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New Year's Eve: Signature Drinks or a Full Bar?Edited by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady
For a classic party, to celebrate the old and ring in the new, nothing beats classic gin and vodka martinis, with a garnish bar that goes beyond the traditional pimiento-stuffed olive to include cheese-stuffed olives (blue, goat, and feta are great choices) as well as olives stuffed with garlic, jalapeños, anchovies, and almonds. The advantage of using a neutral spirit such as gin or vodka for your signature drinks is that you can have a couple of traditional mixers on hand, such as tonic water, Collins mix, and juice, for those who may want something different. Champagne is, of course, a classic New Year’s drink, and you can spin classic champagne cocktails in many directions: using a bit of Cointreau, Chambord, crème de cassis, amaretto, or Midori, you can change the color and complexion of these classic drinks. You can also make a classic champagne cocktail using a rosé champagne. The other option is to organize a full bar, which can seem like a chore and a storage problem, but is certainly the swankiest way to go. Here is a basic bar setup for serving 20 people. Multiply upward or downward depending on your guest list. Remember to personalize it by taking your guests and their preferences into consideration. 1 bottle vodka Adapted from Happy Holidays from the Diva of Do-Ahead, by Diane Phillips. (c) 2006, used by permission from the Harvard Common Press
More cocktail ideasBest way to taste dozens of cocktails at once Best Cocktail Recipe Books 101 Martinis COCKTAIL PARTIES, STRAIGHT UP! The Sexy Bitch’s Party 101 MARGARITAS BEST COCKTAIL LIFESTYLE BOOK Best Cocktail Museum BEST BAR GUIDEBOOKS LOW CARB COCKTAILS LOW CARB BARTENDER Low-carb Cocktails BEST USE FOR A COCKTAIL BESIDES AS A BEVERAGE Picture 2 - (c) 2006 Brian Smale |
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Wondering what to serve your guests at the New Year's Eve
party you're throwing this year? Signature drinks are a lot of fun; you can
choose to serve a “signature” cocktail or two, in addition to wine, beer, and
soft drinks, without the expense and work of having a full bar. Such libations
get the conversation flowing and invite your guests to become their own
mixologists, with the proper ingredients and garnishes. Print up the recipes on
cards to place by the glasses and alcohol.