What Kind O f Alcohol Should I serve....???Formal Dinner...???!
Thank in advance..
Answers: My husband and I are having a formal dinner at our house...I am going to serve drinks but I want them to be more sophisticated then Beer...If my hsband was choosing it would be beer..lol.And we are plain tired of wine...What are some other suggestions???We are having rosemary lamb.
Thank in advance..
Before dinner try REAL Martinis (Gin and Vermouth), Manhattan Coctails, Single Malt Scotch served neat or on the rocks. After dinner, Brandy Alexanders or White Russians.
Bert
Wine and/or port, usually.
vodska!
Jello Shots.
classy beer like heinekin or guiness. and of course wine
you drink alcohol?
http://wineandliquorcourier.com/champagn...
$34. cheap and elegant!
What if you did a cocktail hour featuring a "Build Your Own Drink" Bar?
Have all your essential liquor staples: rum, gin, vodka, tequila, whiskey, sour mix, triple sec, bourbon, vermouth
various liqueurs: kahlua, cura?ao, Bailey's, Southern Comfort , various types of schnapps, amaretto,
various mixers: cola, citrus soda, club soda, grenadine, bitters, milk, tonic water, fruit juices, tobasco, simple syrup
various garnishes: cherries, olives, cocktail onions, limes, lemon spirals, orange wedges, salt, sugar
Keep several shakers and an ice bucket on hand. Maybe display some decorative cards with uniques recipes. I would have beer, a bottle of red & white on hand just in case.
Campari is a bittersweet Italian liqueur that goes great with lamb-- I would recommend mixing it with a sweet sparkling wine and just a hint of orange juice for a really unique drink. It's teriffic and your guests will definitely remember it!
Just hire a bartender
A lot depends on the number of guests. For a large group, before the meal I would serve mixed drinks and (upscale) beer. If your budget is limited you will want to limit the liquor selections to the basics: Bourbon, Scotch, Gin, Rum and Vodka (and maybe Tequila) and a mixer or two for each (Coke, 7-Up, bloody mary mix and Quinine water would be four). One or two kinds of (upscale) beer should be sufficient. You should informally query at least some of your guests in advance as to their preferences regarding what they like to drink and mixers for the liquor (if everyone drinks scotch that would be water or ice). If you are really limited and/or want to make a splash you should consider a single drink for everyone (except the beer drinker) such as Martini's or Margarita's or maybe that trendy new drink everyone is talking about. For dinner you should serve a wine that is consistent with your main dish unless your informal poll shows no interest (not likely to happen). Beer should be available to those who want it. Some folks, me included, just plain don't like wine (even a little will give me heartburn). There are lots of after dinner liqueurs on the market. Your informal poll should provide some clues. If your budget is limited serve only the dessert. If the first part of the meal goes well no one will care about a special drink to cap off the evening. And if they do you will still have the basics on hand.
PS - Don't forget the olives, lemons, cherries,lime slices, peanuts, etc.
For a formal dinner, etiquette suggests the following:
Before dinner - Cocktail hour
Create a signature drink or two in advance and have them ready for your guests as they walk in the door -- what could possibly be more welcoming?? I suggest offering an alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink. If you want to complement the lamb, try a Mojito (light rum, sugar, fresh lime, fresh mint leaves and soda water - I've provided a link for the recipe); make this non-alcoholic by using green tea in place of the rum. For the rosemary, try a lemonade (one spiked with vodka, one not) with fresh rosemary springs and blueberries. Fresh aromatics like mint and rosemary not only look and smell great, but it will connect the pre-dinner drinks with the meal.
With dinner - Wines
I know you said you didn't want wine, but a formal dinner suggests it will be served. You should serve each guest one red and one white, and only about 6 ounces of each from the start -- refills are, of course, perfectly fine! To find wines to complement your meal, go to your local wine retailer with a copy of your menu. They will be able to point you in the proper direction for specific wines and years. Taste them before you serve them, too! Just buy a couple of bottles to try at home a day or two before. If you don't like one, don't just assume your guests might! Get something else!
After dinner - Coffee and/or cordials
Nothing goes better with dessert than coffee...unless you add a cordial to it! Be prepared to serve either regular or decaf, and offer a cordial to mix with the coffee. Bailey's Irish Cream is always a good bet (and they've recently come out with a couple of great new flavors...the caramel works GREAT with coffee!); for something a little different, try Chambord (a raspberry liqueur). Depending on your tastes and what you're serving for dinner, the possibilities are practically endless!
Best of luck with your dinner! I know all the planning that goes into setting up and playing hostess for a formal dinner (all the way down to pressing the napkins and shining the silver! What work!!). Just remember to stay cool and keep smiling! Hope I've helped.
what about cognac?
My first choice with lamb would be a nice pinot noir. But since you are tired of wine, there are a number of cocktails that should pair nicely. A martini (not too dry) would go nicely as would an original martini (gin, sweet vermouth and orange bitters.)
A Sazerac might go well with the lamb. (A few dashes of Peychauds bitters, a few dashes of herbsaint or absinthe, and 1.5 oz of rye whiskey, bourbon, or brandy.)
You could also go for some fancy beers. There are a lot of interesting beers available these days which have the complexities of a good wine, often bottled in 750ml bottles.
I would suggest against serving anything bitter with the lamb, and avoid anything too sweet like tropical drinks. They can both be good as before dinner or after dinner drinks but will clash with the lamb.