Whether you’re hosting friends or just looking for something new to sip, the drink world is evolving fast and this year, it’s all about flavor, fun and fresh options.
Entertaining Expert Paul Zahn joined host Jessica Wills to share the biggest drink trends for 2026 and what you should be pouring at your next gathering.
Nonalcoholic options
“Beverages we know and love that have alcohol are creating nonalcoholic versions,” Zahn said.
A great nonalcoholic beer option is Heineken 0.0. Zahn likes to drink these on Friday nights while cooking dinner so that he can wake up feeling great for his Saturday morning workout class.
“It’s 100% taste, 0% buzz,” Zahn said. “You get that same flavor profile and that nice mouthfeel that you would from an OG Heineken but without the alcohol.”
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For those who prefer the taste of wine, Zahn recommends Fre Sauvignon Blanc, made from California grapes.
“They actually remove the alcohol with this special cone technology,” Zahn said. “So you get the flavor profile – you get some of those nice tropical fruits, the green grass, you get a nice bright acidity to it, and then you get a nice dry finish … So it’s free of alcohol but full of flavor.”
Fre Sauvignon Blanc pairs wonderfully with charcuterie.
Exotic cocktails
Cocktails featuring exotic flavors, such as guava, are trending now, according to Zahn.
One way to add some exotic flavor to a cocktail is to incorporate Malibu Pink, a new flavored rum from Malibu.
“This has the flavors we love from Malibu – it has the pineapple, it has the coconut, but it also has that tropic, exotic guava,” Zahn said.
To make a Malibu Pink Lemonade low-ABV cocktail at home, fill a glass with ice, add Malibu Pink, lemonade and optionally a splash of soda water to a glass with ice.
Shirley Temples and functional sodas
Olipop’s Shirley Temple flavor combines two drink trends: Shirley Temples and functional sodas.
“USA Today said that Shirley Temples are going to be the drink of the year,” Zahn said.
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Olipop is prebiotic soda with 35-50 calories per can, 3-5 g of sugar and 6 grams of fiber for gut health. The Shirley Temple flavor has notes of Lemon, lime, grape, cherry.
“If you want to turn it into a cocktail just add some vodka to it,” Zahn said.
Heritage spirits and Asian inspiration
The Martell Cognac Lunar New Year limited-edition bottle is another product combining two drinks trends: heritage spirits and Asian inspiration.
Mason Martell has been crafted award-winning cognacs for over 300 years. Martell teamed up with a Chinese artist to create a really beautiful bottle celebrating the Year of the Horse.
“This is going to be great a dinner party, sitting by the fire pit,” Zahn said. “With the cognac, you get some of those nice fruits, a little bit of that fig. It is the perfect sipper for the new year.”
GLP-1 portions
As more people use GLP-1s, increased protein intake and smaller portion sizes are trending.
“We’re seeing a lot of restaurants and people who are hosting parties doing mini martinis, they’re doing mini shooters that are protein-packed because people are eating less, and they don’t want those giant portions,” Zahn said.
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