Spirit Trends to Watch: BCB Brooklyn 2026
Published 25 June 2026
Highlights of the Brooklyn edition of spirits trade show BCB (June 9-10) included a wave of novel ingredients, from mushrooms to matcha, alongside new products mining key opportunities in the cocktail category. Meanwhile, speakers decoded generational drinking divides, highlighting how to resonate with each demographic.
Inspired Ingredients
Cocktail Category: Pockets of Opportunity
Decoding Generational Drinking Divides
Reflecting the rise of culinary influences (see Alcohol Trends 26/27 and Mixology Trends 26/27) and the pull of bold flavours (see Gen Z Alcohol Trends: 26/27), novel ingredients populated the show. These included umami elements (think mushroom and peanut) and Japanese-inspired flavours (matcha, shiso).
Reflecting the rise of culinary influences (see Alcohol Trends 26/27 and Mixology Trends 26/27) and the pull of bold flavours (see Gen Z Alcohol Trends: 26/27), novel ingredients populated the show. These included umami elements (think mushroom and peanut) and Japanese-inspired flavours (matcha, shiso).
New ready-to-drink (RTD) products highlighted shifts in this booming category (it’s forecast to see annualised growth of 14.1% from 2026 to 2033, reaching $10.7bn – Grand View Research, 2026). The show also revealed brands mining opportunity in cocktail convenience and better-for-you mixers.
A key panel discussion centred on unpacking the alcohol preferences characterising each legal-age generation. Speakers suggested how to connect with abstinence-leaning Gen Zers, increasingly selective millennials, the lucrative Gen X set, and baby boomers – the cohort least interested in moderating their intake.
Spirit Trends to Watch: BCB Brooklyn 2026
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Spirit Trends to Watch: BCB Brooklyn 2026
Highlights of the Brooklyn edition of spirits trade show BCB (June 9-10) included a wave of novel ingredients, from mushrooms to matcha, alongside new products mining key opportunities in the cocktail category. Meanwhile, speakers decoded generational drinking divides, highlighting how to resonate with each...