What are the staple cocktails for a cocktail party?!
What are the staple cocktails for a cocktail party?
I am having friends over for a cocktail party and I guess you can say I have all the basics. What should I put on the drink menu?
Additional Details11 months ago
I am doing a cocktail buffet with appetizer-type foods.
Answers:
11 months ago
I am doing a cocktail buffet with appetizer-type foods.
There's nothing "immature" at all about your idea of a drink menu. You're doing a theme, which is cocktails. Making it simple on yourself by not trying to fill every trend is admirable.
Here's a basic Cocktail Party list that I'm used to on the North Shore of Chicago
Martinis (a couple different ones...but primarily vodka or gin and you can add one or two flavored ones)
Gin and Tonic
Rum and Coke
Manhattans
Rob Roy
Whiskey Sour
Whiskey (Bourbon, Scotch) and Soda
Whiskey and Water
Whiskey (Bourbon, Scotch) on the rocks
Amaretto and Orange Juice
Vodka and Orange Juice
Vodka Gimlet
Variety of Wines (Merlot, Lambrusco, Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Liebfraumilch, Riesling all good choices, as well as a sparkling wine or two)
This time of year you could also add a Sangria in beautiful glass pitchers and Mojitos with hand crushed mint.
martinis
Have gin, vodka, bourbon, blended whiskey (and scotch if your crowd is a little older).
Have water, soda water, tonic water, coke, sprite, diet coke, and sweet and sour mix.
Have lemons and limes.
Have a few bottles of red and white wine, and some domestic and imported beers.
OR...have a drink of the night, and mix up pitchers of margaritas or mojitos, and just serve the specialty drink as a supplement to beer and wine. Or maybe sangria since it is summer. You can find recipes for all of these on line just by googling them.
Bottle of each;
Vodka, Rum, Gin, Tequila, Amaretto
Then have a variety of juices and pops;
Cranberry, Orange, Pineapple, Sour Mix,Diet and Regular pepsi and 7up.
Case of bottled beer like Miller light.
Make sure you have plenty of bottled water to offer also.
Condiments..Lemon, lime, oranges, cherries.
Then make sure you have chips and pretzels to offer if your not doing food and apps.
There's NO need for a drink menu at a party!
(that's immature)
The only time there's a drink menu (if at all) is if only 1 drink is being offered.............
Just supply the mixers, (orange juice, club soda, ginger ale, coke, water, a sour mix) lemon twists and lime wedges. You do have vodka, rum, whiskey and scotch for alcohol, right? Beer and wine?
You'll know these by their 3 names: Jim, Jack and Johnny.
You HAVE to serve "****-Sucking Cowboys".... Baileys Irish Cream and Butterscotch Schnapps poured over Ice. YUM!
I would have, vodka, gin, tequila, rum, and whiskey. Have mixers such as cranberry, pinapple, sour mix, dry vermouth, coke, diet coke, ginger ale, orange juice. Red wine and white wine and beer. Don't forget garnishes like limes, cherries and olives
cosmopolitans
mojitos
martinis (traditional or apple/watermelon, etc)
tequila shots (try Tres Generations...smooth!)
Mohitos, Martinis, Margaritas!
Depending of what kind of appetizer I would go for some imported beers and wines...and ask everyone to participate and bring their favorite cocktails.
Pick a specialty drink for the evening. Pina colada and frozen drinks are heavy so people may try one. A margarita Shaken not frozen is a good choice, and can be made by the pitcher. You should have Vodka, Rum, wine and beer. If you run out of a popular mixer, beer is a good back up. People will generally drink more beer in the hot summer months, and wine during colder months. I have some Friends who like a particular vodka, and mixers like 7up or tonic, I know what they like and try to be accommodating. Martinis are the in thing, ask around woman like cosmopolitans, some men like apple martinis. I hope I have given you some ideas. WE throw 1-3cocktail parties a year, usually around the Christmas and New years Eve and sometimnes Cinco de mayo. Be responsible with the people you invite and have a Taxi phone number ready to go.