Top Beverage Guides

Looking for the top guides on craft beer, liquor, wine, and the best cocktail recipes? We've got you covered!
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Crafting a Cost-Effective Whiskey Menu: A Comprehensive Guide

Posted by Untappd Team, May 6, 2024

Creating a whiskey menu that balances quality and cost-effectiveness is crucial for any bar or restaurant. With the rising popularity of whiskey, it’s essential to offer a diverse selection while keeping expenses manageable. In this guide, we’ll explore strategies to curate a compelling whiskey menu without breaking the bank.

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What Is the Difference Between Whiskey and Bourbon?

Posted by Untappd Team, April 30, 2024

Few topics generate as much intrigue and confusion in the spirits’ world as the distinction between whiskey and bourbon. As bastions of beverage innovation, it’s paramount to understand these libations’ intricacies effectively to cater to your patrons’ discerning tastes. This educational guide will unveil the difference between whiskey and bourbon, delving into their origins, production methods, flavor profiles, and cultural significance. By the end, you’ll possess the expertise needed to curate a refined spirits selection and elevate the dining experience for your clientele at your restaurant, bar, or taproom.

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The 4 Best Fireball Mixed Drink Recipes

Posted by Untappd Team, April 22, 2024

Known for its cinnamon flavor and smooth finish, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is a versatile spirit that can elevate any mixed drink.

With its rise in popularity, restaurants and bars looking to capitalize on the famous brand should explore offering Fireball mixed drinks to their beverage menus to elevate their guests’ experiences and deliver an impact on their bottom line.

From classic sours to innovative fizzes, Fireball mixed drinks offer a unique flavor twist to their more traditional cocktail counterparts. Let’s explore some of the top Fireball mixed drink recipes that will undoubtedly add some spice to your beverage menu.

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The Top 5 Whiskey Cocktails

Posted by Untappd Team, April 17, 2024

With its rich history and diverse flavors, enthusiasts worldwide have long cherished whiskey. From the smoky depths of Scottish single malts to the smooth sweetness of Kentucky bourbons, whiskey offers a spectrum of tastes to explore and savor. Yet, beyond enjoying whiskey neat or on the rocks, a realm of creativity exists where this beloved spirit becomes the star of some of the most iconic and delightful whiskey cocktails.

In this article, we’ll explore five timeless whiskey cocktail concoctions. From the classic elegance of the Old Fashioned to the refreshing zest of the Whiskey Smash, each cocktail tells a story of craftsmanship, innovation, and whiskey’s timeless allure.

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Wine Pricing Guide for Restaurants

Posted by Untappd Team, April 8, 2024

Curating the perfect wine list is an art; pricing those wines is a science.

The delicate dance between offering diverse and appealing wine varieties while ensuring profitability requires a strategic approach. This comprehensive guide will unravel the intricacies of pricing wine for your restaurant, bar, or business.

Whether you are a brand-new restaurant owner or an expert sommelier, understanding the factors that influence wine pricing is crucial for both customer satisfaction and the financial health of your establishment.

From integrating wine prices seamlessly into your menu strategy to deciphering the impact of production costs, this article will provide you with actionable insights and proven strategies. We’ll explore how to strike the perfect balance between providing value to your patrons and optimizing your profit margins.

Let’s uncork the secrets of effective wine pricing.

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How to Create a Wine List for Your Menu

Posted by Untappd Team, April 2, 2024

Crafting an exceptional wine list for your restaurant menu requires a delicate blend of sophistication, strategic thinking, and storytelling. Whether you’re a seasoned sommelier, a skillful bartender, or an accomplished restaurateur eager to elevate your establishment’s offerings, this guide will show you how to create a memorable and enticing wine list.

Not merely a logistical task, building a wine list creates an opportunity to curate an experience for your guests.

Each wine variety holds a story, and each sip should be a journey for the palate. In this exploration, we’ll jump into understanding wine list basics, categorizing wine, crafting evocative descriptions, implementing strategic pricing, suggesting harmonious food pairings, and setting the visual stage for a delightful dining experience.

Whether you’re aiming to refresh an existing wine list or starting from scratch, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and inspiration to create a wine list that complements your establishment’s identity and leaves a lasting impression on your patrons.

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How to Properly Store Wine

Posted by Untappd Team, March 18, 2024

Proper wine storage is crucial for maintaining the quality and taste of every wine variety in your collection.

Whether you own a restaurant, run a taproom with a liquor license, or operate a bar, understanding the fundamentals of wine storage can enhance your customer experience and protect your investment.

In this guide, we’ll explore the key aspects of wine storage, from temperature and humidity to the right storage equipment.

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Wine Varieties: The Complete Guide for Restaurants

Posted by Untappd Team, March 18, 2024

Elevating your guests’ dining experience goes hand-in-hand with offering a thoughtful selection of wine varieties.

In this guide, we’ll delve into the world of wines, helping you understand how different wine varieties can enhance your menu and leave a lasting impression on your customers.

Think of wine varieties as the artistic brushstrokes that can paint a memorable dining experience for your guests. From robust reds to crisp whites, each bottle tells a unique story. Join us in exploring the best wine varieties.

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Well Cocktails 101 Guide

Posted by Sarah Buckholtz, February 26, 2024

Updated: 2/26/2024

The well drink menu is a standard feature of any bar or liquor-licensed restaurant with bartenders mixing these cocktails for customers night after night.

Although you won’t often find well cocktails on the menu, the simple ingredients in these drinks are unsung heroes because they’re always in high demand.

For that reason, it’s important to get a good grasp of the basics when it comes to well cocktails, learn the ingredients, and understand what makes them a profit maker for the house.

(Above photo by Nuff . on Unsplash)

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Craft Beer Pricing Guide (2024)

Posted by Tom Lyon, February 14, 2024

UPDATED: 2/14/24

Over 2023, challenges in the American economy with inflation directly affected the price of many goods, including beer.

Indeed, the data seems to support that prices for craft beer have increased across major styles and formats.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index for beer at home rose +2.4% year-over-year (YoY), higher than the +1.9% YoY increase reported in 2023. However, the report did show that the increase has slowed since January 2023, which recorded a +9% YoY increase.

Last year, Untappd reported that across all U.S. retailers from March 2022 to December 2022, the average price of American light lager (per 16oz draft) increased +3.3%, to $4.94, while this style in 12oz bottles, also increased +3.4%, to $3.91.

And if you thought this might just be unique to lagers, Untappd also analyzed price data for American IPAs. On draft, this style’s price increased +1.9%, to $6.88 in 16oz cans. And increased +3.7% in 12oz bottles to $3.97 over that ten-month period in 2022.

“Brewery taprooms have seen solid price increases across three styles we examined,” Smith wrote in the report. “Across all venue types, however, the lower priced American light lager saw the largest price increase on a percentage basis.”

He continues, “I’ve spoken with a number of independent brewers that were unsure about taking price increases in 2022 (some macro producers took two price increases). It appears, based on the pricing data we see from beers coming out of A-B InBev’s craft unit, that there is ample headroom for smaller producers to take more price in 2023.”

Alcohol Delivered gathered data on average case prices for a 24-pack of Bud Light and Miller Lite across the country in 2024. Their data showed the cheapest price at $16.43 in Illinois all the way to the highest at $33.62 in Alaska.

Overall, considering how to price your products this year is going to be one of the most important business decisions you make.

And it’s a tough thing to nail.

If you price too low, you leave money on the table. But if your product is too expensive, it won’t sell.

When it comes to pricing beer or cider, there are several things to consider. But first and foremost, you need to answer one important question: What type of business do you have?

Do you run a bar or restaurant offering on-site consumption? Are you a bottle shop that only offers to-go products? Do you provide on-site consumption and a selection of products to-go? Something else?

Before you can start to understand pricing, you need to think about what you sell. For instance, pouring beer on draft versus serving it in a can or bottle carries a different cost. With the average cost to serve a bottled beer at twenty-five percent and draft beer closer to twenty percent, draft beer might be your highest margin item, but might also come with added expenses for refrigeration and pouring equipment.

It can seem like a lot, but getting the price of your products right can mean more profitability for your establishment and a better bottom line.

And we’re here to help.

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