The Big Appeal of the Tiny Cocktail
Mini martinis, snack-sized daiquiris and more teeny drinks are appealing to a generation of drinkers who feel that less is more. [...] Read More... The post The Big Appeal of the Tiny Cocktail appeared first on Wine Enthusiast.
What do a three-sip martini, tiny daiquiri and mini Manhattan have in common?
They’re part of a growing trend of bars offering cocktails about half the size of a normal drink. Enter the “snaquiri,” or “snaq”: a snack-sized daiquiri that costs just $7 at Rex at the Royal in Philadelphia.
Made with white rum, falernum, lime and Demerara, the drink came about as a way to offer a classic cocktail at an affordable happy hour price, says head bartender Randall Greenleaf. Then came the Dry January boost in “snaq” sales.
“I think people are looking for an alternative to getting drunk, [and] more power to them,” he says. “I’m glad we’re giving them an option. I want people to be more comfortable at my bar.”
The Appeal of Adorable Drinks
These teeny drinks are becoming a big deal in bars around the country, and the continued downward trend of alcohol consumption could be one reason why. According to NC Solutions, an advertising and sales measurement technology firm, 49% of Americans say they plan to drink less in 2025, which is up from 41% in 2024.
Leading the charge? Gen Z. The same report states that almost two-thirds of adults aged 18 to 28 plan to drink less in 2025.
The increasing popularity of Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs could also be a factor in the appeal of mini drinks. The drug, which is said to lower “food noise” in many users, can also have the same result with alcohol consumption.
A study published in the National Library of Medicine has shown that GLP-1 reduces alcohol consumption in male and female rats. Additionally, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published the findings of a clinical trial that found that people on low-dose semaglutide had “significantly reduced weekly alcohol craving.”
Perhaps the most compelling reason that we’re gravitating towards mini cocktails, however, is that they’re, well, cute. Served in miniature versions of coupes or in pretty cordial glasses, these Polly Pocket-sized drinks are simply adorable.
“We thought it was fun,” says Greenleaf, of the “snaquiri.” “We went with the classic daiquiri recipe because it’s as easy as it comes, and ‘snaquiri’ is a cool name that makes people laugh.”
An unexpected bonus: the tiny drink has introduced customers to the beauty of a well-made daiquiri. “I think people think ‘daiquiri’ and expect this big frozen, strawberry mess,” he says. “Instead, they get something refined in a unique glass.”
The two-ounce mini cocktail is two thirds of a regular three-ounce daiquiri, and it’s become popular with guests who are trying to drink more mindfully.
A New Age of Affordability
Even swankier outlets are hopping on the trend, offering smaller, more accessibly priced versions of popular cocktails. At Daniel Boulud’s Le Gratin inside the Beekman Hotel in New York City, mini martinis are just $8 during apéro hour, offered Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 pm.
Martinis are the best-selling cocktails at the bar, says general manager Stephen Denaro. The mini martini was born out of a desire to attract an earlier bar crowd.
“Compared to a $24 martini, it’s an absolute steal,” says Denaro. “When was the last time you saw an $8 cocktail in New York?”
The mini cocktail also provides a way for guests to enjoy going out without going overboard.
“People are drinking and eating less and that’s just the bottom line,” he says, adding that Ozempic could play a role. “People are just shying away from drinking a lot. A miniature version of a cocktail allows you to have the experience without the guilt.”
Still, Denaro thinks that the mini martini’s allure may just come down to aesthetics. “We serve them in a small version of the classic V glass, and they are photogenic,” he says. “I don’t personally have TikTok, but I would say the mini martini on social media has helped spark the mini cocktail trend. They’re the new cheese pull.”
At Brooklyn’s Whoopsie Daisy, co-owner Ivy Mix likes her martinis a specific way: small and very cold. “I love a martini, but I don’t like them when they get warm,” she says. On a recent visit to Australia, Mix became enamored with the small cocktail craze.
“Everywhere I went, there were these little two-sipper martinis,” she says. Mix decided to incorporate a two-sipper menu at Whoopsie Daisy. The mini Negronis, Manhattans and martinis ($8 each) are half the size of a regular drink.
“They’re tiny little things, and they’re cute, and we all love cute stuff,” says Mix.
She agrees that the tiny cocktail appeals to people who want to cut down on drinking, without abstaining entirely.
“I think when people think of moderation, a tiny cocktail scratches the itch,” she says. “Sometimes I’m like, I want a Manhattan. But do I really want it? Maybe I do, but will I regret it tomorrow? The tiny cocktail allows me to have a little taste. An amuse-booze, if you will.”
More Cocktail Coverage
- Another cocktail trend we can’t get enough of? Dill-forward drinks.
- Sichuan peppercorns may just be the cocktail ingredient of the year.
- In other news, the Negroni continues to be the world’s most versatile cocktail. Give these Negroni variations a try.
- We’re never not crushing on semi-savory cocktails, and this habanero-spiked mezcal marg hits the spot.
In the Shop
Savoy Nick & Nora Coupe Glasses (Set of 2)
In Stock | $95
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