Spring Cocktails for Your Restaurant

April showers bring May…cocktails! A seasonal change means a new opportunity for your cocktail list to get a refreshing update.

Restaurants that serve alcohol already know how impactful liquor sales are to their revenue. Updating your cocktail menu with the seasons is another opportunity to increase sales, as guests will want to stop in and try new drinks once announced. Here are a few spring-inspired cocktails your restaurant can try:

Mint Julep

A true staple of the Kentucky Derby, this cocktail consists primarily of bourbon, sugar, water, crushed or shaved ice, and fresh mint. Once you add a mint julep to your spring cocktail menu, you can keep it around straight through summer. Why? The cool and refreshing mint flavor mixed with just the right amount of alcohol and sugar can keep guests’ minds off the blazing summer heat.

Sangria

Nothing says spring like a batch of fresh fruit. Sangrias are a mixed drink that can be prepared in a variety of ways using red, white, or rosé wine—depending on the color you want it to be. Along with the wine, this make-ahead pitcher drink consists of sweetener, liqueur, soda or other non-alcoholic mixers, and fruit (sliced oranges, chopped pineapple, peaches, apples, etc.). It’s an ideal cocktail for a restaurant’s brunch menu or an outdoor dining area.

Paloma

Citrusy. Refreshing. Perfect on a warm spring day. Palomas are tequila-based cocktails that typically include tequila, lime juice, and a grapefruit-flavored soda—served on the rocks with a lime wedge (plus an optional salt rim). The lime juice gives a sour and sharp taste, while the grapefruit soda offers a citrusy yet acidic flavor.

French 75

The French 75 is a light and bubbly cocktail that’s an instant classic among guests, made from gin, champagne, lemon juice, and sugar. It’s often served in a champagne flute and offers a crisp, citrusy flavor.

Lavender Lemonade

Easily served with or without booze, lavender lemonade screams spring. Restaurants can make it in a large pitcher by combining freshly squeezed lemonade, lavender mixture, water, and a splash of vodka. If you want to kick it up a notch, add a few drops of blue or purple food coloring to wow your customers. Plus you can serve it with a sprig of lavender in the glass, which makes for an aesthetically pleasing photo.

Want to develop your cocktail menu but not sure where to start? Fill out a contact form to set up an initial consult, and we’ll talk more about mixed drinks and how they fit with your restaurant’s menu. Cheers!