World's 50 Best Bars Brands Report: Liqueurs and bitters

30 January, 2014

For the fifth instalment of the 2014 Brands Report, we quizzed the class of 2013 on the liqueurs and bitters brands moving through their bars.

We polled 100 of the top 250 bars that our academy voted for in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2013 survey.

We asked which are the best sellers and which brands are catching the imaginations of consumers for the trending list.

Don't forget to check out the results for gin, vodka, rum and tequila.

SELLING

Sweet success belongs to triple sec brand Cointreau, which has knocked Chartreuse off the top spot this year. Cointreau has

been around since the late 19th century and the sixth generation of the Cointreau family – one Alfred Cointreau – carries the orange torch.

The brand counts burlesque beauty Dita Von Teese as its ambassador. It’s interesting to see Drambuie

make the cut this year. The brand has been working tirelessly to shake its traditional image and prove its worth on the global bar scene.

Activity has included promotion around its signature cocktail, the Rusty Nail, and investment in bars

at music festivals as well as TV and cinema advertising. The Drambuie Liqueur Company reported a 5% lift in profits when it posted results in September 2013. It will be interesting to see where it places next year.

TRENDING

St Germain has usurped Grand Marnier at the top of the table. The elderflower liqueur was co-created by bar and publishing heavyweight Simon Difford and introduced to the UK in 2007. It is now a staple in many cocktails and Bacardi bought it in 2013.

Sambuca and Jägermeister may be the preserves of shot territory but that doesn’t mean they are not popular in top bars. Jägermeister has long been an industry favourite with shots shared among trade friends.

We welcome Cartron to the list this year – a family business since 1882, with strong roots in the town of Nuits-Saint-Georges at the heart of Burgundy’s cru vineyards. Macerations and infusions are the name of the game at Cartron and, as well as flavours such as lychee and noisette, the company offers Black Smoke (black smoked tea) and Rooibos.

Baileys is a stalwart of liqueurs and no doubt its latest flavour addition will maintain its position as a trending brand next year. Chocolat Luxe was launched in summer 2013 – a fusion of real Belgian chocolate with alcohol.





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