Coffee Shops & Cafés

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.

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

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

3 oz Top Note Club Soda No. 1

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.