When hot weather arrives and inboxes fill with out-of-office messages, summer cocktails often become a shared focus. Some years bring clear favorites, while others fail to become widely adopted. Thirteen bartenders were consulted to predict which drinks will gain momentum in 2026. Predictions emphasize drinks that connect to existing popularity, especially bridge cocktails built on familiar spirits. The Southside is expected to stand out as a mint-forward, refreshing variation of a gimlet that can shift with different gins. Classic cocktails are also projected to return, including martinis and gimlets, with popular adaptations such as cucumber and elderflower. Vermouth and soda with olives is also suggested as a low-AB option.
"“I think that for any candidate for drink of the summer, it helps to have a bridge cocktail (or spirit) with existing mindshare. For that reason, I have to root for the Southside, which at its core is a Gimlet that's been supercharged with mint leaves. It's incredibly refreshing - a massive upgrade on the standard Gimlet, and it inherits the profound mutability that comes with swapping in different gins.”"
"“People are going back to classics, with Martinis showing up everywhere and a broader 'Martini movement' taking hold. Alongside that, there are lots of Gimlets - an old-timey, citrus-forward cocktail that's easy to modify and adapt. People especially love variations like cucumber and elderflower Gimlets. They're delicious, and it's a classic for a reason.”"
"“My prediction for the drink of summer is vermouth and soda with olives. It's low AB”"
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