Exciting Flavor Fusions for Holiday Beverages

Orange Dubai Chocolate? Smoked Hickory and Passionfruit? Discover terpene flavor fusions that will get customers excited for your holiday beverages! 

Sure, a holiday-inspired Cranberry and Orange Seltzer is classic and we all love the seasonal novelty of a Gingerbread Oatmeal Stout. However, we think all that summer beverage buzz around fusions like sweet & savory or even swicy (sweet & spicy) can easily apply to holiday drink flavors! 

The holidays are an ideal time to lean into experimental flavors. Whether it’s winter beers, hop waters, functional beverages, or RTD teas, consumers expect to see limited-edition flavors on tap and on grocery shelves. So, let’s not disappoint them! 

Give your customers exciting flavor fusions that range from fruity and herbal to smokey and indulgent. We’ll start with a fruit base and then give you enough flavor pairings to play with well after the holidays are over. Your seasonal holiday beverages have never tasted so good.

Read on for five flavor fusions that will have your customers demanding year-round status for your seasonal holiday beverages.

Blood Orange

We don’t blame you if you’re under the impression that citrus flavors belong to the summer season, but you’re missing out on a vibrant world of bright holiday flavors! This next-gen citrus is generally sweeter than your typical orange, has a hint of florals, and a tartness reminiscent of raspberries or cherries.

• Pair Blood Orange with Hops

Amarillo® can help play up the floral citrus of Blood Orange, while something like Chinook can impart a distinct Christmas vibe with its spicy pine. Conversely, Krush™ can add depth with dank resin and stone fruit.

• Pair Blood Orange with Herbs & Spices

Pairing this fruit with herbs and spices helps to soften the summery associations it naturally carries. Think fragrant rosemary and thyme along with warming spices like cardamom, clove, cinnamon, and ginger. 

• Pair Blood Orange with Chocolate & Nuts

For a truly indulgent take on this next-gen citrus, consider pairing it with nutty flavors or decadent chocolate! The tart quality of Blood Orange will cut through rich chocolate, while roasted nuts like pistachio and hazelnut add a satisfying savory element. 

Are you thinking what we’re thinking? If you’re thinking about an Orange Dubai Chocolate Energy Drink or a Scotch Ale infused with Blood Orange and Chinook… then yes. You’re thinking exactly what we’re thinking.

Clementine

Another citrus flavor? Yes! Clementines are a type of mandarin orange known for their juicy sweetness and delicate tartness. Compared to Blood Orange, they’re much gentler. Just don’t mistake that for being boring! The right pairing can make Clementines positively sing.

• Pair Clementine with Hops

If you want to lean into the sweeter side of Clementine, pair it with the candied-citrus of Australian hop variety Eclipse®. Looking for contrast? Try dank Simcoe® with its balance of pine, blackcurrant, and tropical fruit. 

• Pair Clementine with Herbs & Spices

Clementine can take a LOT when it comes to herbs and spices (emphasis on the SPICE). Its sweetness can stand up to warm ginger and cinnamon, the bite of star anise, the complexity of a five-spice powder, and even the heat of jalapeño, serrano, and habanero. For something soft and comforting, consider pairing with rosemary or earthy bay leaf.

• Pair Clementine with Fruit

The sweet, soft tartness of Clementine means it can round out sharp, acidic fruits like Pomegranate and Cranberry. It can also add a brightness to classics like Spiced Apple.  

Now we’re craving a Rosemary & Clementine RTD Cocktail, a Clementine & Pomegranate Sparkling Water, or a dank NA Beer infused with Clementine and Simcoe®! Could someone get on that already? We’re thirsty.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit is tangy and tart, juicy and sour, and more bitter than its citrus brethren. It’s also highly underrated in terms of holiday flavor fusions! This complicated citrus lends itself well to a variety of beverage options. 

• Pair Grapefruit with Hops

Centennial already has some grapefruit-adjacent citrus elements and its notes of pine add depth to this bright fruit. For an unexpected hit of pine, reach for Idaho 7®. Its resinous pine and stone fruit add sophistication.

• Pair Grapefruit with Herbs & Spices

Spices like ginger and cinnamon bring a comforting warmth to this bright citrus, while peppers like chipotle and cayenne can turn up the heat during the cold winter months! Pair Grapefruit with rosemary or mint for a brisk herbal lift, or even licorice-like fennel for an unexpected twist that’ll keep your palate guessing.

• Pair Grapefruit with Botanicals

Spring doesn’t have a monopoly on florals, and pairing them with grapefruit will help you understand! Sweet florals like rose, hibiscus, and elderflower soften the tart qualities of Grapefruit, while botanicals like juniper create adult beverage flavors reminiscent of gin. Add a dash of floral vanilla and Grapefruit just became the smooth winter warmer you never knew you needed.

See what we mean?! Our minds are bursting with ideas for RTDs with flavors like Grapefruit Moscow Mule or Spicy Grapefruit Margarita. Maybe a chic Grapefruit & Juniper Hop Water or even a whole line of functional beverages! Just imagine a Kombucha infused with Grapefruit and Chipotle, or a seasonal CBD Drink with Grapefruit, Elderflower, and Rosemary. Cheers!

Peach

Sure, a lot of us might picture juicy summer peaches ripening in the sweltering Georgia sun. However, with the right pairing, the flavor of this sweet stone fruit can be rich, warm, and positively delectable during the cold winter months.

• Pair Peaches with Hops

New Zealand variety Nectaron® brings dank tropicals to Peach, while something like noble hop Saaz lends an air of holiday sophistication to this vibrant fruit. Think warm notes of wood, delicate florals, and a symphony of herbal sweetness.

• Pair Peaches with Herbs & Spices

Herbs like basil, thyme, and rosemary can add an earthy nuance to this candy-like fruit, while warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and star anise deepen Peach’s flavor and give it a comforting quality.

• Pair Peaches with Richness & Depth

Peaches may already be sweet, but there’s something about pairing them with brown sugar, caramel, or maple syrup that gives them an immediate winter flavor flair. This isn’t simply ramping up the sugar, it’s about creating a dark sweetness that’s robust, sometimes bitter, and often has notes of toffee or even vanilla.

There are a million beverages that Peach fusions can work in, but we’re hankerin’ for a flight of peach-infused winter beers! Just imagine this juicy stone fruit with the rich caramelized quality of a Dark Belgian Ale, a toffee-like Porter, or the rich creaminess of an Oatmeal Stout. Peach, please!

Passionfruit

Sure, Passionfruit are grown in tropical and subtropical regions and they’re popular in refreshing summer flavor fusions. That doesn’t mean they have no place in holiday flavors! The following flavor pairings might just have you rethinking ALL of your previous notions about what makes a “winter flavor.”

• Pair Passionfruit with Hops

With its notes of mango, passionfruit, and spicy dankness, Strata® is an obvious choice. Nelson Sauvin® brings a wine-like quality, while Willamette gives Passionfruit a complex kick of dynamic spice and woody earth.

• Pair Passionfruit with Herbs & Spices

The bright tang of Passionfruit pairs beautifully with classic warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, while the heat from chilis and jalapeños creates an exciting contrast with the sweetness of this tropical fruit.

• Pair Passionfruit with Smoked & Savory Flavors

Speaking of exciting, Passionfruit is the perfect fruit to experiment with smoked and savory flavors. We’re talking about miso caramel, smoked maple, paprika, whiskey, or even hickory wood smoke. These can be deeply aromatic and range from mild and sweet to strong and pungent.

Feeling the Passionfruit possibilities yet? Just think! A Spiced Passionfruit & Pear THC Drink. Maybe a Miso, Passionfruit, and Willamette infused Porter, or even a limited-edition Prebiotic Soda infused with Passionfruit, Cinnamon, and Nutmeg. It’s time to get creative, and Passionfruit can withstand a LOT of creativity!

Abstrax | Craft the Best-Tasting Seasonal Holiday Beverages

At Abstrax, we provide novel solutions for beverage manufacturers of all sizes looking to streamline, innovate, and gain a competitive edge. With our knowledge, technology, and extensive resources, we’ve crafted our collections to provide recognizable flavors and aromas that consumers love.

Contact us today, and we’ll help you create the next trending holiday flavor fusion!