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For years kegs have been synonymous with college parties, evoking memories of one (or three) too many beers and creative games to pass the time (keg stand anyone?). In the past few decades, however, our perception of kegs has matured. There will always be a place for a good keg at a BBQ, but kegs are now being used for much more—liked kegged wine and cocktails.
Kegged Cocktails, You Ask?
The idea of kegged cocktails (also known as draft cocktails) isn’t new, but the practice isn’t widely common.
Unlike its counterparts, a cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that typically requires the skill and finesse of a talented bartender to ensure the appropriate ratios. Bartenders might find that creating a batch in bulk for a keg requires some trial and error, particularly when tackling issues like diluting the cocktail prior to the pour (by adding water to the keg) or after the pour. Not only that, some cocktail traditionalists have asserted that kegged cocktails like the perfect fizz that results from a freshly made beverage.
And those cocktails made with egg whites? Probably not the best medium for those.
Still, the advantages of kegged cocktails are numerous. Quite simply, if you can pour a beer, you can pour a cocktail—no more waiting for your best bartender to craft the beverage when anyone behind the bar can help serve drinks quickly. Not only will you see an uptick in efficiency, you’ll also see a small reduction in waste by eliminating heavy pours or spills.
How to Set Up a Kegged Cocktail Program
Interested in setting up your own kegged cocktail program? First think about the following before diving in:
1. Hardware Considerations
One of the disadvantages of setting up a kegged cocktail program is the initial setup requirements. You’ll need dedicated lines for your taps, along with choosing which gas will be used to dispense the product. Also consider the temperature your cocktail kegs should be stored at.
2. What cocktails are worth kegging?
You might think that drink popularity or sales is the place to start when deciding on which cocktails to keg. While this might be a consideration when it comes to efficiency, the format could be lacking in execution. Ingredients like fresh juice may not stay fresh for long periods of time, or consider how the carbonation from the taps will change the acidity of your drink. Not only that, some ingredients could clog your keg lines—which defeats the purpose of any time-saving measures you were trying to achieve.
Still, don’t be afraid to experiment. A keg can still lend itself to a more complex cocktail, with some drinks benefitting from the added carbonation. It’s all about creativity and experimentation!
3. A solid pre-batch is key
Though the act of pouring the cocktail can be done by anyone behind the bar, consider who will be overseeing the pre-batch. The same care and attention given to made-to-order cocktails must also be given to the pre-batch, where precise measurements are key to creating a consistent beverage from start to last. If anything happens to the pre-batch, you could be facing a lot of mixed drinks.
The initial investment in developing a kegged cocktail program might seem large, but the long-term payoff could make it worth it. Prepare for a steep learning curve when it comes to crafting your cocktails—and once you master your beverages, market it! Kegged cocktails are still relatively new to consumers, and you may find customers requesting those drinks for the sheer novelty of it.
Interested in learning just how to keg a cocktail? Check out this guide from Liber & Co essential cocktail syrups >>
For more information about kegged cocktails, read Mixed Drinks on Tap: Faster Manhattans, Negronis and more and The Lowdown on Kegged Cocktails.
