From a coconut-filled piña colada, a key lime Margarita or a fruity Sex on the Beach, for decades, sugary cocktails have been the staple of a night out in the UK.
But now Generation Z is moving away from alcoholic beverages that cause tooth decay. martinis full of salt and loaded with tasty ingredients like olive oil, Stilton cheese and fresh tomatoes.
Unusual ingredients used in alcoholic creations include cheese, garlic, oil, seaweed and caviar.
On TikTok, recipes for ‘blue cheese martinis’ and ‘tomatinis’ have more than millions of views, with hundreds offering their take on the savory drinks.
Instead of mixing passion fruit with vodka or rum with pineapple, Generation Z seems to have completely forgotten about fruit punch and the beloved Pornstar Martini, and are more willing to mix cheese and oil with their favorite drinks.
For decades, fruit cocktails have been the bread and butter of the UK, but now young people are opting for tasty flavors in their drinks.
On TikTok, recipes for ‘blue cheese martinis’ and ‘tomatinis’ have millions of views, with hundreds offering their take on the savory drinks.
One example is the tomatini, which combines fresh cherry tomatoes blended with balsamic vinegar, gin, sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and syrup, strained twice to leave a smooth, savory drink.
A UK-based creator, @maybetasmin, who has over 200,000 views on her tomato drink recipe, describes the drink by saying: “If you like a dirty martini or a Bloody Mary, he’s like a beloved child.” It is tasty, sweet and a little spicy.
“It’s like a delicious gazpacho,” he added, comparing it to traditional Spanish cold soup.
The brother of the tomatini is the ‘bruschetta martini’.
In one video, one creator, @join_jules, shares a recipe for this tasty drink, inspired by classic Italian tomato bread, by first blending the tomatoes with olive oil, basil and vinegar, before shaking them with gin.
Other examples of popular savory sips include the TikTok-famous blue cheese martini, which combines Stilton-stuffed olives with regular martini ingredients to produce a creamy, tangy version of the classic.
A recipe from an American creator, @lexnicoleta, shares the popular recipe that mixes gin, olive brine, and a generous topping of blue cheese-stuffed olives. The video has 1.6 million views and hundreds of comments praising the “delicious” drink.
Another simple and tasty cocktail popular on the app is a salt and pepper martini, which combines crushed olives, brine, vodka, salt and pepper, all finished with olive oil.
And several venues across the UK have started to follow the trend, as dozens have been seen adding umami-infused drinks to their drinks menus.
But while bars are quickly becoming familiar with salty snack-style cocktails, just two years ago the drink of choice in the UK was the Pornstar martini, and cocktail drinkers across the country were downing large quantities of the passionfruit-flavoured drink and vanilla.
In 2022, as brunch spots and posh pubs stockpiled the sugary orange drink, it quickly became the in-demand drink of the year, according to a report from Revolution Bars.
And in 2018, the CGA Mixed Drinks Report found that passion fruit drink was the “most popular drink of 2018.”
Later, the Aperol Spritz was the most popular choice and Waitrose recorded a 148 per cent increase in sales of the spirit in 2021.
And during the 2000s, the drink du jour was the Cosmopolitan, popularized by the famous blueberry martini drunk on the hit show Sex and The City.
But fruit cocktails have quickly become a thing of the past with the emergence of charcuterie board-inspired savory cocktails.
According to mixologist Marian Beke, former owner of London bar The Gibson, the trend towards savory drinks correlates with the UK’s love for savory treats.
He told Saveur that Brits were already fans of sugar-free cocktails, such as old fashions and martinis.
Mixologists have begun turning to condiments more often seen on pasta or pizza than in alcoholic beverages, and the introduction of burrata water martinis and the spicy margarita is a sign of changing tastes.
Other examples of popular savory sips include TikTok’s famous blue cheese martini, called a dirty martini, which combines stilton-stuffed olives with regular martini ingredients to produce a creamy, tangy version of the classic.
A UK-based creator, @maybetasmin, who has over 200,000 views on her tomato drink recipe, describes the drink by saying: “If you like a dirty martini or a Bloody Mary, he’s like a beloved child.” It’s salty, sweet and a little spicy.
Several venues across the UK have started to follow the trend, as dozens have been seen adding umami-infused drinks to their drinks menus.
East London venue Julie’s recently introduced a Green Tomato Martini, featuring tomato clarified vodka, tomato liqueur and tarragon oil sprinkled on top, all for £15.
The same location also offers a spicy and savory offering with mezcal, tequila and ancho green chili for a spicy touch.
Spicy Margarita’s are just one of the many savory cocktails that have gathered fans around the world.
Earlier this year it was reported that the spicy margarita had 1.16 million results on Google, a huge number that doubles that of the Negroni Sbagliato, which was the viral cocktail of 2022.
The margarita was the most drunk cocktail of the year in the US in 2023, which will likely lead to the rise of modern salty and spicy interpretations.
In 2022, as brunch spots and posh pubs stockpiled the sugary orange drink, it quickly became the in-demand drink of the year, according to a report from Revolution Bars.
But while bars are quickly becoming familiar with salty snack-style cocktails, just two years ago, the drink of choice in the UK was the Pornstar martini, and cocktail drinkers across the country were downing large quantities of the passionfruit-flavoured drink. and vanilla.
Another place offering a drink with a tasty twist is Hakkasan in Mayfair. This high-end venue serves an extra luxurious cocktail with a dollop of caviar, Himalayan salt and mezcal.
Although much less affordable at £45, the cocktail is just one of many savory versions of the much-loved martini.
And Piazza Italiana, near Liverpool Street, has even offered a creative drink topped with burrata water foam that combines basil, tequila and agave for a vibrant Italian-inspired drink for £14.
Ham Yard Hotel’s Blushed Tomato is also inspired by the flavors of Italy, combining clarified tomato gazpacho with pea vodka, Ancho Reyes liqueur, pickle juice and honey for a savory touch.
The tomato and pea flavored drink costs £17 at the Soho location.