Bar trends don’t wait for brands to catch up, and in 2026, the gap between brands that understand what’s driving consumer behavior and those that don’t is only widening. In this episode, Tom Cavanagh, Advocacy Manager at Diageo, breaks down the flavor trends, category shifts, and on-premise dynamics set to define bars this year. From the martini’s striking resurgence and tequila’s continued climb against a down market, to the texture-forward and bitter-led flavor profiles gaining serious traction with today’s drinkers, Tom covers the shifts that should be on every brand’s radar.
But Tom’s talk goes beyond trend-spotting. He makes a direct, data-backed case for why brand advocacy is the most powerful lever brands have for driving sales, and the numbers behind a single bartender’s influence on consumer choice might surprise you. If you want to understand which trends are reshaping bars right now, and why the brands investing in real human relationships are the ones winning at the register, this is the episode to hear.
Featured Guests:
Tom Cavanagh, Advocacy Manager, Diageo
Mentioned in this episode:
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