Cocktail Party Ideas

Stock the Bar

Cocktail parties are all about the drinks and a properly prepared bar is essential. If you do not already have a fully stocked bar then your primary focus has to be getting your bar ready to party. Make your self a list of basics and go over your list carefully to be certain that you have every detail covered.

You will need:

• Bourbon
• Gin
• Rum
• Scotch
• Tequila
• Vodka

This will be the base for all of your drinks. Taking into consideration that some people like to have a drink “Neat” which means just a the alcohol in a glass with nothing else or “On the rocks” which is the alcohol and ice and nothing else. For these drinks you would want to have some good quality brands on hand because when there is nothing but ice and booze in the glass the true nature of the alcohol shines through. Bargain brands may not look as good on the shelf but they mix well. For instance you may not want to take a 12-year-old single malt scotch and pour it into a Godfather (1 ½ ounces of Scotch, ½ ounce Amaretto and ice).

You will also need mixers. Be sure to have on hand:

• Angostura Bitters
• Cranberry Juice
• Crème De Cacao
• Grapefruit Juice
• Irish cream
• Lemon Juice
• Margarita salt
• Margarita mix
• Orange Juice
• Orange liqueur
• Rose’s Lime Juice
• Rose’s Grenadine
• Sweet and Dry Vermouth
• Simple Syrup
• Soda
• Tabasco Sauce
• Tomato Juice
• Worcestershire sauce

This is just a basic list. You may find that you need more. If you know your friends tastes in drinks then you should focus your drink menu towards their preferences.

Also in your bar arsenal should be:

• Lemons
• Limes
• Olives
• Sugar
• Maraschino
• Salt

You will need these tools:

• Blender
• Bottle opener
• Cocktail shaker
• Corkscrew
• Cutting board
• Ice
• Jigger
• Measuring spoons
• Paring knives
• Reamer
• Strainer
• Tongs
• Zester

And don’t forget the:

• Wine
• Champagne or sparkling wine
• Beer
• Soda

Remember the glasses. You may not need every type of glass ever made but a good collection of martini, old fashion, wine, beer and tall glasses will more or less cover all your needs.

A copy of Mr. Boston’s will probably come in handy as well. With a well stocked bar and a bit of advance preparation you will be able to serve up any of your cocktail party ideas.

The Appetizers are Key

Food often takes a back seat in the planning of a cocktail party and this is a very bad thing. Serving drinks is the core idea of a cocktail party but without food it is not really a party. Since you will probably want to focus on the mixing of the drinks, getting some pre-made frozen appetizers is a good cocktail party idea. For a traditional cocktail party it is a good idea to avoid sweet appetizers and focus more on the salty and the starchy. If you are interested in having a sweet option consider including Asian style snacks like egg rolls that can be dunked into a sweet sauce. Make sure you get plenty of food for your guests so they have as much to eat as they will to drink.

Music Sets the Mood

Music is very important to every party but keeping it from overpowering the party is key. Some good cocktail party ideas are jazz or lounge music. Subtle and subdued is the most important factor of the music you are choosing. Your guests should not have to fight the music to have a conversation in fact the music should enhance the conversation by being a pleasant and enjoyable undercurrent.

Cocktail Party Ideas

With these cocktail party ideas you should be ready to have a fun and successful party. Before the party starts familiarize yourself with the more popular drinks like mojitos and Cosmopolitians. To save time pick up some pre-made drink mixes like a Collins or Mai Tai mix. And if you mix up a gallon of bloody Mary’s before hand that will really come in handy. Remember just like mixing a good cocktail, a balance between the drinks, the music and the food can blend into a perfect party.