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Bars & Restaurants | Bitter Lemon Tonic Water | Cascara Cola | Classic Tonic Water | Coffee | Coffee Shops & Cafés | Low-Proof | Non-Alc | Non-Alcoholic
Three new trends in Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
At Top Note, Non-Alcoholic cocktails are a trend we have long been a part of. As cocktail makers seek to add novelty and newness to their menus, mixers are often looked upon as a key differentiator because when it comes to making NA cocktails, it is almost a given that a better quality mixer or spirit-free liquid will be involved. Gone are the Shirley Temple days. Now we have a new generation of cocktail enthusiasts striving for viscosity, flavor, and depth in the NA drink.
Here are a few trends to try this January.
1. Incorporate coffee or tea
Top Note has been sold in multiple coffee houses since 2019, and we see the trend of cocktailing in coffee houses on the rise. The opposite is also true, where coffee is being used as an ingredient in higher end NA drinks. the mash-up is a marvel. Coffee brings acidity, and bitterness to a drink. Our favorite recipes are the classic E&T, a Matcha tea dream, and a Pineapple beauty,
2. Keeping the sugar low
Sugary drinks are on the rise with non-alcoholic imbibing. We noticed this in our NA tastings with multiple vendors. Better bartenders are lowering sugar but keeping flavor, by using tricks like Monkfruit. It can be incorporated as a means to add a flavor boost, sweetness, and no calories. Our mid-calorie soft drinks make perfect enhancements to drinks without all the sugar for this reason. Other tricks include lower sugar coconut water, or using a fruit juice that has been concentrated. Check out our Ginger Beer and Coconut Water recipe here.
3. Use a shrub or smash your own
Shrubs have a ton of flavor density and real viscosity that adds body. We love a shrub tonic, but sometimes a little goes a long way. Instead, a simple smash or crush of savory ingredients can do the trick with a well made tonic like Top Note.
Espresso & Tonic
The freshest, fizziest way to enjoy your favorite coffee!
Espresso & Tonic Recipe:
2 oz freshly-brewed espresso or cold brew concentrate
6 oz Top Note Indian Tonic Water
Optional 3 dashes orange bitters
Garnish: fresh citrus
Pour the Indian Tonic into an ice-filled glass, then slowly pour in the coffee. Garnish.
Photo by @steph.achter
Coffee | Grapefruit Soda | Mezcal | Tequila
Paloma Negra
Quench your thirst with this refreshing coffee-spiked Paloma. We recommend substituting part or all of the tequila with mezcal for a smoky spin!
Paloma Negra Recipe:
2 oz Tequila
1 oz Coffee Liqueur
1 oz Grapefruit Juice
3 oz Top Note Sparkling Grapefruit Soda
Garnish: Grapefruit Slice, Salt-Rimmed Glass (optional)
Rim a glass with lime or grapefruit and salt (optional) and fill with ice. Add all ingredients to your prepared glass, stir and garnish.
Coffee & Amaro Tonic
Our Indian Tonic Water is the perfect match for both coffee and amaro, so why not combine them into one deliciously low-proof cocktail? Customize the recipe by using your favorite coffee and amaro - so many combinations to try! Here’s a few suggestions to get you started:
Dark Roast Espresso Blend & Amaro Montenegro: smoky, chocolatey, sweet vanilla
Medium Roast Cold Brew Blend & Amaro Nardini: minty, chocolatey, smooth
Light Roast Ethiopian Coffee & Zucca: fruity, floral, bright
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Chicory Coffee & Averna: nutty, herbaceous, licorice
Coffee & Amaro Tonic Recipe:
2 oz Cold Brew Coffee or Espresso
1 oz Italian Amaro
3 oz Top Note Indian Tonic Water
Garnish: Orange Wedge
Add Tonic Water and Amaro to an ice-filled glass, then slowly pour in coffee. Garnish and enjoy.
Shoeless Josephine
Our low-proof spin on the Shoeless Joe coffee cocktail is nothing short of a home run!
Shoeless Josephine Recipe:
2 oz Cold Brew Coffee or Espresso
1 oz Cherry Liqueur
4 oz Top Note Ginger Beer
Garnish: Cocktail Cherry
Stir all ingredients together in a glass with ice and garnish.
Spiked Coffee Tonic
Can’t decide between coffee or a cocktail? Now you can have both! Any spirit will work fabulously in this recipe: try clear spirits like blanco tequila, pisco, and white rum for a lighter, fruitier cocktail and dark spirits like reposado tequila, whiskey, and aged rum for a smooth and smoky cocktail.
Spiked Coffee Tonic Recipe:
2 oz Spirit of Choice
2 oz Cold Brew Coffee or Espresso
.5 oz Simple Syrup, optional
2 oz Top Note Indian Tonic Water
Add Tonic Water, syrup and spirit of choice to an ice-filled glass, then slowly pour in coffee. Garnish if desired.
Caffè Spritz
Give your coffee routine a European twist! This Espresso & Tonic variation combines two classic Italian libations - espresso and the Spritz cocktail. Perfect for summer sipping and fancy brunching.
Caffè Spritz Recipe:
2 oz freshly brewed espresso or cold brew concentrate
5 oz Top Note Bitter Lemon Tonic Water
Garnish: orange wedge
Add Tonic Water to an ice-filled glass (we like a wine glass for an authentic Italian Spritz experience, but any glass will do), then slowly pour in the coffee. Garnish.
Stormy Weather
In this spirit-free take on the classic Dark ‘n Stormy cocktail, espresso tags in for rum for a deep and spicy brew that’s sure to tickle your tropical itch.
Stormy Weather Recipe:
2 oz freshly brewed espresso or cold brew concentrate
5 oz Top Note Ginger Beer
Garnish: lime wedge
Add Ginger Beer to an ice-filled glass, then slowly pour in the coffee. Garnish.
Brunch | Coffee | Ginger Beer | Non-Alcoholic
Espresso Mule
Who says Mule mugs are reserved solely for vodka? Kick back with this simple, caffeinated twist on the classic!
Espresso Mule Recipe:
2 oz freshly-brewed espresso or cold brew concentrate
.5 oz lime juice
3 oz Top Note Ginger Beer
Garnish: lime wheel
Fill a copper Mule mug* with crushed or cubed ice. Add the juice and Ginger Beer, then slowly pour in the espresso or coffee. Garnish.
*If you don’t happen to have Mule mugs on hand, any other glass works just as well!
Matcha Tonic
All aboard the matcha train!
If you’re new to matcha, this recipe is a great place to start! Think of it like a sparkling Arnold Palmer made with green tea instead of black.
If you’re already an avid matcha fan but haven’t tried it in a carbonated drink yet, prepare to be wowed!
Matcha Tonic Recipe:
1 tsp matcha powder
2 oz hot water
1 oz simple syrup
1 oz lemon juice
2 oz Top Note Indian Tonic Water
Garnish: fresh lemon slice
Whisk the matcha, simple syrup and hot water together until frothy. Set aside for a moment while you fill a glass with ice, lemon juice and Indian Tonic. Top with the matcha mixture, stir, and garnish.
Photo by @steph.achter
Sparkling Butterfly Pea Lemonade
Butterfly pea flowers are beautiful flowers native to Southeast Asia, popular for their brilliant blue pigment and most commonly seen brewed as tea. However, their natural blue color can easily be infused into spirits and syrups and has become an exciting addition to the repertoire of both cocktail and zero-proof mixologists and home bartenders across the world.
Infusing the flowers produces a deep blue hue, but adding citrus juice changes the color to purple. Watching your drink change colors before your eyes is half the fun!
Photo by @steph.achter
Sparkling Butterfly Pea Lemonade Recipe:
1.5 oz butterfly pea flower syrup
1.5 oz lemon juice
Garnish: fresh or dehydrated citrus
Stir all ingredients together in a glass with ice and garnish. (To achieve the best gradient effect, stir the syrup, soda and ice together first, then top with the lemon juice.)
Butterfly Pea Flower Syrup: In a small pot, combine 1.5 tbsp butterfly pea flowers, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water. Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let the flowers steep another 20 minutes before straining into a clean glass container. Keep refrigerated.