Clarified cocktails put a spin on the classics

In af&co and Carbonate’s 2024 hospitality trends report, we cited “Clarified Classics” as a cocktail trend to watch, with bartenders taking inspiration from the Victorian Era’s Milk Punch and applying the age-old milk clarification technique to other well-loved drinks. Over the past year, we’ve continued to see these cocktails rise in popularity, with bartenders across the country using this method to achieve a crystal clear appearance in everything from Piña Coladas to Long Island Iced Teas. 

There are various clarification processes one can use to achieve this. With traditional milk clarification, a cocktail mixture (usually containing acidic ingredients like citrus or fruit juice) is added to milk, which causes the milk proteins (casein) to curdle and form solid clumps. These clumps trap impurities, tannins, and other particulate matter, and when strained, the result is a clear liquid that is often less acidic or astringent than the original cocktail. Alternative methods include using agar agar (a gelling agent derived from seaweed) in place of milk, or tools like a Spinzall, a countertop centrifuge developed by renowned mixologist Dave Arnold, to achieve a similar effect. 

More than just an aesthetic enhancement, clarification creates a smoother flavor profile and silky mouthfeel, and provides guests an eye catching new way to experience a familiar favorite.

Read on to discover the various ways bartenders are using clarification to revamp classic cocktails.

About Carbonate

Carbonate is a creative agency that builds, reinvigorates, and grows existing brands and hospitality concepts. Specializing in food, beverage, restaurants, hotels & hospitality tech/B2B,  services include brand strategy, culinary inspiration tours, concept development, naming, visual identity development, social media, and strategic public relations. Prior to launching as an independent company, Carbonate was a division of San Francisco-based af&co. Together, af&co. and Carbonate produce an annual industry trends report, with insights consistently cited by outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, and more. Follow along @carbonategroup.