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Cocktail Party Ideas
Cocktails are the centerpiece of many celebrations. Throwing a cocktail party is an easy way to commemorate any occasion or milestone. Best of all, you never need an excuse to host a cocktail party. It's the perfect "just because" gathering to catch up with friends. Whether you're a host looking to throw your first fun and easy cocktail party or a master mixologist in search of signature drinks, our experts have the perfect elixirs, cocktail party ideas, tips and cocktail recipes for all affairs!
Cupcakes and Cocktails Party
For a fun, unique twist on the usual cocktail and appetizer party, throw a cupcakes and cocktails bash. It's a hip, youthful twist on a cocktail party that will have guests buzzing with excitement - and a sugar high.
Creating a Cupcakes & Cocktails Menu
Top 5 Party Drink Recipes
Everyone loves a good drink at a party and I'm sharing my top 5 favorite drinks with you from my favorite restaurants and brands.
Drinks are essential at any party. They should be served chilled to guests as they walk in the door. Always be sure to serve drinks in nice glasses and trays that are made as presentable as possible.
Lara Shriftman is the co-author of Party Confidential, Party Confidential: New Etiquette for Fabulous Entertaining, Fete Accompli! The Ultimate Guide to Creative Entertaining, and Fete Accompli! Workbook - The Ultimate Party Planning Guide
Top 5 Cosmo Cocktail Recipes
Ah, the Cosmo. Loved by women everywhere, this snappy little cocktail dashed its way up the drink ladder after becoming the unofficial cocktail of the Sex & the City ladies.But there's more than one way to make a delicious Cosmo cocktail. Whether just a slight twist on ingredients or a full-blown Cosmo fusion recipe, our Top 5 Cosmo Cocktail Recipes below are simply delicious.
Check Out More Fun Cocktail Ideas:
DIY Infused Cocktails
Say goodbye to the fake syrupy and neon colored liquers of yesterday. Infusing different liquers with herbs, spices, fruits, and vegetables is all the rage these days, and doing it creates drinks that are delicious and all-natural!The name of the game is creativity. Vodka is the most popular spirit for infusing, but as you can see by our recipes below, with the proper know-how, infusions can happen across a variety of liquor bases.
Think Flavor for Infused Cocktails
General Ingredients & Supplies
The Most Common Mixed Drink Recipes
Mixologists (a.k.a. your friendly neighborhood bartenders) can whip up hundreds of cocktail recipes, but the truth is, most people order the same drinks over and over again.
The always fashionable Martini and trendy Cosmopolitan top the list of America's most common drink recipes, along with a few others. Read on for great recipes and the history of these classic cocktails.
Light Cocktail Recipes
Once the weather starts to warm up and happy hour moves outdoors, the idea of a sweet tropical cocktail becomes more and more appealing. A refreshing glass of sangria, a minty mojito, or a creamy pina colada might tempt you when you meet your friends for cocktails at your favorite outdoor locale.But beware! These drinks are very often laden with calories and drinking only a couple of them can be worse for your waistline than French fries or even ice cream! So the next time a craving strikes, invite your friends over and whip up a batch of these slimmed-down concoctions. Trust us, they're so delicious you won't miss all those calories (and bikini season is just around the corner...YIKES!)
Create Your Own Signature Cocktail Recipe
Have you ever wanted to throw a party and serve your own signature drink? Or, have you ever had a hankering to just create - and drink - one for yourself?You've come to the right place.
It's very simple to develop a signature cocktail, either for a party, or just for a relaxing night in front of the fire.
Food Ideas for Summer Cocktail Parties
A successful cocktail party should offer cocktails and finger (or otherwise named party) food.
I am a great fan of the passing trays with canapes. It's much easier for the host and also for the guests because nobody needs plates and forks and you can move around easily holding only a cocktail glass freely!
Here are some ideas for canapes and even a buffet, if that's what you'd like to use to serve your food.
Asian Themed Cocktail Party at Home
Everyone loves the exotic tastes of Asian food, be it familiar Chinese dumplings or fresh Japanese sushi, plus, it's perfect party food! Mix things up and pair your menu with cocktails using exotic ingredients such as sake, Lychees and green tea for a fun way to unwind this weekend.
Beer Tasting Party: Domestic Beers
Pour yourself a cold one and enjoy a handcrafted American brew by hosting a Beer Tasting. A beverage for all seasons, from the Super Bowl in wintertime to a summer get-together, this party offers 2 different ways to taste and compare beer that has been brewed in the great U.S. of A.Get the basics on Beer Styles by reading our article, Beer Tasting: Imported Beer, then head back here to give your party an All-American spin.
Almost as good as drinking beer is food made with beer! These saucy recipes are ideal for an indoor party and supreme at an outdoor event. A beer tasting is a great activity for a summer party, outdoor barbeque, or most any occasion.
5 Top-Selling Corporate Brewers
Summer Cocktails: Bermuda Swizzle
The idea of drinking a "swizzle" may raise some eyebrows, but it's one of the many time-tested classics served at Brooklyn hotspot, Clover Club.A swizzle, as bartender Katie Stipe duly explained, is named for the "signature" stick used to stir it. The menu calls it "a labor of love and definitely worth the wait."
For summer, she recommended their variation on the Bermuda Swizzle - a top-seller that looks nearly as good as it tastes. Owner Julie Reiner (Flatiron Lounge, Pegu Club) claims it has customers raving: "Best Drink Ever!"
Clover Club
210 Smith St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Summer Cocktails: Bourbon Maid
It's easy to miss the unassuming, plywood entrance to East Side Company Bar among the closed storefronts on late-night Essex Street.But after a few more passes, you'll find a Lower East Side haven for cocktail lovers of all stripes.
Bartender Jose Ortiz was eager to show off a summer favorite: the "one-of-a-kind," decidedly off-the-menu Bourbon Maid.
Adventurous patrons go for the fresh cucumber and mint. The seasonal goodness, Ortiz warns, can overpower the bourbon - that is, "until you taste it."
East Side Company Bar
49 Essex St.
New York, NY 10002
Summer Cocktails: Queen Bee
Soho's Elizabeth has quickly earned a reputation as a New York cocktail destination.A recent early evening visit found drink experts talking shop by the bar, while bartender Debbie Liu raved about their Queen Bee. Calling it a summer staple, she finds customers flock to the "really fun" drink as the perfect antidote to the dog days of summer.
Elizabeth
265 Elizabeth St.
New York, NY 10012
Tequila Tasting Cocktail Party
The handcrafted quality of top-shelf Tequila can be as intricate a blend as that of fine wine, both with aromatic bouquets and unique flavor characteristics.Host a sophisticated Tequila Tasting Cocktail Party for Cinco de Mayo where you sip premium spirits and savor appetizers with a Mexican-Nuevo flair.
Add to the ambience of this sophisticated soiree with a menu of contemporary Latin flavors. Offer a bar with traditional Tequila cocktail mixers, such as Margarita mix, lime wedges, and fresh citrus juices, for all to enjoy throughout the evening.
Cinco de Mayo Celebrations: A Glass For Each Tequila Type
Plantain Pancakes with Sour Cream and Jalapeno Jelly
Asian Cilantro Bay Shrimp in Wonton Cups
Cinco de Mayo Party Ideas: A Tequila Tasting
Lime and Black Bean Hummus with Banana Chips
Polenta Griddle Cakes with Goat Cheese and Tomatillo Chutney
After Dinner Dessert Cocktails
Dessert Cocktails are hot and unique. They are the perfect treat for after dinner and a great opening act for your dessert.Wow your guests by offering them a yummy and sweet interlude in the evening. Dessert cocktails are fancy, hip, and an all-around delicious drink for any event.
Rum Drinks for Any Occasion
For many, rum based cocktails conjure images of warm tropical breezes, ocean waves, and the bright summer sun.However, rum drinks come in a wide variety of tastes and mixtures, and make great cocktail options for everyday entertaining.
Whether you're hosting a Pirate Party or a swanky soiree, we have the perfect rum drink in our list of recipes below.
Cocktail Aficionados Should Also Check Out:
How to Make the Best Summer Punch Cocktails
Punches are easy, fun, and best of all, serve a lot of people with minimal effort. So, for your next barbeque, beach party, or when you're just hanging by the pool, serve up one of our specialties.
Margaritas for a Summer Party
Nothing satisfies summer thirst like an ice cold margarita. It's the perfect crowd-pleasing cocktail for all your summer parties, from Cinco de Mayo through Labor Day. Whether you prefer yours on the rocks or smoothly blended, we've gathered the top 5 picks to wow your guests.
Host an Easy Housewarming Party
Moving to a new home is both exciting and exhausting. While you may want to celebrate your new digs by inviting friends or neighbors over, the thought might be a bit overwhelming.Don't let the stress of moving spoil the opportunity for a party. You can host an easy housewarming party where good friends contribute imaginative food platters and join you for cocktails in your new home.
Summer Berry Breeze Cocktail
This summer, treat yourself to a special drink that will take you away to a tropical oasis no matter where you are! It's perfect for a day by the beach, 4th of July, or any summer party.
Classic Champagne Drink Recipes
Thoughts of champagne can only bring the fondest memories: a heartfelt toast at your best friend's wedding reception, a celebratory gulp straight from the bottle after your college graduation, clinking your glasses together for your first anniversary. Champagne, with its nose-tickling bubbles and just sweet enough taste, can lift the spirits like no other drink can.Champagne is delicious and simplistic all on its own but champagne cocktails are the most popular drink to serve at just about any function. Classic champagne drink recipes combine all the elements of a perfect, light cocktail - sophistication and flavor. The giddiness after a few glasses is an absolute plus!
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