The answer, of course, is that many of us will be quaffing the same drinks that we ordinarily enjoy. But drinking trends that have taken hold over the past few years, like ready-mixed cocktails such as mojito and other spirit-based beverages, are certain to spread this year.
Generally consumers seem to be breaking out of traditional drinking patterns, preferring instead to devise their own combinations with the accompaniment of popular spirits like whisky, brandy and even wine.
Hence the advent in 2012 of a few flavoured wines, a la Katemba, Mozambique's popular red-wine-cola concoction of Portuguese origin.
Anel Grobler and Jan Laubscher of popular wine website Spit or Swallow, predict there will be several trends shaping the drinks business this year:
Wines go sweet: Sweet wines will become more popular.
Beer will make a strong presence at top restaurants - Craft beers became extremely trendy during 2012.
Next-level ciders: Local cider growth will continue, thanks to the broad appeal and food-friendly flavour profiles. New flavoured varieties will further bolster the category in both retail and restaurant-bar outlets.
Unexpected flavours in unexpected places: Flavoured vodka became extremely popular last year and during 2013 the trend will spread to different spirit categories such as tequila, rum and whiskies.
Digital drinks: More and more restaurant will move their wine list to digital tablets. Wine, cocktail and beer lists presented on digital tablets put descriptive information, photos and even food-pairing suggestions at guests' fingertips in bars and restaurants.
Beer gardens: The communal experience of the beer garden will go beyond the major markets. The hottest trends in beer, food and socialising will come to life in large open spaces.
Whisky wows: From whisky-flavoured liquors to flavoured whiskys, and from single barrel bourbons to new takes on rye, whisky's appeal will grow.
Well, as some of us battle a clear-eyed vision of the year ahead amid the aftermath of the festive cheer, we should always remember that resolutions made in a state of inebriation are always harder to carry out when sober. Cheers!
Source: Sowetan
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