September 14, 2023 | Read Online

🍹 The Seelbach cocktail's scandalous backstory

PLUS: The lowdown on Low ABV RTDs

🍻🍷🍸 Welcome back to Bottle & Barrel, your weekly sip of the latest and greatest in the world of craft beverages! 🥂🥤🥃

In this week's edition:

🍹 4 sizzling low ABV trends you can't miss
🍻 Are Americans really ditching their beloved beer?
🌴 Elevate your margarita game with tropical guava vibes
🍸 The Seelbach: A cocktail with a bubbly backstory and twist!
🍺 Unveiling three tasty craft beverages to sip your summer goodbye

🍷 Links and Drinks

The Low ABV RTDs Everyone's Raving About 🧃

What's trending, bubbly, and won't leave you regretting that third drink? Yep, it's low ABV RTDs! This market is predicted to blow up by $11.5 billion in the next 5 years.

Here are 4 of the most popular trends we're seeing in low ABV RTDs as we wind down the summer:

Water-Inspired Drinks: Think spa water, but spiked. Flat, slightly mysterious, and gives you that "Is it 5 o'clock yet?" feeling.
Spritzers: Step aside, basic drinks! These aren't your grandma's spritzers. We're talking exotic, fun, and bubbly.
Wine-Based Wonders: Think of it as wine's chill younger sibling that's too cool for family gatherings.
Fruity Fizz: If fruits had a party and invited booze, this would be the result.

In the world of RTDs, it's go big or go home (probably tipsy). These new kids on the block are all the rave, and if you're not sipping on them, are you even a trendsetter? Here's to staying ahead of the curve! 🚀

American Drinking Habits: Steady as She Goes! 🍺

The percentage of Americans who drink has remained remarkably stable over time, coming out to 62% in 2023.

For years, whispers have circulated that Americans are turning their backs on beer, opting for liquors and flavored malt beverages.

But Gallup's consistent polling over three decades tells a different story. With 37% of Americans favoring beer over wine and liquor — hops reign supreme!

YouTube How-To: Guava Margarita 🍈

Taking your margarita game to tropical heights? That's the spirit! 🌴🍹

This YouTuber's blend is a refreshing sip with a fruity kick—it's like a beach vacay in a glass.

📺 Ready to shake things up? Here's how to whip up the perfect Guava Margarita!

🍹 Cocktail of the Week

We all love a good origin story, especially when it's wrapped in controversy and champagne.

Enter The Seelbach Cocktail – where history isn't always as it seems.

After taking charge of the Seelbach Hotel's bar and restaurant in 1995, bartender Adam Seger was out to make a name for himself.

Seger claimed he'd found a pre-Prohibition cocktail recipe with a charming backstory for "The Seelbach".

As the story goes, a clumsy bartender spilled champagne into a Manhattan, loved the taste of this "happy accident", and birthed The Seelbach.

Seger's cocktail "discovery" became a sensation, and brought him the recognition he'd always wanted.

But around 2 decades later, the guilt proved too much, and Seger revealed he'd made the entire story up! 🤯

Scandalous? Maybe. Delicious? Absolutely.

Ingredients for the Seelbach:

Bourbon: 1 oz
Cointreau orange liqueur: ½ oz
Angostura bitters: 3-7 dashes
Peychaud's bitters: 3-7 dashes
Champagne: 4 oz, but who's counting?

How to make it:

In a mixing glass, pour that smooth bourbon, followed by the zesty Cointreau.
Add in your Angostura and Peychaud's bitters, between 3 to 7 dashes.
Fill your mixing glass with ice, and stir for 10-15 seconds.
Strain your mix into a chilled glass, and top it with 4oz of champagne.
Garnish with an orange twist, and enjoy!

Let's raise a glass to the Seelbach — a modern classic born out of a twist of tales and tastes. Cheers! 🍹🥳

🍻 Craft Cravings

Check out 3 of our favorite craft beverages on the market this week!

Concord Craft Brewing's Safe Space

Dive into the embrace of Concord Craft Brewing's Safe Space, a hazy New England IPA crowned as the Best New Hampshire Made Beer of 2021. Immerse yourself in its seductive citrusy aroma and a kaleidoscope of tropical fruit flavors.

With its hazy golden allure and a smooth 6.0% ABV, every sip is a journey to your very own sanctuary. 🍺🍊🌴

Buy It Now

Schnitt Brewing Company's Jaffa IPA

Embark on a flavorful voyage with Schnitt Brewing Company's Jaffa IPA, a tribute to the historic city renowned for its iconic oranges. Infused with these legendary Jaffa oranges, this West Coast Style IPA radiates with enhanced citrus notes.

With a 6.5% ABV, it's a zesty blend of tradition and modern brewing artistry. 🍺🍊🌍

Buy It Now

Gay Water's Vodka Soda Variety Pack

Introducing Gay Water's Vodka Soda Variety Pack, a vibrant ensemble for everyone who knows how to truly savor life. With only 80 calories, zero sugar, and a trio of simple ingredients, these cans promise pure pleasure without the post-party woes.

With peach, grapefruit, lime, and watermelon flavors, all authentically crafted with real vodka and natural zest, you'll struggle to find a drink this fun. 🍉🍑🍋