Right now, bars and restaurants need a niche—an identity that helps them stand out from the crowded competition more than ever. Wine bars, beer halls, and cocktail clubs separate themselves by offering guests a certain experience they won’t find at a local neighborhood bar. They stake their success on catering to one type of guest while offering fewer options to anyone not interested in a curated wine list, a massive selection of tap beers, or paying a premium to slowly sip on a complex cocktail.
For local establishments looking to stand out and offer broad appeal, premium spirits for restaurants and bars offer a way to develop a reputation that keeps customers coming back for more. Quality tequila for bars and other premium spirits like whiskey, rum, and scotch attract sophisticated clientele who appreciate the opportunity to indulge without needing to visit a specialty bar to enjoy a great drink.
Let’s look at how premium spirits for restaurants can improve a bar’s reputation and examine effective strategies for adding these spirits to a bar program.
The Great House Cocktail
House drinks, such as a standard margarita or well rum and Coke, are typically made with the bar’s lowest-cost spirit, often referred to as ‘well’ spirits. This is done by design to maximize the money made on every order.
However, drinking well spirits doesn’t offer an exciting or memorable guest experience. Well spirits cost less because they’re made with low-quality ingredients, which impacts how they taste and limits how much a guest may enjoy any drink made using them.
While a guest may be satisfied with a house cocktail, it won’t leave a lasting impression that helps a bar or restaurant stand out. By saving money on the type of spirit used to make a house drink, a bar misses an opportunity to create a memorable experience for their guests.
Now, imagine that same house margarita made with premium tequila like Suavecito Tequila.
A guest orders a house margarita, expecting to receive a drink that meets but won’t exceed their expectations. After the very first sip, they immediately notice that the drink in their hand is something unexpected. It breaks from their idea of how good a house margarita can be, and now, instead of being simply satisfied with their drink, they’re blown away by just how much better it is than any other house margarita they’ve ever had.
A guest is now enjoying a premium margarita that was advertised as the house cocktail. This subconsciously raises their expectations. If a restaurant’s house margarita is this much better than every other one in town, how much better must the rest of the menu be?
By defying expectations, a bar creates a memorable moment for its guests — one they will remember and want to experience again. Now, the next time the guest wants to enjoy a margarita with dinner, they will return to enjoy the best house margarita in town.
By spending a little more to upgrade the spirits used, an establishment can improve its bar’s reputation, helping it stand out from the competition.
An Easy Upsell
Guests visit wine bars and beer halls because they want new and exciting experiences. They want to discover wines from little-known regions or taste interesting beers from around the world. Perusing a detailed wine list or massive tap list creates a storytelling experience as they read about the small-scale production of Pinot from Oregon or the complex crispness of Bavarian beer.
Premium spirits for restaurants and bars offer the ability to create a storytelling experience that engages guests without needing to completely redesign their bar program.
When a guest orders a drink, servers and bartenders are trained to ask what type of spirit the guest wants their cocktail made with. This classic upselling technique tries to encourage the guest to name a more expensive spirit rather than settle for what’s offered in the well.
However, this approach can occasionally backfire by making the guest uncomfortable. If the guest doesn’t know the name of a premium spirit, they may feel self-conscious about being put on the spot. Some may even resent a server attempting to increase the cost of their drink.
Rather than asking guests for their spirit preferences, there’s a more proactive way of upselling that creates a storytelling experience.
For example, after a guest orders a house margarita, a bartender can make a recommendation about the type of tequila to use. They can say, “I have a small batch tequila, made from mountain-grown agave from the historic region of Jalisco, Mexico, that’s the smoothest, most flavorful tequila I’ve ever tried. Our house margarita is good, but making it with Suavecito Tequila will make it one of the best margaritas you’ve ever tasted.”
This approach takes the pressure off the guest to pick a tequila by telling them a story. It makes the guest an active participant in a new and exciting experience. The guest doesn’t mind paying more for their drink because doing so allows them to participate in a memorable moment — to take their average margarita and make it a cocktail they will tell their friends about.
Small interactions like this enable a bar to establish a reputation as a place where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Where the staff works to educate guests by exposing them to new and exciting spirits they won’t find at any other neighborhood bar or restaurant.
A Tasting Experience
Quality tequila for bars provides an opportunity for local establishments to offer guests a taste of what it’s like to patronize a wine bar or beer hall. For example, carrying a selection of Suavecito Tequila enables a bar to offer a tasting experience where guests can sample Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo tequilas side by side.
Guests who don’t know the difference between different types of tequila will enjoy the ability to learn directly from knowledgeable staff, broadening their palate and appreciation for high-quality spirits. This not only enhances the customer’s experience but also sets the bar apart as a destination for premium tequila tastings, further developing a reputation as a venue that values quality and education in its offerings.
Attracting high-end customers who want more than just a drink is possible for bars and restaurants that offer premium spirits. By expanding their offerings, bars can appeal to customers’ curiosity and desire to explore and try new things. A curated selection of premium tequila, whiskey, rum, and other spirits can enhance a bar’s reputation as an establishment that offers something for everyone.
Don’t Underestimate the Appeal of Premium Spirits
In a crowded market, bars aiming to stand out must focus on offering unique, quality experiences that go beyond the norm—providing premium selections like Suavecito Tequila can elevate a bar’s appeal and distinguish it from the competition.
Give your local bar a touch of the extraordinary by adding Suavecito Tequila to your menu. Ready to experience the difference premium tequila can make to your bar? Connect with a distributor in your market and make Suavecito Tequila that foundation for creating a memorable experience that will have your guests coming back for more.
