New Spirits to Try This Year: Your Guide to Trending Bottles, From Agave to Rum

By Charlie Leary

Discover the top alcohol trends of 2026, from additive-free agave spirits and a true rum renaissance to premium clear spirits and low-alcohol innovations that redefine how and why we drink.

Highlights:

• Explore which spirits are trending this year, including additive-free tequila, mezcal, and premium aged rum, and why they top the list of 2026 liquor trends.
• Learn how trending spirits like high-ester rum, martini-ready gin and vodka, and bitter amaro fit into today’s low-ABV and conscious-drinking movement.
• Find inspiration to try new spirits in 2026 with Bottle Barn picks that reflect the biggest upcoming spirits trends and evolving low-alcohol spirits trends.

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As we step into 2026, the spirits world pivots toward conscious indulgence — a shift defined not by flash but by authenticity, provenance, and complexity. Today’s drinkers are asking bigger questions: Which bottles have real stories? Which spirits are trending this year because they represent genuine craft, not marketing? And what can you add to your shelf that feels fresh but rooted in tradition?

At Bottle Barn, the answer lies in diversity across categories: agave spirits that honor terroir, rums that earn their complexity, low-alcohol spirits, and snowy clear spirits that elevate classic serves. These upcoming spirits trends are reshaping bars and home collections alike, and they’re worth exploring if you want to try new spirits in 2026.

1. Agave’s Next Chapter: Authentic Tequila and Mezcal

Agave spirits continue to be among the trending spirits for 2026, but not in the way they were a few years ago. Today’s drinkers value authenticity and additive-free production. That means bottles that reflect their origin rather than industrial processing.

Examples from Bottle Barn:

• Casamigos Blanco Tequila – A smooth, citrus-leaning blanco that mixes beautifully in anything from a Paloma to a dry martini variation. 
• Del Maguey Vida Mezcal – A staple mezcal that delivers smoky, earthy depth — perfect for introducing someone to mezcal beyond tequila. 

Beyond these, Bottle Barn also stocks Cazcanes Tequilas and Yuu Baal Mezcal Joven, bottles that exemplify the category’s hunger for expressive, single-estate spirits. 

The trend isn’t just about tequila anymore; it’s about agave diversity. Mezcal, sotol, and raicilla bring distinctive, place-driven flavors to cocktails, challenging drinkers to rethink what agave can be.

2. The Rum Renaissance: Both Funky and Refined

After years of promise, rum has finally arrived as a major player in 2026’s spirit landscape. What’s exciting is that the category doesn’t speak with one voice; it offers two distinct paths:

• Funky, pot-still rums for bold cocktails
• Aged, complex rums for sipping and remixing classic serves

• Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva Rum – A Venezuelan favorite that’s rich, sweet, and perfect for sipping neat or tweaking into a rum Old Fashioned. 
• Planteray 5 Year Barbados Rum – Great balance of fruit and spice that’s versatile for tiki drinks or darker serves. 

Plus options like Smith and Cross Jamaican Rum and Plantation Barrel Select, which add funk or aged complexity to your lineup. 

Rum’s rise reflects a deeper consumer shift: flavor first, proof second. Whether you’re building a funky Daiquiri or exploring aged expressions as alternatives to whiskey, rum now delivers real taste narratives.

3. The Martini Matrix: Premium Simplicity with Clear Spirits

Classic cocktails are staging a comeback, and the Martini trend is part of that. Drinkers aren’t just ordering a Martini — they’re customizing them (wet, dry, dirty, Vesper, 50/50). That curiosity drives demand for well-crafted clear spirits that stand up neat or in simple mixes.

Bottle Barn’s selection of premium gin and vodka bottles makes this easy to explore. Push beyond the basics, and you’ll find bottles that reward thoughtful sipping as much as they do stirring into classics.

4. Zero-Proof That Doesn’t Feel Like “No”

One of 2026’s biggest low alcohol spirits trends is adult-level zero-proof options. These are not the syrupy mocktails of the past but spirits designed for flavor complexity. Many of these bottles blend bitter, herbal, or aromatic components that rival their alcoholic counterparts.

Though Bottle Barn’s primary focus remains traditional spirits, pairing these zero-proof bases with fortified wines or bitter modifiers (like amaro) opens up entire menus of balanced, lower-ABV cocktails.

5. The Modifier Renaissance: Amaro and Sherry in the Spotlight

Bitter, aged, and fortified spirits — amaro, sherry, and aperture spirits — have stepped out of the shadows to anchor cocktails. These savory flavor drivers align perfectly with the broader trend toward grown-up complexity and moderate drinking.

Fortified wines and amari deliver nutty, herbal, or oxidative notes that cut through sweetness and add depth to drinks with or without high proof.

What to Shop at Bottle Barn in 2026

The top alcohol trends of the year reward curiosity and quality. Here’s how to curate your collection:

• Start with authentic agave: explore a mix of tequila and mezcal that showcases place and method.
• Build a rum duo: choose both a funky pot-still style and an aged rum for sipping.
• Elevate your clear spirits: premium gin and vodka will shine in classic serves.
• Experiment with zero-proof and bitter modifiers: add depth and range to your bar.

These trends reflect a smarter approach to drinking in 2026, one where flavor, story, and versatility matter as much as proof. At Bottle Barn, that means discovering trending spirits that feel both timely and timeless. Whether you’re exploring agave terroir or sipping aged rum, there’s never been a better moment to open your mind (and your bottle) to something new.

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