What’s Brewing: Lead Mixologist Joey T. Spills Her Hottest Summer Drink Trends, Limited Time Offerings, and More

Sponsored Content by Kerry Foodservice.

Step into the vibrant world of mixology with Joey Torkelson, the lead mixologist at Kerry Foodservice, as she unveils the most tantalizing drink trends and limited-time offerings for the scorching summer ahead. With a keen eye for innovation and a passion for crafting unforgettable libations, Joey is poised to shake up your summer beverage game like never before. Join us for an interview as we dive into her expert insights, exploring the dynamic flavors and creative concoctions that promise to elevate your summer sipping experience to new heights.

Dragonfly Honeydew Smoothie made with Big Train Dragonfly Honeydew Blended Crème Mix.

As the lead mixologist for Kerry, you must have a crystal ball for flavor trends. Tell us, what kinds of flavors are you seeing emerging in the coffee space right now?

I’m seeing a lot of salted caramel. I made a salted cheesecake frappé the other day, and it was delicious! I’m also seeing a lot of taro, not necessarily with coffee but still very present at coffee shops. It has also been interesting to see people going indulgent with their coffee/beverage orders. I think patrons are thinking of this as checking two boxes at one time: “Do I need to have a big piece of dessert and this indulgent drink, or can I just have the drink with Tiramisu flavors?”

Hand-Shaken Espresso Oleato made with DaVinci Gourmet Caramel Sauce and Big Train Espresso Blended Ice Coffee Mix.

You get to play with all of Kerry’s portfolio. What are some products that you’re excited about?

I’m really liking Big Train’s Dragonfly line. My favorites are the Thai Tea and Honeydew Blended Crèmes. I also like mixing Honeydew and Coconut Crème. It’s used to make one of our most well-loved recipes, the Honeydew Smoothie Cup.

Dragonfly Taro Boba Tea made with Big Train Dragonfly Taro Blended Crème Beverage Mix.

What would you say is one hot-ticket item that operators should make sure they have on their summer drink menus?

The two that I’ve seen the most are yuzu and calamansi lime. You know, we have our core flavors for aguas frescas and smoothies, but I think now we’re finding new and exciting flavors like these two, as well as ube!

Tropical flavors are showing up all over the menu. Everything from passion fruit, mango and guava to ube and sunny citruses. Kerry's Island Oasis brand is the perfect solution for operators looking to bring these trending flavors to their menu because they are super fresh tasting and save a lot of labor. Unless you’re going to squeeze the fruit yourself, it’s the right way to go! Also, the fact that they are concentrated allows you to use them in culinary applications as well!

Prickly Pear Horchata made with DaVinci Gourmet Prickly Pear Syrup.

What about specifically in coffee? What kinds of flavors or trends have you seen emerging in the coffee space?

Flights! Coffee and smoothie flights have been popping up more and more. I just saw this recently at a coffee shop, where instead of a coffee flight, they offered a smoothie flight—which I think is brilliant, from an operator perspective. I understand it can get a little time-consuming, but if the patron can try different smoothies for eight dollars, the chances of them going back will be greater, because they will most likely find something that they really enjoy.

Cold brew is also making an appearance in many places. Large coffee shops and even Quick Service Restaurants are trying to implement cold brew without the brewing process. At Kerry, we have cold brew concentrates in many different roasts that can help operators with cost- and labor-saving solutions.

As we bid adieu to our enlightening conversation with Joey T., Kerry Foodservice emerges as a beacon of flavor innovation and solution-driven excellence for operators navigating the dynamic landscape of summer beverage trends. Joey's expert insights have illuminated the path toward embracing the hottest flavors and trends, from the indulgent allure of DaVinci Gourmet’s salted caramel, to the refreshing flavors of Island Oasis like Guava and Mojito. As operators seek to captivate their patrons with memorable experiences, Kerry stands ready with a versatile portfolio and a myriad of flavor options, empowering them to delight their customers while optimizing costs and efficiency. Explore all of Kerry’s offerings today!

About Kerry Foodservice 

A berry smoothie that takes you back to a simpler time... A Lavender Latte that fills you with hope for what lies ahead... When crafted with care, the right drink can do more than just please your palate; it can transport you to an entirely different state of mind. Just one sip can make the everyday ExtraOrdinary. At Kerry Foodservice, we’re committed to helping mixologists and baristas create magical moments by delivering bold products and flavors, sharing rich customer insights, providing end-to-end operator support, and offering a wealth of on-trend beverage inspiration. It’s our passion. It’s our obsession. We’re here to infuse everyone’s day with flavor. We pride ourselves on delicious, authentic foods and beverages of the highest quality. 

Learn more about Kerry Foodservice and its family of industry-leading brands that can help keep customers coming back for more at kerryfoodservicebrands.