The Coolest Drink Trends: Frozen Cocktails
There’s nothing like a frozen cocktail to complement warmer weather. But that doesn’t mean frozen cocktails are just for summer. These refreshingly cool drinks are always in season and with good reason. Whether it’s on-premise, via takeout or delivery, they’re a great way to stir up buzz for your venue and are consistent ways to increase traffic and drive profits. Plus, they’re a whole lot of fun and a very efficient way to please larger crowds. Here’s what you need to know to give guests the cool experience they deserve.
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
Spirit + sugar + water = increased profits. Frozen cocktails are a simple and easy way to save time and money. And, since these drinks can be made ahead, they’re a great way to speed up service, especially during a busy time. What’s more, they also represent a unique upselling occasion: offering customers a frozen beverage with a “floater” on top, or the addition of a house-made purée is not only a great way to enhance the frozen beverage experience, but also a significant opportunity to increase the check average, leading to more profits.
Equipment
The right equipment is everything, and the biggest thing to consider is what type of machine to invest in. Two key factors go into making this decision. Size of venue and what role frozen will play. For high-volume venues or places where frozen will be a regular menu feature, frozen drinks or bowl-style machines are best. If your venue’s capacity is on the smaller side or if you’re only planning to feature frozen on a less frequent basis, then a good commercial blender is all you need to get going.
No matter which machine you choose, it’s important to make sure staff know the ins and outs of how it operates. Make it a requirement that all employees read the manual or watch a training video if the manufacturer provides one. Or designate one technologically savvy employee to train the rest. Ensure your staff knows exactly how the equipment functions—how long it takes to power on and off; how to take it apart and put it back together, how to clean it and how to troubleshoot if need be. Taking care of your equipment is essential to having it work properly and making consistently great frozen cocktails.
Taste Testing
You’ve got the machine and all the ingredients. Next comes figuring out what to shake up. A good place to start is to consider the season, what flavors are trending and what sorts of drinks customers are asking for. Before serving and promoting your creation, make sure you taste every batch—this is key. Ask staff or other bartenders for their honest feedback or have a regular customer try it out.
Freeze it for the Gram
People are all about eating and drinking with their eyes. They love to share what they’re drinking. Especially if it’s a beautiful, artfully garnished and colorful frozen beverage. Put your share-worthy creation on your venue’s feed and encourage customers to share and create a little buzz and drive traffic—these two things will also help increase profits. This is also your time to shine and show off your skillset. Get creative with glassware. Add a funky garnish or two. Seasonal fruits, flowers, vegetables and herbs are always a welcome addition. Pair your frozen treat with something unexpected that complements the recipe and ingredients. Think beyond the Margarita and try your hand at turning a simple classic, like a Negroni, into an exciting frozen drink (link to recipe card). Anything goes, so have fun with it.
Now you have all you need to know to start chilling with these frosty crowd-pleasers.