Etiquette Expert Exposes the 16 Drinks That Scream 'New Money' Status
Many people have a favourite alcoholic beverage, but would that preference change if you discovered it was damaging your social image by becoming associated with the 'new money' crowd? Whether it's because the drink perfectly complements an Instagram aesthetic or carries a substantial price tag, certain beverages including Whispering Angel rosé and flavoured vodkas are gaining popularity among affluent, newly wealthy drinkers.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, renowned etiquette expert Laura Windsor has unveiled the top sixteen drinks and drinking habits that signal a nouveau riche drinker. The revealing list includes mixology cocktails and designer alcohol brands like Ciroc, but even classic cocktail enthusiasts might find themselves implicated, with the dirty martini making the cut—particularly when ordered 'extra dirty.'
The Definitive List of Nouveau Riche Beverages
1. Mid-Range Wine Selection
Laura Windsor explains that new money drinkers typically purchase mid-range wines, avoiding both the cheap £6 bottles and the more expensive £20 options. This choice stems not from wine knowledge but from reliance on wine apps that provide instant expertise. These apps create sudden confidence to discuss grape varieties, wine minerality, and ideal crisp pairings, despite limited genuine understanding.
2. Adding Ice to Wine
While traditionally considered a 'cardinal sin' in wine etiquette, adding ice cubes has become a nouveau riche habit. The justification often involves references to films like 'A Perfect Pairing' and an unwillingness to drink lukewarm Sauvignon Blanc. Though ice may dilute the wine slightly, it elevates the drinker from mediocrity in their own perception, with the insight generously shared with fellow drinkers.
3. Whispering Angel Rosé
This particular rosé has become a favourite among the new money set, with many considering Chicken wine as their idea of high-brow rosé. The brand's popularity stems from its social media appeal and premium positioning rather than deep wine appreciation.
4. Prosecco with Brunch
Always opting for Prosecco during brunch allows new money drinkers to showcase that they're always drinking 'bubbly,' deliberately letting the word linger to create champagne assumptions. While the upper classes might raise eyebrows, for fellow nouveaux riches, sparkling is simply sparkling, especially when served in a flute that adequately highlights their elevated social status.
5. Flavoured Vodka Preferences
Traditional, plain vodka doesn't suffice for this demographic unless it features vanilla, lychee, or other exotic flavours. There's a categorical rejection of the plain, affordable options. The reasoning centres on why choose something that merely tastes of vodka when it could instead taste of social standing with botanical or tropical notes?
6. IPA Beer Selection
When it comes to beer, traditional ales and stouts are completely avoided in favour of IPAs costing at least £5 per pint. Anything described as 'traditional' simply doesn't feature in the vocabulary. Unless a beer sounds trendy, artisanal, limited-edition, or carries a deliberately obscure name, it fails to capture interest.
7. Organic Wine Commitment
There's an unwavering preference for 'organic' wine based on the conviction that it's healthier, with no further discussion permitted on the matter. This choice reflects broader lifestyle preferences rather than nuanced wine knowledge.
8. Extra Dirty Martinis
Ordering filthy martinis, particularly 'extra dirty' versions, serves to create a stir and project an image of being conspicuous, bold, and edgy—qualities that translate well to social media. The goal is to appear knowledgeable, even when that knowledge originates from obscure reality television shows rather than genuine cocktail expertise.
9. Pink Gin Preference
A traditional gin and tonic sounds excessively conventional, but a pink Gordon's gin with lemonade signals new status effectively. This choice prompts others to wonder what special qualities the drinker possesses that they don't, with the beverage serving as a personality projection through brand associations.
10. Cocktail Photography Habit
A drinking outing isn't complete without photographing cocktails against gastro pub statement walls, particularly floral backdrops. With newly gained status, it becomes essential to be seen against the right backdrop with perfect lighting and filters, making the photographic evidence as important as the drinking experience itself.
11. Aperol Spritz for Appearance
Despite not particularly enjoying bitter Aperol, obtaining a photograph for Instagram remains essential. For the nouveau riche, taste becomes secondary to being seen with the right-looking drink, with maintaining 'high status' appearance sometimes requiring personal sacrifice.
12. Mixology Cocktail Bars
Evenings at mixology bars like The Alchemist, where drinks arrive in beakers and tins with theatrical presentations involving fire or foam, represent peak new money drinking experiences. The spectacle matters more than the substance.
13. Tequila Shots After 21
Ordering rounds of tequila shots after age 21 signals new money status, unlike American counterparts who often manage to appear cool while doing the same. The timing and context transform what might be youthful exuberance into status signalling.
14. Tacky Cocktail Bar Venues
Frequenting bars with unnecessarily noisy staff who throw ice on floors and sing loudly while working—and charging £15 per cocktail—represents another nouveau riche marker. The experience prioritises performative elements over refined atmosphere.
15. Gold Flake Vodka Selection
Life in the fast lane deserves glamorous touches, making spirits that sparkle with glitter or glisten with gold flakes particularly appealing. When everything appears upwardly mobile, the glass should reflect that trajectory visually.
16. Designer Alcohol Brands
Being nouveau riche requires sacrifices, primarily keeping up with neighbours and never losing face. This often means splurging on fancy designer alcohol brands like Ciroc, even without particular enthusiasm for the product itself. The brand association matters more than personal preference.
The Social Significance of Drinking Choices
Laura Windsor's analysis reveals how drinking habits have become powerful social signals in contemporary culture. The beverages people choose and how they consume them communicate subtle messages about background, aspirations, and social positioning. While some might view these preferences as harmless personal choices, they function as visible markers in the complex landscape of social stratification.
The phenomenon highlights how consumption patterns evolve with changing economic circumstances, with newly acquired wealth often expressing itself through specific, identifiable beverage preferences that distinguish the nouveau riche from established wealth. These drinking habits, from ice in wine to designer alcohol brands, create a recognizable pattern that etiquette experts can decode to reveal underlying social narratives about status, identity, and belonging in modern society.
