Life can become rather boring when you’re sipping on the same tipple that you always order, or on the same fizzy drink that you buy from the shop around the corner.

Your Coca-Cola loyalty is cute, but then you grew up and realised how every can is rammed with sugar and you’re doing your body a disservice.

Then there is the whole craft beer revolution, which was cool at first, but now everyone’s jumping on the bandwagon and it’s all become a bit silly.

Or very silly, if you take a closer look at some of the names being thrown around.

So, is there any way to swap out for a beverage that’s less ho-hum and more yum-yum? The answer, my friends, lies in a revolution that’s been a long time coming.

Craft brews are fast becoming the popular go-to drinks if you’re hankering for a taste for something new, exciting and fashionable.

What, you thought people were going to stop at beer? There’s money to be made, as a report by Metro explains:

In the US, the craft soda industry has grown by 22% over the last five years, from $428m (R5,8 billion) in 2011 to $541m (R7,4 billion) in 2016 …

In a market worth a total of $52.5bn (R717 billion), there’s still a long way to go but it is growing quickly at a time when the overall soft drinks sales have fallen for each of the last 12 years.

The stats don’t lie – craft brew is where it’s at right now, as regular soft drink sales tank.

The success of craft brews also has to do with an increase in the number of teetotallers:

Over a quarter of people aged between 16 and 24 don’t drink any alcohol, compared to 19% back in 2005.

Rather them than me, but all of this is also very good news for those who enjoy a mixer with your alcohol. You can still have your brandewyn and Coke during the rugga, but you can sit on your high horse, too.

Here at home, mix masters like Fitch & Leedes are coming up with a range of options designed to liven up the tastebuds.

They offer a wide range of hand-crafted, bespoke mixers that includes flavours like Pink Tonic, Ginger Ale and Bitter Lemon, amongst others:

Yes, ‘bespoke’ mixers, to use that popular phrase, and they get far fewer side eyes than rocking up with a two-litre Sprite.

It gets better – if you’ve got a penchant for cola, they’ve also launched a new Craft Cola flavour:

Available in sugared and sugar-free versions, Craft Cola is made in small batches using quadruple-filtered water for purity and the finest ingredients available. James Shaw, Fitch & Leedes Brand Manager, explains:

Our Craft Cola has been developed to accompany premium spirits, adding a new dimension to fine rum and well-aged brandy. It has a beautiful round mouthfeel and is slightly less carbonated which allows the character of premium spirits to shine through.

I assume you’re someone who dislikes a hangover, too, which is why you need to start paying attention to things like this.

OK, maybe leave the brandy then, and enjoy a little whizzo in style. After all, if you’re spending decent cash on premium alcohols, you should pay attention to what else you’re chucking into the mix.

You’re refined, you know the difference between good and exceptional, and you drink Fitch & Leedes now.

Cheers.

[source:metro]