Word Wednesday ~ Cocktail Hosting

~ Memorial day weekend and a whole summer of garden parties, patio gatherings and other festivities are upon us. Drinks? We've got the scoop. ~ 

It's tempting to gather friends at your neighborhood cocktail bar after dinner and enjoy a few rounds of great drinks, but with just a little prep work and planning, you can have an enjoyable cocktail party in your own backyard! Start with the basics - cocktail planning from Epicurious will get you started with what, exactly, you'd like to serve, and what you'll need to do so. 

Got a handle on what you'd like to make? (If you need a theme, think retro or New Orleans style) Move on to the Epicurious Cocktail Party Buying Guide, with an easy to read sheet that will help you plan your shopping list. Recipes are your next step - pick a few to batch (depending on the size of your party) and go from there. One of our team favorites is below, and a batched twist on the Cold Blooded from Social (top photo) can be achieved with some lemonade, orange Cognac, cranberry juice and rosemary. 

Curacao Punch
~ a variation by The LAB ~

9 Tbsp Sugar
2-2.5 oz Lemon
18 oz Soda water
18 oz Brandy
36 oz Orange Curacao
18 oz Jamaican Rum

Directions: 
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and be sure to allow sugar to disolve. Cut up orange wheels and add to bowl to marinate. Before serving, add ice, preferably one 4" block so it doesn't dilute the cocktail. Makes 18 servings. Also good with agave as a sugar substitute, but test amount.



This recipe was first published in the 1882 New and Improved Bartender’s Manual.

Need more? Michael Dietsch at Serious Eats has some great pointers you might not think of (glassware!) as well as some "margarita math" and other insights into batching drinks in advance. 

Happy stirring (and sipping)! 

~ Sadie 

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