Comments on: How to Stock Your Bar for a Cocktail Party

on 8/8/2006 2 easy Cocktails:

Martini Extra Dry & Lemonade\t\t\t\t
Fill a chill highball glass to the rim\t\t
With ice, add 50ml Martini Extra Dry\t\t
Vermouth and top up with lemonade.\t
Perfect to help you unwind before a
Meal.


Southern Breeze

Fill a highball glass with ice, pour 50ml
Southern Comfort, cranberry and orange
Juice. Garnish with a sprig of orange.


Cocktail Bar - stainless steel modern contemporary look furniture:

You?ve got 14 bottles of duty free spirits and a neat collection of shot glasses but something?s missing.

Ah yes, you need your own bar!

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on 7/7/2006 Having personally witnessed the devastation that is caused by a DUI accident, I wonder if it is ever not appropriate to call the police if someone leaves your party having decided that it is OK to drive drunk.

on 12/16/2005 Ask each guest to bring their favorite drink (or the ingredients). This way, you can assure enough drinks for all the guests at your party, a good variety of drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). And for a personal treat, ask a few guests to bring your specialty drink(s).

on 11/22/2005 A fun but useful party gift could be those test strips that estimate your blood alcohol content (by putting them on your tongue).

If someone drinks too much, put their keys in your shoes (if your shoes are by the door). They won't find the keys and you won't forget to return them later.

on 11/22/2005 If you don't have bar equipment, grab an inexpensive set from a local store. I found a stainless silver set for $9.99 at Linens & Things, which included: a shaker cup, ice tongs, a corkscrew/bottle opener, a shot measurer, and bottle cork. They all rest in a nice little silver display tray.
Test different mixers to see which brand you like. The difference in flavors from one brand to another can be quite surprising.
If you plan on allowing guests to serve themselves, keep in mind that you need to have your bottles arranged and displayed in a large area. Try to organize the bottles into groupings. Keep the tequila and "triple sec" near one another for margaritas. Keep Bailey's, Kahlua and other typical coffee additives together. Many times, guests will just grab some wine or a beer, because mixing a drink is too much for them to think about. It's a good idea to either plan your time around being the bartender, ask a friend to do it, or hire someone for the party. Sometimes guests are scared to try something new, unless someone points them in that direction. Try printing a nice drink menu with several cocktails that you know how to mix, so that your guest know they have options.
If your party is more formal, wine glass charms are a nice touch. They help people keep up with their glasses, which in turn means less glassware for you to wash after the party. If the party is small, I've found a few sites that custom make the charms with any wording you wish on them (limited lettering, of course). You could order the names of your guests, then allow them to keep the charms as a small gift. The site I found offered them for approximately $5 a piece.