Minnow Baltimore is a seafood restaurant that serves a unique cocktail drink called 'The Dark Night.' The simple, three-ingredient cocktail is prepared with Ransom Old Tom gin, Jack Rudy Tonic and about a half a teaspoon of charcoal, which gives the drink its distinctive black coloring. The cocktail is served with a bright yellow lemon peel garnish, which only serves to draw attention to the dark coloring of the drink.
Like Minnow, many bars and restaurants are launching menu items with superfood ingredients as a means of intriguing health-conscious consumers. As the antithesis to an influx of rainbow-colored food and beverage products that have appeared over the last few months, a number of all-black refreshments have also been launched.
Charcoal-Infused Cocktails
'The Dark Night' is a Dark, Detoxifying Drink Served at Minnow
Trend Themes
1. Superfood Cocktails - Using healthy, largely plant-based ingredients in cocktails is a trend that is catching the attention of increasingly health-conscious consumers.
2. All-black Drinks and Food - Creating visually striking, entirely black drinks and food is a current response to the brightly colored food and drinks that have been popular over the past year.
3. Detox Cocktails - Incorporating detoxifying ingredients in cocktails is a way to offer health benefits alongside alcoholic drinks.
Industry Implications
1. Restaurants and Bars - The hospitality industry can incorporate these trends by updating their menus with cocktails and menu items that feature healthy and visually striking ingredients.
2. Food and Beverage Manufacturers - Manufacturers can develop new products for bars and restaurants that contain superfoods and detoxifiers, which will also appeal to a health-conscious consumer base.
3. Cosmetics and Beauty - Charcoal (the key ingredient in this story's 'The Dark Night' cocktail) is increasingly common in skincare and makeup products, manufacturers can explore using it in more products.