extensive portfolio of beverage ware items, here are some of the products that make us proud to say that we are “Made in the USA”. With the mission of redefining the exceptional, “Master’s Reserve” is created. This line has Clear Fire characteristics that provide maximum clarity and brilliance.

fine stemware made in USA — Master's Reserve American-Made Premium Glassware Renaissance Collection