Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest It’s the New Year and with it comes new cheer. The past year may have been dotted with shocking events, but whether you want to cheer or drown out your sorrows, it’s nothing a good drink won’t fix. So, let’s peer into the crystal glass–not ball–and see for ourselves what 2017 has bubbling for us! Orange wine It’s not just all about the red, white, or even rosé. Orange wine–made from orange juice rather than grape juice–is slowly gaining popularity. It can also be made when white wine is macerated with orange peel. The palate and taste for light-bodied wine is expanding as more people learn the art of vino. The pale golden color also adds to the allure. 2. Closed-loop cocktails Everyone’s all about going green, recycling, and saving the environment. Why not take one for Mother Nature and still get your much-needed buzz? ‘Closed-loop’ cocktails are made with ingredients that people usually discard like used coffee grounds, lemon husks, banana skins, and other fruit scraps. Even burnt toast and tomato stalks can be used! See, it’s all about conscientious drinking this 2017. 3. Low-alcohol cocktails They’re not exactly mocktails, but they’re low in alcohol. (So maybe it’s somewhere in between.) Rather than using vodka, gin, rum, and whisky, some see a trend towards restaurants and bars using beer, wine, or sake instead. Think shandies–beer with soft drinks–or Micheladas–beer, lime juice, and assorted spices. Going this route makes for easier food pairings and drinking more without succumbing to the spirits right away. It’s definitely a slow burn with this one. 4. Sour beer While craft beers are still the thing for beer aficionados, craft spirits are also rising on the market. Hopping on this uptrend scale, sour beer is made from wild yeast strains and bacteria. These make for crisp, tart, and tasty craft beers that don’t overwhelm the tongue. Steering towards low-alcohol, these craft lagers are perfect for easy-drinking sessions. 5. Ready-to-drink cocktails crafthousecocktails.com/cocktails/ This is the year for RTD cocktails. When you wish to drown out your sorrows or have your own pity party, you don’t need to get dressed up and leave the house. More bartenders and bar owners, like Crafthouse® Cocktails, are open to the idea of providing you with cocktails at home. Bottled cocktails? We’re all for it! Have you tried Gaz? Ready to drink cocktails in aluminum packs #Gaz #RTDCocktail #Cocktailinapack #Cocktail #DrinkManila A photo posted by DrinkManila (@drinkmanila) on Nov 24, 2016 at 8:37pm PST 6. Cold brew with spirits #Repost @creativemornings_kl ・・・ Order now, they deliver. Get caffeinated with fresh, quality @tabcoldbrew. You can also get your cold brew fix at our next meeting for #cmMystery this Saturday! Secure your seat now, link in Bio. A photo posted by TAB – The Awesome Brew (@tabcoldbrew) on Jan 9, 2017 at 3:37pm PST What happens when baristas meet bartenders? Coffee cocktails have been around for a while, but the clamor for cold brew has paved the way for bottled coffee liqueur for those with a hankering for smooth, low-acidity coffee with a kick. It’s a cool bottled combo when cold-brew coffee is added–not infused–to vodkas or whiskys. 7. Fast-growing spirits Some might still want it strong this year with more consumers leaning towards tequila. This 2017, the trend continues towards high-end tequilas and more tequila-based cocktails. It’ll go head to head with whisky, which is also on the rise with fine whisky and classic cocktails like the Whisky Sour. Whisky and tequila lead the fastest-growing categories, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.