Waitrose says at-home drinkers are leaning into a more savoury style of cocktail this summer, with shoppers increasingly buying salt, Mexican seasonings, hot sauces, pickle juice and even beer to recreate bar-style drinks in their own kitchens. The supermarket’s trend team says the appeal is being driven by flavours long associated with Mexican cocktails, especially the spicy margarita and other drinks built around citrus, salt and heat.

Lizzie Haywood, Waitrose’s trend innovation manager, said the salt rim became a standard feature of Western bar culture through the margarita and has since spread into a wider range of serves. She said social media and London bars have helped push the look and taste of savoury cocktails further, with drinkers adding Mexican seasoning, citrus zest and herbs such as basil or rosemary for extra aroma and flavour.

Jourdan Gabbini, the retailer’s beer, cider and spirits buyer, said Mexican-inspired drinks are proving especially popular because they balance bold, salty and spicy notes. He pointed to the spicy margarita as a clear example, but said the same approach works in drinks such as a spicy paloma, where salt and Tajín sharpen grapefruit’s tartness, and in beer-based Micheladas, which can also be lifted with Tabasco or Worcestershire sauce. He described the latter as a useful alternative for anyone looking beyond spirit-led cocktails.

The trend fits a broader shift reported by bartenders and flavour analysts towards complex, briny and umami-driven drinks rather than sweeter, more heavily sugared serves. The Associated Press has reported that bars in London and New York are experimenting with ingredients ranging from serrano peppers and horseradish to pickled brines, while The Week has noted rising British interest in pickle juice, chilli flakes, hot honey and East Asian flavours such as soy, sesame and nori. Waitrose itself has also highlighted a 2026 flavour direction it calls "fricy", a blend of fruit and spice, alongside related tastes such as "picklish" and "swavoury".

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