No event is complete without a few cocktails. A excellent and unique cocktail not only keeps people talking when they go home, but they can also be great conversation starters at your get together, making it a social blast. You don’t need to be a professional bartender to serve great cocktails, or even to create your own cocktail recipes. You just need to learn a few basics.
To start, you need to learn about glassware. Serving a drink in the correct kind of glass tells everyone that you know what you’re talking about when it comes to cocktails, and that they should trust your judgment when it comes to knowing what they might like. Cocktail glasses include champagne glasses, martini glasses, liqueur glasses, tall cocktail glasses and rock glasses. Rock glasses are better known as shot glasses. If you’re going to offer your guests a full list, you’ll need to stock it with all of these different types of glasses. You never know what flavor of cocktail a guest will ask for, and you need to be ready.
Ensure you also invest in the right equipment to create a few of the all time favorites drinks. If nothing else, acquire a blender. It doesn’t have to be professional; it just needs to have a strong motor and sharp blades in order to crush ice. Ice is a staple in many cocktail recipes. You should also acquire a cocktail shaker. Cocktail shakers are made from stainless steel and have caps and mini strainers. Many cocktail recipe call for the ingredients to be shaken and/or stained before they’re poured, making a cocktail shaker an essential piece of cocktail making equipment.
Before you throw a cocktail party, familiarize yourself with some of the best selling liquors. Vodka is probably the most popular. Known for its almost non-existent taste, vodka goes well with almost every ingredient imaginable. Make sure to stock up for your social gathering. Rum is another widely available spirit. Although not as versatile as vodka, rum goes well with many ingredients. Bourbon is also another crowd favorite, but is most often used in drinks that require sour or bitter ingredients like lemons or mint leaves. The red hot Mexican spirit tequila is also well-known. Tequila is a very popular drink. It’s often served as a shot with salt and lemon wedges, which makes for a wild night. Also, stock up on gin. There are dozens of cocktail recipes that call for gin due to its unusual flavor.
Lastly, for a complete cocktail party experience, you’ll want to apply garnishes to your drinks to make them even more exciting and appetizing. While they may seem cheesy, the iconic paper umbrella is a must-have. Primarily used for tropical cocktails, umbrellas will make your guests chuckle and bring glee to your cocktail party. You’ll also need to have a supply of the essentials to make salted and sweetened rims. You will require thick fruit syrup or cream liqueur on a handy bowl to dip the rim of your glass in. Once glazed, dip the glass again onto another plate containing sugar or salt. You should also supply your bar with plenty of fruits such as lemons and limes — that can be placed on the glasses of cocktails.
