Huge in 2024: Our bets for the year’s hottest drinks

Mark it down: 2024 will be the year the celebrity co-sign gets the credit it deserves. Gone are the days when slapping an A-lister’s mug on any old spirit or suds label was par for the course – the new breed of celeb-endorsed brands are the real deal. Take 818 Blanco Tequila as an example.

No matter your feelings towards the Kardashians, it’s hard to deny that it’s earning favour with the critics, racking up a slew of international awards since launch. A product of Kendall Jenner’s entrepreneurial spirit (and the whole 818 team), this tequila is made from premium agave grown on family-owned farms in Jalisco, Mexico. We expect to see 818 riding the tequila wave well into the new year.

It’d be way too easy to credit inflation (or some other economic trend we don’t like or understand) with the rising popularity of Aussie sparkling. The truth is far simpler – it’s bloody good stuff. Ovata by Oakridge is the latest addition to the category. An eye-wateringly great-value collab between Australia’s best winery (yes, we can verify that claim) and one of the country’s most respected sparkling wine specialists in Teresa Heuzenroeder, we’re tipping Ovata for a huge year ahead. 

Crafted from premium parcels of Yarra Valley chardonnay and pinot noir, this sophisticated drop will surely have a certain French wine region looking over its shoulder. Aromas of Fuji apple, citrus curd and white florals are underscored by toasty brioche notes and a shimmering, creamy texture. Oh, and the bottle is drop-dead gorgeous. Expect to see this one popping up – and off – at celebrations and Instagram stories everywhere.

Fruity beer was big in 2023 (just as we predicted). Like all good trends, it’s evolving over time, with plenty of new takes joining the ranks. The rise of fruit flavours in beer is definitely set to continue, but we’re now seeing subtler takes that retain more of that traditional beer profile. And this brings us to the Peroni Stile Capri. 

One of the defining features of Italian cuisine is its unwavering respect for individual ingredients. But with such wonderful produce to work with, can you blame them? After all, that very attention to detail is what makes things like Peroni Stile Capri possible. The iconic brewery’s latest lager uses the zest of sun-drenched Sicilian lemons and olive leaves to create a lighter, fresher and less bitter beer. Although we wouldn’t exactly call it a ‘flavoured’ beer, that subtle lemon scent shows up in this classic Mediterranean style. 

Forget lo-fi wine, we’re tipping 2024 as the year that wine got its big break from tradition. Following the relentless success of premixed drinks, alcoholic seltzers and pretty much anything in a can, we’re expecting a new wave of canned wine spritzers to meet the demands of a new generation of wine-lovers.

Zoomers and their Millennial counterparts have shown a marked preference for sweeter, more refreshing flavours in their wines of choice. They’ve also proven to be somewhat uninspired by wine’s conventional (i.e. stuffy) connotations of sophistication and refinement, opting to explore the category through modern and disruptive brands that meet their tastes and suit their lifestyles. TLDR? Wine, but make it portable, spritzy and easy-drinking. 

Canned wine spritzers are the logical next step, and Riot Wine Co.’s is one to watch. A glorious blend of wine, soda, fresh grape juice and luscious berry botanicals, their Big Berry Riot Spritz Cooler is a ripper. Tasting notes include summer arvos, the great outdoors and fuss-free flavour. Sign us up!