High-end picks are a recognition of craftsmanship and achievement

Uh-oh! Are the eighties back? With seven new Starbucks opening daily and Whole Foods all but dominating the high-end grocery business, it’s easy to see how the premium experience has materialized around us. It’s also easy to compare this trend to the credit-card flush days of the ’80s, especially with The Donald gracing our TV screens again.

Where the ’80s were about excess (and mesh sandals), the premium experience is more altruistic. It’s a trend where product knowledge and experience are the driving factors, not consumption. It’s a trend about craftsmanship, achievement and the creation of a unique emotional connection.

Bitters have inspired cocktails for nearly 200 years — and now they’re back in vogue.

It’s that little bottle with the ill-fitting label that’s wedged into the darkest corner of your liquor cabinet. You’ve probably looked at it a thousand times and long since forgotten what the heck it’s for. But, before you toss it as part of an advanced strike on spring-cleaning, be aware that the little bottle of bitters is getting some big attention. Bitters have been around for nearly 200 years and have found their way into the cocktails of yesteryear as a signature bartender ingredient. Today, as part of the emerging speakeasy retro-trend, bitters are seeing a surge in popularity along with some of the most classic cocktails of all time.

Aptly named for its face-puckering flavour, it’s no coincidence that bitters came to the mixologist’s kit bag from the world of pharmacy. Classified as a tincture (alcohol base), bitters consist of various blends of herbs, roots and other pseudo-medicinal ingredients that have their properties extracted into the booze.

From lager to scotch, rum and cognac, chefs are matching dishes to more than just wine these days.

The next time you’re out for dinner and feel like a little adventure, ask your waiter if the chef or bartender can suggest something other than wine that will enhance the flavours of your meal — it might just be a trend you can really sink your teeth into.