Overview

For our third episode, covering July 28th through August 3rd, 2025, we’re exploring a captivating mix of drinks that have suddenly popped into the spotlight. From peak summer travel vibes boosting tropical favorites, to the surprising power of traditional media features causing a splash, join us as we unpack how these trends emerge, offering insights that go far beyond just what’s in your glass.

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Trending Cocktails

Mai Tai

What’s this: The Mai Tai stands as a true classic cocktail, its name inherently linked with tropical vacations and the vibrant, escapist allure of Tiki culture. This iconic rum-based concoction is far more than just a sweet drink; it is a carefully balanced symphony of flavors designed to transport you to an island paradise. At its core, a Mai Tai typically features a blend of rums, often combining light and dark or aged varieties to achieve a complex base. Complementing the rum are several key ingredients: orange curaçao, a spirit-based orange liqueur that provides a citrusy brightness; orgeat syrup, which is a special almond-flavored syrup that imparts a unique nutty and subtly floral dimension to the cocktail, setting it apart from simpler fruit-and-rum mixes. Finally, fresh lime juice is crucial, lending a sharp, refreshing tartness that cuts through the sweetness and balances the richness of the rum and syrups. The preparation usually involves combining these ingredients in a shaker with ice, shaking vigorously until well chilled, and then straining the mixture over fresh ice, often crushed ice, in a traditional Tiki glass. The drink is celebrated for its exquisite balance of sweet, sour, and nutty notes, creating a complex yet immensely drinkable experience where the rum unequivocally remains the star. Its distinct flavor profile and visual appeal, often garnished with a mint sprig, a pineapple wedge, or a lime wheel, make it a feast for the senses.

Interest increase: 130%

Reason for interest spike: The Mai Tai experienced a significant 130% increase in interest during the week of July 28th to August 3rd, which is quite notable for a drink that is already widely recognized. This surge in curiosity wasn’t attributed to a single, overwhelming viral event, but rather a confluence of several factors aligning perfectly. Firstly, there was a noticeable breakout growth in related Google searches, specifically for terms like “best rum drinks for summer”. The Mai Tai, being a quintessential rum-based cocktail, naturally rode that wave of general interest in summer-appropriate rum beverages. Secondly, the timing was impeccable: July marks the peak of summer travel, a period when many individuals flock to warm, tropical destinations for vacation. The Mai Tai, with its strong association as a classic beach drink, naturally gains traction as people are either experiencing these locations firsthand or dreaming of it. Supporting this claim, the data revealed that Hawaii, a prime tropical vacation spot, exhibited the highest search interest per person for the Mai Tai during this period. This correlation strongly suggests that the actual act of traveling or the aspiration of it played a significant role in boosting the drink’s popularity. Adding to these broader trends was a more specific, albeit smaller-scale, media influence. The YouTube channel Make and Drink, boasting nearly 50,000 subscribers, released a new video titled 2 Bittersweet Twists on the Classic Mai Tai. While its 6,200 views in four days might not constitute a massive viral explosion, it achieved decent traction within its specific audience. The combination of a general desire for summer rum drinks, peak vacation season, and targeted content from an engaged YouTube channel collectively painted a clear picture for the Mai Tai’s surge, truly capturing that classic beach drink energy.

Recipe: Mai Tai from the kitchn

Bee’s Knees

What’s this: The Bees Knees stands as a classic cocktail with a storied past, originating specifically during the Prohibition era in the United States. Its whimsical name, Bee’s Knees, was not merely a quirky label; it was a popular slang term of that period, proudly proclaiming something to be the best, a clear indication of the high regard in which this drink was held. Despite its sophisticated reputation, the Bees Knees is remarkably simple yet profoundly elegant and delicious in its construction. The core of its appeal lies in its straightforward trifecta of ingredients: gin, which forms the aromatic and botanical foundation; fresh lemon juice, providing a crisp, bright, and essential tartness that invigorates the palate; and honey, serving not just as a sweetener but also imparting a unique, smooth, and nuanced richness that distinguishes it from other sour cocktails. To craft a Bees Knees, the gin, fresh lemon juice, and honey are typically combined in a cocktail shaker with ice. The mixture is then vigorously shaken until thoroughly chilled and perfectly blended, ensuring that the honey dissolves completely into the liquids. This perfectly emulsified concoction is then strained into a chilled coupe or martini glass, often without a garnish to highlight its pristine clarity.

Interest increase: 450%

Reason for interest spike: The Bees Knees experienced a huge jump in interest, seeing a dramatic 450% increase during the observed week. What makes this spike particularly interesting and a bit more mysterious is the absence of a clear, singular, or massive external driver. Unlike trends fueled by viral social media posts, the Bees Knees showed a remarkably low number of TikTok posts, with only about 276 mentions, which is considered really low for that kind of jump in search interest. This lack of a prominent viral push suggests that the cocktail’s sudden surge in popularity might stem from a more “grassroots” phenomenon. It could be due to people rediscovering the drink on cocktail menus as they go out more. Individuals might encounter it, find it intriguing, and then search online to learn more about it before ordering.

Recipe: Bee’s Knees from Liquor.com

Old Fashioned

What’s this: The Old Fashioned stands as a real giant in the realm of cocktails, universally recognized as the classic cocktail for man” due to its timeless appeal and fundamental simplicity. The very name of the drink is steeped in history, originating from a time when patrons would specifically request their drink be made “the old-fashioned way,” signifying a return to the foundational and traditional basics of cocktail craftsmanship. This iconic libation is celebrated for its profound depth of flavor despite its straightforward composition. At its heart, an Old Fashioned is traditionally built around whiskey, with either rye or bourbon being the customary choices, each imparting its unique character to the drink. To this spirit, a sugar cube or a small amount of sugar (or simple syrup) is added, along with several dashes of aromatic bitters, and typically a “splash of water” to aid in dissolving the sugar and subtly open up the flavors of the whiskey. The preparation ritual is as significant as the ingredients: the mixture is meticulously stirred with ice, rather than shaken in an old fashioned glass or a rocks glass. This gentle stirring process ensures proper chilling and dilution without introducing air, preserving the drink’s smooth texture and clarity. The cocktail is then commonly garnished with an orange peel, which is often expressed over the top to release its fragrant oils directly into the drink, or sometimes a maraschino cherry for a touch of sweetness and color.

Interest increase: 90%

Reason for interest spike: The Old Fashioned, despite its perennial popularity, saw a solid 90% interest increase during the week of July 28th to August 3rd. What’s particularly interesting here, and similar to the Bees Knees, is that there was no single big driver, or clear viral moment, identified for this specific surge. This contrasts with drinks influenced by prominent social media posts or major media features. The fact that there isn’t a specific external cause, combined with its constant presence in cocktail culture (as evidenced by its high volume of over 95,000 TikTok posts) suggests a different kind of trend. This organic growth might be driven by seasonal shifts, where people are getting back out and simply gravitating towards familiar, comforting choices.

Recipe: Classic Old Fashioned from allrecipes

Tequila Old Fashioned

What’s this: The Tequila Old Fashioned offers a twist on the classic Old Fashioned, fundamentally reimagining the beloved structure by swapping out the traditional whiskey for tequila. This innovative cocktail maintains the sophisticated essence of its predecessor while appealing to a different spirit preference. For its base, the Tequila Old Fashioned typically calls for añejo tequila. The term “añejo” signifies that the tequila has undergone an aging process, having spent time in oak barrels, which imbues it with a deeper complexity, enhanced smoothness, and a character that serves as a fitting substitute for the robust nature of whiskey. In terms of sweetener, agave nectar is commonly used instead of sugar, creating a harmonious flavor profile with the tequila. Like the original, the cocktail also incorporates bitters to add aromatic depth and balance, and is usually finished with an orange peel garnish.

Interest increase: 90%

Reason for interest spike: The Tequila Old Fashioned also experienced a 90% interest bump during the week, creating an interesting parallel with the surge seen by the traditional Old Fashioned. This increase in interest likely taps into that trend of people wanting familiar formats, but with a different spirit. Indicating a desire to explore new taste profiles while retaining the comfort of a known cocktail structure. It’s a perfect fit for individuals who are exploring new things, or who are tequila fans, looking for a stirred and sophisticated option that isn’t whiskey-based. This caters to a segment of drinkers who appreciate the elegance of an Old Fashioned but prefer tequila over whiskey. While not a massive viral hit, a contributing factor could be a YouTube post from Man of Many, a channel with 42,000 subscribers, which featured the tequila old-fashioned.

Recipe: Añejo Tequila Old Fashioned from Liquor.com

Dirty Shirley

What’s this: The Dirty Shirley is essentially an alcoholic grown-up version of the Shirley Temple, skillfully transforming a beloved childhood beverage into a more spirited concoction suitable for adults. At its most fundamental, this cocktail is created by incorporating vodka into the familiar and iconic ingredients that define the classic Shirley Temple. The core components typically include lemon-lime soda, providing a fizzy, citrusy base; grenadine, which imparts its characteristic vibrant pink or red hue and a sweet, subtly fruity flavor often associated with cherries; and, of course, the indispensable maraschino cherry garnish, serving as both a visual cue and an additional burst of sweetness. Notably, some popular variations of the Dirty Shirley opt for ginger ale as the soda base instead of lemon-lime soda, a choice that many find works better as it can offer a slightly less sweet and more nuanced flavor profile.

Interest increase: Breakout

Reason for interest spike: The Dirty Shirley achieved breakout status during the week, indicating a truly significant surge in interest. What’s particularly striking about its rise is that it points pretty strongly to good old-fashioned media power, not social media. This is a notable departure from many contemporary trends, especially given that the drink registered extremely few TikTok posts, completely bypassing the viral video phenomenon. The primary drivers for the Dirty Shirley’s explosion can be traced to prominent features in traditional and popular online publications. Firstly, back in May, the drink gained significant exposure when Sara Herren wrote in Us Magazine about it being a secret menu item at the iconic NYC bar. This association with an iconic and trendy location in a major city, highlighted in a widely read magazine, undoubtedly generated considerable curiosity and cachet. Secondly, in just the previous week, Delish updated their main summer cocktails list, and the Dirty Shirley was prominently featured. Such high-profile placements in popular magazines and influential websites can absolutely trigger a huge sudden spike in interest.

Recipe: Dirty Shirley Cocktail from Culinary Hill