How to Craft the Perfect Cocktail Menu

The world of cocktails can be an overwhelming landscape for the uninitiated. There is a vast array of options with countless mixers, spirits, and combinations to choose from.

If you’re seeking to build your own cocktail menu, either for your bar or at home, there are five essentials to get right.

With all things, research is crucial and here at Servaclean we know a thing or two about helping bars become the best they can be.

Understand your Audience

Before diving into which cocktails will make the final cut, it is necessary that you understand your market.

Keep the following in mind:

• What is the primary age range for your customers?
• How much are they willing to spend?
• What are your competitors serving?
• What are local bars in the area charging for cocktails?

Once you have identified your target market, understood their spending habits, and any gaps in the market your competitors may have, now you can start the selection process.

It is also a good idea to keep in mind what is trending. Popular celebrities often namedrop their favourite tipple which might cause a spike in sales. Try theming your cocktails after popular shows/films/seasons as well. There are many ways to draw customers to your menu.

Cover the six basic cocktails

Some call these the six cocktail families that essentially all mixes fall into.

These six cocktails  are as follows:

• Old Fashioned
• Martini
• Daiquiri
• Sidecar
• Whiskey Highball
• Flip

Once you have mastered these six drinks, the rest should fall into place easily. After all, the vast bulk of cocktails are variations on these staples of the market.

Keep it Simple

There are so many cocktails to choose from, leading to the temptation to cram as many options onto your menus as possible.

It’s a trap you could easily fall into, as surely more options will lead to more sales, right? The issue is the stock you will need and the training required for staff.

99 per cent of these drinks will likely only be picked a handful of times, so limiting the menu can be a huge advantage.

Make it Easy and Clear to Understand 

If you combine the previous point with pictures of the cocktails on the menu, it will be easier for people to decide what they want.

Many of these drinks look incredible, and customers will want to share their experience with others. If they pick the most exciting-looking drink, it could lead to a few Instagram snaps of free publicity.

With this in mind – keep the descriptions simple as well. A good cocktail should be able to be described in a short sentence.

Offer zero-alcohol alternatives

Zero-alcohol drinks are booming in popularity, with more teens than ever opting to remain teetotal. That doesn’t mean they won’t come to your bar to try a drink though.

FOMO, or the fear of missing out, is a powerful thing, so ensuring there are options for this growing demographic is more important than ever.

We broke down the rise of low and no-alcohol drinks in a recent article, including the benefits of making the switch, which you can read here.

At Servaclean, whether you require a full bar system, mobile or portable units for indoor or outdoor use, we have a solution. To find out more about our stainless steel bar equipment, contact us today to speak to our friendly team!