It has been many months since my last contribution to Food and Wine, but I have a piece on the website right now about a flavor trend: Alpine.
Alpine = herbs + menthol + resinous, and alpine flavored ingredients meeting other formats like tonic water and hot chocolate.
2026 has been a big year for the Alpine flavor trend. It’s a more specific flavor than either ‘foresty’ or ‘herbaceous,’ and we’re seeing it in the form of Alpine spirits, Alpine sodas, Alpine-themed cocktail books, bars, and the Alpine-inspired drinks served therein.
‘Alpine’ can mean a mountainous area in general, or specifically the Alps, the range passing through France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and a few other countries. As a flavor, Alpine evokes mountain air — crisp, cooling, and often piney. There are several traditional Alpine liqueurs and cocktails, and these cooling drinks are so hot right now.
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