Don't pour that pickle juice down the drain. It's a cocktail darling
The odd ingredient finding its way into cocktails in 2025
- Pickle juice is increasingly featured on drink menus globally, moving beyond its traditional use by mixologists to become a star ingredient in various cocktails.
- Its unique salty, tangy, acidic, and sometimes spicy flavor profile adds depth and "zing" to beverages, making it a popular choice for savory cocktails.
- The "Pickleback" shot (whiskey followed by pickle brine) has been popular for years, and pickle juice is now commonly found in drinks like margaritas, micheladas, and especially the trending pickle martini.
- Numerous bars and restaurants across the US, including The Penrose and Casa Thirteen in New York, are known for their popular pickle-infused cocktails, highlighting a broader "pickle and fermentation renaissance."
- Beyond alcoholic drinks, pickle juice is also appearing in non-alcoholic options like Popeyes' Pickle Lemonade and Sonic's "Picklerita Slush," and can be used to create home cocktails or mocktails.