Offering the Best Cocktail Bar
I love offering a good cocktail when we have friends over but I don’t love playing bartender all night. Here are a few tips on how to offer your guests multiple drink options while being completely hands-off once your guests arrive.
Pre-made cocktails in a pitcher or punch bowl. This is the easiest way to offer a cocktail at your party and is probably the easiest method if you’re having a big party.
Partially made cocktail in a pitcher. This is my most go to way to offer a cocktail because this lets your guests have some variations to your cocktail of choice. An example would be a margarita. I make a pitcher of a standard margarita but make with a little less alcohol then I would normally add. I set it out with glasses, an ice bucket, additional tequila, soda water, Prosecco, and a couple different juices for my guests to build off of. It’s a great way to give your guests a little variety.
Make your own cocktail bar. This bar is a lot of fun and hands on for everyone. However, I wouldn’t recommend it for more than 10 people since it can get a bit crowded by the bar and could get messy. When I offer this sort of bar I create a recipe card with a couple signature cocktail recipes to give my guests some guidance. I also offer wine, beer, champagne, and a selection of spirits so everyone has an option.
Regardless of your “bar” of choice make sure you put out all the glasses you want used as well as ice bucket, cork screw, cutting board and knife (if offering limes, lemon, etc). You always want to make it easy for your guests to help themselves.
Alcohol is easily the most expensive part of entertaining. Don’t stress about offering a full bar if that means you have to purchase a full bar. Start with the basics and, if you enjoy entertaining, slowly build your bar. Every time you go grocery shopping add 1 spirit, mixer, bitter, or whatever to your cart. You can pretty much get a good bottle of most liquors for under $30 so you don’t have to break the bank.
As always, ask your guests to bring something. If you’re providing all the liquor and food, ask a couple guests to bring 1 bottle of wine or champagne or a 6 pack of beer. Most people don’t like showing up empty handed to a party so there is no harm in giving them some guidance as to what you need.
Most importantly, enjoy yourself and always be a guest at your own party!
