Choosing a Signature Cocktail for Your Event
From sugary sweet ingredients to savory garnishes, cocktails are one of the more inclusive alcoholic beverages, and they are quickly diversifying. In events of all types, they are catered to guests in order to keep their conversations flowing nicely and the atmosphere light. However, not having the appropriate drinks for the setting is a slippery slope that could lead to an all in all mediocre experience. Nobody wants to indulge in a mimosa at a formal dinner party, considering the taste of it and the ambiance it would establish. Guests are more likely to want a citrusy, bitter drink paired with dinner than something sugary, which goes better with a brunch. If you’re having trouble finding the right drinks for your event, take a look below to see which cocktails should be used for birthdays, weddings, and bridal showers.
Sweet for Summer
One cocktail you might consider serving at a birthday party is originally a Cuban highball drink; the mojito. These are a trifecta of sweet, citrus, and mint, which can be a blessing for fatigued guests in the hot Summer weather. The classic version of this signature cocktail is white rum paired with sugar and lime juice. It can be infused with mint leaves or simply have them as a garnish. It is also important to note that over-muddling the mint and lime juice will create an imbalance in the flavor. Using this technique for no more than 5 seconds will give it a memorably zesty taste. There are also variations of the mojito that you could use to coordinate a theme. Two ideas for this are the watermelon mojitos for a sunny, outdoor party, and the frosty coconut mojito for an event in a coastal location. No matter where you serve them, attendees are bound to enjoy its chilling effects and livening flavors.
Classy Weddings
For any traditional wedding, an old fashioned is just the drink to fulfill your guests’ cocktail needs. This is a signature mix popular with formal affairs and is often served with whiskey, sugars, and bitters over ice. It has a charmingly bitter taste, topped with a twist of orange or lemon rind. Despite having been around since 1806, the original flavor of this drink has remained mostly loyal to its prototype, with few variations on it except for brandy and rum. It is even sometimes muddled with a maraschino cherry to sweeten it. Because the winding history of this drink aged so well, it makes for a delightfully classic beverage that invigorates the recipient. Weddings typically use this drink for the very reason that it is traditional, which can be part of the ongoing theme for the occasion. It is best paired with a savory appetizer such as blooming French onions or a spinach artichoke dip.
Bridal Showers
Sangrias have all the requirements to be catered in a bridal shower: a red wine typically mixed with orange juice or brandy and containing chopped fruit. These ingredients create a deliciously potent punch for your guests to enjoy. It is perfect with fruits such as pineapples, strawberries, apples, and more, which shows the expansive coverage of sangrias. That being said, there are certain variations of this drink that should be used correctly for your event. For example, the original red wine sangria will do well at a traditional bridal shower, but the recent innovation of sangria blanca (sangria with white wine) will add more to the modern take on bridal showers. It might be important to know that the traditional sangria attracts older generations, while the sangria blanca attracts younger generations. Depending on your own age group and personal taste, you could maximize the amount of guests at your event.
The Takeaway
Cocktails are becoming more varied and more popular in events of all types. They are part of what fuels the guests in your event to keep them mingling, so it’s important to not only have a scrumptious signature cocktail available for them, but also for it to fit the time and location the event is held in. It is mostly overlooked that drinks can set up a lot for the climate of a party. You can keep your guests entertained with the newest flavors such as sangria blanca, or let them reminisce with an old fashioned. Even experiment by adding different fruits, garnishes, and mixers to your signature cocktails. But most importantly, these alcoholic beverages should be served responsibly so that everyone is safe to drink, as well as have a great time at your special occasion.
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