How To Prep Your Bar For A Cocktail Party (It’s all in the planning)

Today we are breaking down the top 5 quick tips on what you need to do to nail the most important part of a cocktail party...THE COCKTAILS! 

You too can look important with Kevin Bacon at your cocktail party!

1. You have two options with a cocktail party: a full bar or preset menu. With a full bar set up, every drink will be made-to-order. If you go with this option you might spend more time making drinks than being the life of the party. It might not be a bad idea to hire some help if you want to go with this option. If you happen to be in the LA area we here at Twist & Bitters would be happy to help you! If you are more of the DIY type, you might want to go with the second option. Batch Cocktails, a.k.a your pre-set menu, will not only save you a ton of cash but will also allow you the peace of mind to actually enjoy your gathering. Basically what you will do is take your favorite cocktail recipes, and scale them up. You can put your big batch of tasty fun in a ‘punch bowl’, or for a fancier presentation, store the liquid in empty glass bottles you may have lying around.

2. Know your guests and plan the cocktails accordingly. Who are your guests? Does your guest list consist mostly of ladies, couples, business associates? Now, I know you are asking why does this matter? If you plan on having three to four cocktails for your guests to choose from, you need to start with the best base liquor. Women tend to prefer vodka-based drinks and men tend to prefer whiskey. Now, I know I am gender profiling, but let it be known that I am a whiskey girl all the way so I am fully aware that I am usually the odd-ball out. A big trend (especially with young drinkers) is to have mocktails. An easy way to please both alcoholic and non-alcoholic crowds it to make batch cocktails that work with several base liquors and can be added on a drink by drink basis. A perfect example would be a large batch of mule mix, which mixes with almost any liquor. Also when planning out the cocktail menu, pick cocktails that match your theme. Let's say you decide you are going with a modern Luau theme, a perfect batch cocktail would be a fruity daiquiri/margarita base. This base can be used with rum, tequila, gin, and whiskey. There are also phenomenal non-alcoholic spirits that really make those that prefer the sober life more comfortable. Seedlip is one that I would recommend. You can buy Seedlip here. Also, it’s always beneficial to have some beer and wine for the drinkers that really do not sway from their norm. In other words, the picky guests.

3. Now it is time for the wow factor. If you want to make it extra special, it is all in the details: garnishes, ice, glassware, etc. Clear ice is an easy and cost-effective way to wow your guests. Who doesn’t like a giant clear ice cube with their drink? Almost any major city now has specialty ice companies that make clear ice cubes. Here in Los Angeles, my go-to ice provider is Penny Pound Ice. Clear ice is super trendy right now, but make sure you match your ice with your available cocktails. Crushed ice, square ice, long cylinder ice, or round ice all have a cocktail they work best with. Tiki style drinks work best with crushed ice and old fashions work best with square ice. This all plays into your wow factor. Garnishes are another detail that can give off that special pizazz. Check out @onedrinkaday on Instagram. They have some really cool videos on garnish prepping. It can completely make or break the presentation as well. Absolutely never use those cheap, bright red maraschino cherries; they just look bad in anything other than a Shirley temple.

4.  VERY IMPORTANT. The last tip is to over plan. It’s better to have too much than not enough. You should plan out your cocktail portions with two drinks per guest for the first hour and then one per guest for every hour after that. One 750 ml bottle of liquor is approximately 12 two-ounce portions. (12 drinks if you are pouring generously) You also need to think about glassware. Will you go with plastic cups or real glasses? You should have at least 2 glasses/cups available per guest. Of course, this is not speaking to the hosts who have a commercial dishwasher, but for us normal people you will be that commercial dishwasher throughout the evening if you aren’t prepared. You should also make sure that there is plenty of ice. I can not stress this enough. Ice is cheap, so go ahead and get 1-2 more bags than you think you may need. Last but not least, it never hurts to have plenty of garnishes prepped. Lemons, limes, or whatever else you are using for your cocktails.

5. Last but not least… have fun. If you planned correctly, then stop stressing, pour yourself a stiff drink, and socialize with your friends. 

-Stacy

Twist & Bitters