All our roles are pretty varied in Peach, including mine! From designing posters for pub club events, to writing email campaigns, reviewing pub promotions, overseeing menu design to choosing gins to go on the next drinks list. There’s always something to get stuck into!
We change our drinks list twice a year, which gives us the chance to look at market trends, as well as our own sales, and update our list depending on what we see our guests are drinking. We kick start the year with a strategy meeting, reviewing each category in detail, assessing our goals and looking at any potential declines and growths. By spending time looking at what our guests want, we can make informed decisions on changes to the list.
Following our meetings at the start of the year, we noticed:
- Non-alcoholic beer sales were up 43% on the previous year
- 38% of all grand gin sales were fruity
- Espresso Martini remains our top selling cocktail
- Aperol Spritz continues to grow, 8% up on the previous year
- The demand for adult softs grew by 3%
- Sales in tequilla and rum continue to increase
We also look at trends in the wider market, and the gin boom is still, well booming! Millennials are not drinking as much as we once did, and after dinner drinks are definitely where our dining guests are looking for something different. Knowing this helps us shape our list; by increasing our soft range, to adding two more Fentimans mixers and bringing in a second non-alcoholic lager.
Seeing the demand for fruity gins growing, Summer brings Tarquin’s Strawberry & Lime to the list. Nestled on a windswept hilltop overlooking the wild Cornish coast, Tarquin’s Cornish Gin proudly combines traditional distilling with modern techniques. A fully-independent and proudly family-run business, they are true to artisan production, every single multi award-winning bottle is filled, labelled, waxed, stamped and signed by hand. It’s a damn good gin – and it’s pink!
We were also excited to see a new release from Hendrick’s – their Midsummer Solstice. Perfect for Summer drinking, deeply floral with rose notes, and inspired by the blooms of the solstice. Try with rose lemonade – another newcomer to our bar.
If you’re looking for a decent London Dry, then Sipsmith is for you! An original, still holding its own in the premium category, a sure favourite, and a return to the list for us.
There’s also Hepple, a unique, crafted gin, using British hand-picked juniper, Amalfi lemon and lovage. Another fantastic tipple.
There’s a new elderflower tonic in the fridges too, perfect with a London Dry – or if you haven’t tried Ceder’s yet, it’s a great non alcoholic G&T. We’ve still got our Dash waters too – healthy, low calorie sparkling waters flavoured with wonky veg, and not forgetting Cawston Press – try Rhubarb or Apple.
There’s new cocktails; give our Perfect Storm with Kraken rum a try, or for something light and refreshing try the Mulberry Gin Fizz. If a spritz is your thing, then our Elderflower Fizz or new Rose Spritz are super easy-drinking for those Summer afternoons in the pub garden.
Plus, we’ve added a delicious Armagnac, and our after dinner serves are now all listed on our drinks list too. Try a Diplomatico our Ron Aguere Caramel rum over ice, or our latest cream liqueur from Cotswolds Distillery. We’re sure you won’t be disappointed.
See you at the bar.