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Jim Welborn Bar Services
Helpful Cocktail Tips
Sip in Style with These Delectable Cocktail Rims
Cocktail rims are an easy way to add extra fun and pizzazz to your favorite drink; Most cocktail rims only take a few minutes to put together, and are a great way to add a burst of flavor to compliment what you're drinking. The best part is that you can save money and get a much better result by making your own, given that store-bought cocktail rims cost a pretty penny for what usually amounts to a few tablespoons of flavored sugar.
Smoked Citrus Sugar
Smoked citrus sugar is subtle and exotic all at once, and goes excellently with any fruity drink. Start by peeling a few strips off of a variety of citrus fruits.
Try to get as little pith as is possible, as the pith is bitter and lacks any fruity flavor. Lay your pieces of peel on a tray or a cooling rack, then use a brûlée torch to cook the peels until they curl slightly and start to blacken around the edges. This both adds a smoky flavor to the citrus peels, and helps them release their fragrant oils. After the peels are torched, mince them up. Massage the minced citrus peels with sugar (the ratio should be 2:1, sugar to peel). By massaging the citrus into the sugar, you help the sugar absorb the oil of the fruit.
Use the fresh citrus from one of the fruits you peeled to wet the rim of your cocktail glass, then dip it in the sugar.
Chili Salt
Chili salt is the perfect rim for anyone who likes a little kick in their cocktails and requires little in the way of preparation. Simply mix three parts kosher salt with
one part chili powder. If you don't like salty rims, you can use sugar instead. Lastly, wet the rim with fresh lime before dipping it. I prefer to use it to balance the smokiness of a Mezcal-based drink or to compliment a jalapeño margarita... but you really can't go wrong with anything, especially if you love spice!
Sweet & Salty Lime Zest
Sweet and salty lime zest is my go-to for an elevated margarita. To make it, first zest a lime. Mix together equal parts of lime zest, sugar, and kosher salt. Wet the cocktail rim with fresh lime to emphasize the lime
flavor, then dip away.
Chocolate
Okay, this one isn't really for a cocktail (though it would work for a coffee liqueur drink); I use this for red wine. It's fun, romantic, and really delicious. First, temper some chocolate. Then, dip a wine glass
into the chocolate so that the top half-inch of the rim is coated. Put your wine glass rim-side down on parchment paper, and let it sit in the fridge for a few minutes, or until the chocolate is set. As you drink your wine, the chocolate will begin to melt in your mouth. Yes, it gets a little messy, but it's well worth it.
Sriracha Salt
Sriracha salt is a sweet and spicy rim that goes perfectly with bloody marys and bourbon-based drinks. It's also surprisingly easy to make. Simply mix a half cup of kosher salt with one or two tablespoons
of sriracha (depending on how spicy you want it), then spread it on a baking sheet, and bake for 90 minutes at 200°F. Let it sit until it dries, then break it up to make sure there are no clumps. When it's time to salt the rim, wet your finger with the spirit you're making a drink out of and get the rim of the glass damp, then dip it into the salt.
Bacon Salt
If you like the idea of a savory rim, but don't want it to be spicy, you can make bacon salt. To make it, cook bacon until very dark and extremely crisp, then blitz in a food processor until it is very fine. Next, mix the
bacon with kosher salt (roughly one cup of salt to one pound of bacon). If you'd like a little kick, you can add a pinch of black pepper or cayenne powder. Like with the sriracha salt, wet the cocktail rim with some of the spirit that you're using for your drink prior to dipping the glass in the salt. (If you're a true bacon lover, use your bacon salt rim on a bacon booze-based drink!)
Raspberry Sugar
If you like fruit punch, then you'll love raspberry sugar, which is the perfect complement to a summer punch, or even a mojito. All you have to do is empty a 2.5-ounce bag of freeze-dried raspberries (or any other
freeze-dried fruit) into a plastic bag, then crush them with a rolling pin until some—but not all—of the raspberries have turned to powder. Mix that with a cup of sugar, then dip a lemon-coated cocktail rim into it for a refreshing and fun rim. (And add fruit-filled ice cubes to make your summer punch even classier!)
Meyer Lemon Salt
Meyer lemons make most foods better, and cocktails are no exception. Meyer lemon salt is the perfect addition to a salty dog, or basically any aromatic
or gin-based drink. To make Meyer lemon salt, bake the zest of five Meyer lemons in a 200°F oven for 15-20 minutes until the zest is dry but not yet browning. Then put it in a food processor with a cup of salt and blitz until the salt and zest are fully incorporated. Lastly, rub a cocktail rim with fresh Meyer lemon, then dip it in the salt.
Gingersnaps
If you want a unique and festive cocktail rim, look no further. A gingersnap rim is perfect for any apple, pear, or plum-based cocktails, as well as anything in autumn or winter. Just dip a cocktail rim in honey, and then
into some crumbled up gingersnap cookies—your hot toddy-obsessed friends will thank you.
Peppery Lemon Salt
Make Inexpensive Vodka Taste Like the Good Stuff
Peppery lemon salt may sound more like something you'd put on fish than a cocktail, but it perfectly
balances any light, aromatic or citrusy cocktails, from vodka tonics to gimlets. To make it, simply mix four pinches of salt with a half teaspoon of black pepper. Generously coat the rim of your glass with a fresh lemon, then dip it in the salt and pepper mixture. Simple, but elegant and delicious.
Go SMALL in a BIG Way!
Purchase and use small bottles/cans of sodas, tonics and mixers at your cocktail party. It shows you care enough to spend a little more for your guests. The modest amount of additional money you do spend is certainly worth the enhancement of your guests cocktail experience. In the long run, any opened an unfinished big bottles may go flat before you use them up so that's totally throwing money away, unless you happen to like flat carbonated drinks....
Try It, You'll Like It!
In this case, we are talking cocktails. If you are uncertain about a particular ingredient in a cocktail recipe you are thinking about trying, head to your favorite watering hole and ask them to make you the cocktail, or a cocktail with that ingredient in it so you can make your own decision. This will do two things. It will of course let you know if you care for that particular liquor, but by the amount used in the recipe and how much you like it, the size bottle you should buy it in. This way you can have fun experimenting without breaking the bank while doing it.
Easy Access
Don't make your guests wait at the bar set up for a non-alcoholic beverage. Have a galvanized tub for instance set up, filled with ice, sodas, waters, beer and even wines. This will give you more time to create those delicious cocktails for your friends, but it also lets your guest grab something that is ready to go!
Outdoor Torches
Outdoor torches can help set a mood for your party. There are all kinds of designs to coordinate with your theme from the very modern to the well known tiki torch. There are those with stands/stakes where you can postition them throughout your yard or those that sit nicely on table tops, walls or steps. How about a combination of both? The idea is that they add to the ambiance, create a beautiful, complimentary soft light, and can be lit with fuels that give off fragrances to, and most important I think, insect repellent. What could be bad? Use common sense of course and safety first. Make sure that where ever you place them, they have total clearance not only around the sides but the top...think canopy's an tents....
Oh look! It's the path from my patio to the pool!
Sometimes Silly and Fun are Just what Your Party Needs!
Have a little fun! Add some whimsy to your party. No matter if it's a black tie event or an afternoon pool party, have some fun! Try giving out, and making your guests wear, glow in the day and night necklaces and bracelets.....A definite ice breaker and a totally great way to create that "fun" atmosphere!
Everyone's Playlist!
When you send out your invitations, either hand written and mailed or e-vites, ask your guests to email you back with their favorite artist, band, group or type of music. When you get your list together, compile a playlist including all of your guests favorites and play them during the party! They will definitely enjoy listening to music that they like and are familiar with as well as thinking how thoughtful of a host you are!
Buy Maraschino Cherries With Their Stems On!
So much better for your guests drinking the cocktail and they definitely can add a little fun to the party! We have all been there and you know what I am talking about. The stem is much easier to grab onto rather trying to stab at it with that bendable cocktail straw...and btw, how many knots can you tie in one stem?
Have a Smoking Area for Your Guests
You can let your guests know that you have set up a smoking area for them by either telling them or having an obvious absence of ash trays except for the designated smoking area. Don't be rude about it, don't be coy either...Be polite. Typically, unless you also smoke and allow smoking in your house, most smokers smoke outside in todays' times. Have the same ambience lighting, party decor and snacks available to them as you do all of your guests in your home. Think ahead and have an alternative area ready if the weather outside doesn't cooperate.
Maximize Conversation at the Table
Using place cards, seat the best listeners next to the best talkers.
Use Disposables!
This may be the true of almost anything you use at your cocktail party. Plates, napkins, glasses, silverware. But in this case we are talking about chaffing dishes. Depending on what you prefer, you will find that buying disposable chaffing dishes from a party store or a big box like Sam's BJ's or Costco, may work out best for you! They are less expensive than renting from a rental company plus the bonus of not having to take them back. Not fancy enough? Depending on what you are serving in the chaffing dish, often you can drape a large white dinner napkin over the edges (and sometimes under the food) to hide the crinkled aluminum pan. Next time you are in the store, take a look...and btw, they are reusable!
Add Some Color and FUN to Your Cocktails!
Eadible Flowers!
Cooking with edible flowers is back. Not that it ever really went to seed, mind you. In fact, the practice has been around since the days of Julius Caesar. Fast forward almost two thousand years to the blossom-loving reign of Queen Victoria and the flower-power days of the ’60s, and you’ll see that fleurs have been a perennial gastronomic delight for ages. Gelatin-encased pansies, anyone? Here, in time for your spring and summer parties, is an A-to-Z guide to the 10 best edible flowers. Whether sprinkled on a salad, incorporated into a cocktail or ice cubes, or candied for a cake, these blooms promise to add an ambrosial touch to your seasonal entertaining.
BORAGE BLOSSOMS
These beautiful blue, star-shaped flowers from the borage plant taste a bit like cucumber, which is why they’ve been used in salads like this one since The Elizabethan Age. They are also delicious in lemonade and refreshing cocktails like Pimm’s Cup and gin and tonic.
CALENDULA
Known as the “poor man’s saffron,” the sunset-hued marigold flower really does taste like saffron Uncooked marigold petals have a more subtle, slightly spicy taste and add depth to deviled eggs. Try adding them to a gin and tonic or champagne.
ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS
The bright yellow flowers of the courgette or zucchini plant have a delicate and slightly sweet taste. Enjoy them the classic way–stuffed with herbs and goat cheese. How about adding them to a classic diaquiri!
HIBISCUS
Both tart and sweet, hibiscus petals have a cranberry-like flavor that makes them perfect for teas and cocktails. Drop fresh hibiscus buds into glasses of bubbly and let your guests watch them bloom before their eyes.
LAVENDER
Sweet and slightly perfumed-tasting, lavender works well when the buds are sprinkled in champagne and cocktails and over desserts like chocolate cake. Or try it in a lavender peach crisp served with vanilla ice cream.
NASTURTIUMS
These gorgeous flowers have a slightly peppery taste, almost like watercress, which makes them perfect for summer rice paper rolls . You can also stuff a whole flower with a savory mousse or enjoy nasturtium flowers like this with beef carpaccio. Perfect in Bloody Mary's!
PANSIES
Pansies have a slightly grassy—even minty—flavor, so they work well in herb-flavored summer cocktails and fruit salads. For a quick, easy, and festive summer hors d’oeuvre, spread some cream cheese on a small round cracker and top it with a whole pansy.
ROSES
While roses have a strong floral scent, their flavor is quite subtle and fruity. Roses lend themselves well to everything from soups and salads to teas, jams, and desserts. They look great and smell wonderful in anything bubbly!
SAGE FLOWERS
With their soft, yet sweet-savory flavor and beautiful color, sage flowers add dimension to a variety of dishes. For summer, pair them with lemon and other garden treats in a popsicle for a surprisingly refreshing treat. How about a little color in a Vodka and Soda!
VIOLETS
Violets, which come in a range of pastel and vibrant colors, have a sweet and floral taste, making them a perfect companion for everything from salads to iced drinks. They are particularly beautiful when crystallized and used to top frosted cakes and other desserts.
Always Use the Freshest Ingredients!
Crack a bottle of soda or tonic a day or two ago? Get rid of it! Limes or lemons been in the fridge a while? Slice one open. If it's not as pretty and juicy as the day you bought it, throw it away. You get the idea. How often do you throw a cocktail party, or for that matter, it really doesn't matter how often you do or don't. For the few pennies it cost, make the best cocktails for yourself and friends!
Ummm....NO
YES!
Another Small But Important Little Thing!
If you are entertaining outside, always have a back up plan in case it rains, and always have something to weigh down your napkins so they don't blow away! Use Something that fits your party's theme. A shell or piece of coral for an Island theme, large fake diamonds for a black tie affair, a small clay bell pot for an yard party, a colored votive glass holder that coordinates with your color scheme, baseballs for a sports theme...you get the idea!
Outdoor Party Lighting
It doesn't have to be a lighting display to challenge Disney and with a little thought you can achieve spectacular results and spend very little money! Pull out that box of Christmas lights....that's right, Christmas lights. You already have them so why not use them!. You can always find inexpensive (almost throw away) lights at hardware stores for instance and certainly online. You don't have to light every square inch of your space either. Step back and look at your party area from a slight distance. Pick out a few spots in your yard or patio that will look great lit up. Think available power supply. If running extension cords, make sure they are safe and not unsightly. How about battery operated lights? If you go twinkle (steady on please)lights or something a little more industrial, lighting will help set the mood...and btw, maybe couple of those areas could be the food table and bar!
Add a POP of Color!
For your next party, or just for your own enjoyment, buy, arrange or plant groups of brightly colored annuals. Tuck them in between already established shubbery or plant in a large groupings for maximum impact! Let your eyes fall naturally as to where to plant for best visibility. Check into plants that are naturally colorful that will give you that color all year long...Shapes and textures can also play a huge part in the overall look of your party environment. Think $2.00 and under annuals for that instant color without breaking the bank. Carry the colors inside by using the same annuals used outside, inside. Use a platter or shallow bowl filled with the annals, still in their little plastic containers and build up moss to hide the containers (available at craft stores) for a beautiful presentation! After the party, plant your arrangements in your yard! Double Duty!
Let's Heat Things UP!
With so much of the country under snow or experiencing really cold temperatures, (even Florida is in the 40's and 50's), wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to set outside and enjoy the fresh air, the scenery and the sounds of nature while having friends over for cocktails? Well you can! Head to your local hardware store, or nearby Big Box Club and purchase an outdoor portable heater. They start at just under $100.00 and run typically off of propane gas which is readily available to most of us. Read the specs on the unit and determine the heat radius. Once that is done, figure out how much area you want to warm up and buy 1, 2 or 3 or more if needed, to heat your space! MMMM Warm and Toasty! Don't forget to serve Hot Toddy's to all! Look for the recipes in the Cocktail Recipe pages and also on the blogspot!
Create an Interactive Cocktail Party Invitation!
Let your guests know from the minute they open your invitation that they are in for something special! You can create interactive invitations using templates online, many of which are free. You can create it all from scratch or use many of the provided templates which you can edit and make more your own. To make things even more fun, you can add sound bytes in either the form of your voice inviting them to the party with a few details (recording time is oftem limited to 30 seconds) or music that will set the tempo for your party! Along with the fun aspect, there is the practical side. You can get responses almost immediately. Yes we are coming, No, we're sorry we can't make it, or even a Maybe. You will get updates each and every time someone responds and what their answer is. You will also be notified of any changes that occur. On the flip side, if you want to change up a few things or send out a party reminder, you can do that as well. Which ever you decide to do, get to work and email out those interactive party invites!
5 Easy But Impressive Garnishes Anyone Can Make
When it comes to cocktailing, never forget the garnish. That final touch completes the look and often adds a flourish of flavor. The best garnishes are both easy to construct—you don’t want your drink to be a diluted, watery mess by the time you finish—and drop dead gorgeous. From tropical, tiki-inspired fruit garnishes, to herbal cocktail stirrers, here are the most impressive, easiest cocktail garnishes to make at home.
Click on the link below to be taken to the "How Too" Page!
https://www.supercall.com/how-to/cool-cocktail-garnish-tricks
Have the Totally Unexpected!
This idea will fit into almost any cocktail party theme....and if it doesn't....make it fit! Have mini Hibatchis set up on tables with an iced selection of meats, vegetables and fruits for your guests to grill! Have marinated meats, little chunks of steaks, chicken, pork. How about shrimp and lobster pieces or scallops? Mushrooms, bell peppers, pineable chunks....you get the idea, all served with dipping sauces, savory, sweet and firery! Have you ever been to a cocktail party where they did this? There ya go!
Bring Your Own Food
Bring Your Own Booze
We are all friends here. Don't let the cost of having an impromptu cocktail party stop you from having one....Get all your friends together at the last minute when the mood strikes, the weather is perfect and you feel like having some fun! I think you can ask your friends to either bring liquor or food. You can ask some of your friends to bring food and others, the liqor, but not both, and there you have it, a cocktail party! Traditionally if you are asking for BYOB then you are bound by etiqutte to supply the food and something more than chips and dips. That has changed, times have changed, but good times with friends have not. Provide a fun atmosphere, great music and the right mix of friends and no one will mind bringing something along for the party!
Glass Washer!
You may find this lifesaver useful for more than just your cocktail parties! How about holiday dinners where you have (1) cocktail glasses, (2) Water goblets, (3) Red wine glasses, (4) White wine glasses and (5) Dessert wine glasses....Now multiply that times 10 guests at dinner, thats 50 glasses not to mention, pots and pans, dishes, serving pieces and silverware! Easy to use suction cups keep it set firmly in your sink when you want to use it, and small enough to tuck out of the way when you don't!
10 Drinks That Cause Hangovers!
You may want to avoid these cocktails when you are the host of your own cocktail party! Then again, not everyone will see you the morning after unless you also scheduled a brunch! I am sure we all have our own kryptonite....what's yours?
Tequila Sunrise. It is safe to say that anything with tequila in it will make you sick the next day. Don't let the pretty color and good night fool you into believing the sunrise the next morning will be a happy one. Tequila Sunrise does not taste good coming up, and it rarely tastes good going down.
Long Island Iced Tea. Tea from Long Island isn't what it is cracked up to be. Or is it? With a mixture of vodka, tequila, gin, rum and triple sec, do you need anything else that will tell you that you are going to have a nasty hangover in the morning?
Keg Beer. Keg beer will give you one of the nastiest hangovers in the world. One reason is because you can drink a ton of it and not realize you are drinking a ton of it. Something about keg beer says, "Hey, you will wake up with a terrible head ache in the morning and you will wish you drank me from a bottle or can". Also, don't kiss your girl after drinking keg beer all night the next morning. Nasty.
Margaritas. There is that one ingredient again. Tequila! A margarita frozen, on the rocks, sweet or sour is usually really good when drinking it, especially if you cannot taste a lot of tequila right away. On a hot summer day, drinking one right after another will lead to you waking up in the bathroom next to your best friend on the bathroom floor. Where the two of you will be taking turns praying to the God of porcelain, one right after another.
Red Wine. Not white wine, not grape wine, RED WINE. Hangover and headache city before you even sleep to wake up and have a hangover.
Jack and Coke. Jack Daniels is one mean dude, especially the next morning, (if you already haven't tried to fight all of your buddies the night before.) What is that saying, ten feet tall and bulletproof? Yep, that's Jack Daniels, you know him!
Vodka Martini. Whatever flavor you like, even if it is the "Good Vodka," you are going to have a hangover. These days, the martini lovers have so many more flavors to choose from (more flavors equal things that taste better) which means you get careless about how much you drink. I wonder what chocolate martini tastes like coming up when hung over? Never mind, we don't want to know.
Captain and Coke. Captain Morgan will show you who the captain of this ship is in the morning. Spiced Rum and your favorite cola drink will be sure to get the acid reflux going in the morning. Gag much. Don't do it in front of the captain, he may get mad at you.
Champagne. All of the tiny bubbles look so pretty in your little glass. Yeah right, all of the bubbles you see in that glass will go down your throat and straight to your head. Then, they will hang out in your head till morning, and it will feel like every single little tiny bubble you drank just popped right at the very point of your forehead. But most times it tastes great going down.
Anything with Whiskey. We don't have to tell you how whiskey will affect you. At the beginning of your night of partying, we will guarantee that at least one of your friends will say, "Dude, no whiskey tonight". There is a reason for that you know?
Make Your Own Liquor Flavored Rock Candy!
Adult Swizzle Sticks
Google how to make rock candy.....if your kids can do it, so can you! Then also google or head to your local liquor store for liquor flavored essences. Use the liquor flavorings as directed to use flavors in the rock candy recipe...wait a few days and there you have it! Instant fun in a cocktail! It really is the little things that when are all pulled together can make a good cocktail party a great one!
Beets! Who Knew!
In this case we are talking beet juice....How about creating a delicous Bloody Mary with half of your usual Bloddy Mary mix and the other half Beet Juice! Just look what it does for you:
Blood pressure improves...check
Your heart disease risk may drop...check
You may improve your stamina, both outdoor and indoor activity!...check
Your brain may work better..duh and check
Your liver will be lighter...now this is a good one, check
You may be better at fighting chronic diseases...check
You become regular, not normal, just regular...check
Get Wet!
Not everyone is blessed with a private pool in their back yard but don't let that stop you from having a fun, wet, time! Call around to your local rental stores and rent a Dunking Booth! (It might set you back around 200.00 for the day, but well worth it). Make it a fun and interactive activity game tied to Trivial Pursuit perhaps. You know what happens. Whomever looses gets to be dunked and the winners are the ones who do the dunking! May I have another cocktail please....that question was to the pool boy of course....another must!
Disposable Plastic Ware!
I know we have talked about disposables but did you know you can buy them in shapes like these? They are available in limited colors, like red and crystal lol But talk about fun!
Be the Best Host and Think Ahead for Your Guests
Again, think ahead and be ready to come to the rescue of your guests! Most of will serve delicious food at our cocktail party and it goes without saying that onions and or garlic will play a role in some of those appetizers and hors d oeuvres. Have small bowls of pastel mints sitting along side with those bowls of mixed nuts. That way, your guest can refresh their breath while trying to get a phone number or two or three or four!
You Have Heard of Small Plates? Well We're Talking Small Tables!
Not too expensive, stackable or with removable legs. Perfect for placing where your guests will congregate to socialize. A place for them to set cocktails and food. They come in a few different sizes. Pick the one that suits you best!
Cans or Bottles...
That is the Questions!
“Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer. The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them?”...Oh wait, wrong train of thought! The questions is whether there is a difference serving canned beer versus bottled beer at your party? Some say bottled beer tastes much better. Bottles can also break causing a mess and at the end of the evening, heavy to haul to the curb. Bottles tend to be a little more expensive than canned, and not every brand, I don't think, is sold in bottles. Canned beers again, are preferred by some beer drinkers. Most often, canned beer is more economical than its bottled counterpart. If a can drops, no big deal and at the end of the night a bag full of empty beer cans is much easier to carry to the curb than bottles. The good thing is they are both recyclable and should be! SO the answer to the question is solely up to you and your preferences. Canned or Bottled, You decide!
Use Fresh Ice to Make a Cocktail Each and Every Time!
I know. It's so easy to be carrying on a conversation with a guest as you make them another cocktail.....and what do you do? Take their glass, top off the ice and make their drink? NO...Again, it's the little courtesies that make a good party great! If it's that kind of a cocktail, toss out that melted ice from the first cocktail and fill your guests glass up with fresh ice! The drink will taste better (no left over melted ice water) your guests will appreciate that you are thinking of their enjoyment.
Be Ready and Prepared!
As I have already mentioned several times here in the past, being ready and prepared is one of the sure fire methods to an enjoyable and successful cocktail party. Here's one more tip....and to some it may seem a bit OCD LOL! You know all those little bowls you are going to have set around your place with chips, snacks, nuts and mints ect....well fill a quart sized zip lock bag with each of your snacks, that way, when the time comes, you or a friend can just gater a few bags and walk around to each bowl and fill them up! This will help by you not having to walk around with the super sized bags of snacks you bought on sale at the store, or unnecessarily bringing all the bowls to the kitchen for a refil.....Efficient in every way. I know this because Mary Poppins, the efficiency expert, told me so!
Been a While Since Your Last Party?
When you pull out those mixers you didn't use from the last party...Check 'em Out! If your cranberry cocktail looks a little more brown the red...THROW IT OUT! Does your tomato juice or bloddy mary mix not look as red as it should? THROW IT OUT! And how about those fruit juices in cans? Open one, barely take a sip, swish your mouth with it, spit it out and if it tastes overly acidic or like metal, THROW IT OUT!. You get the idea. Never put your guests or yourself in danger by using outdated and possibly tainted anything....If you think it tastes alright but it is past its fresh till date....Up to you, but again, why put something not top notch with your expensive liquor and make less than perfect cocktail for your guests?
If your Cranberry Juice Looks like this...
THROW IT OUT!
If your Cranberry Juice Looks like this...
DELICIOUS!
Are You Using the Right Salt?
You certainly can use regular table salt to rim a glass, but for that professional appearance and taste...use Kosher salt. The size and flavor of that particular crystaline structure is perfect! Check this site for the many different "rimmings" there are and their recipes!
How Glamourous!
Yeah..NOT
Sanizitation!
But when it comes to the well being of yourself, family and friends, sanitizing glasses before each use will cut down on the chances of spreading something not so nice at your party. It's really simple. Have one side of your sink set up or a dish basin for this purpose. The correct procedure for sanitizing dishes with Clorox® Regular-Bleach is to first wash and rinse dishes, glassware, and utensils. After washing, soak for at least 2 minutes in a solution of 2 teaspoons of bleach per 1 gallon of water, drain and air dry. Do not use on non-stainless steel, aluminum, silver, or chipped enamel. It’s important to wash and rinse the dishes first before applying the sanitizing solution because the organics coming off the dishes would react with bleach active, decreasing the concentration.
The secret to the success of this method is to have enough glasses to start the party and enough to get back into circulation as the glasses you just sanitized dry!
Store Those Herbs for the Perfect Cocktails!
Lay mint leaves and other herbs on a damp paper towel. If you find the paper towel is too wet, just gently wring out the water. Wrap up the leaves with the paper towel and place it into plastic bag. Make sure the plastic bag is big enough not to crush the leaves.
Please contact us with any questions
Jim Welborn
302-438-7388
JimWelbornBarServices@gmail.com
and visit
www.JimWelbornBarServices.blogspot.com
for Great Cocktail recipes!
Have a Live Band!
We all have been to an event with a live band at one point in your social lives...but how many have you had one at one of your cocktail parties? Well it's about time. It can be a larger, additional expense, but maybe for that special anniversary, birthday or engagement cocktail party. Check with your friends who may have some ideas/leads for you. Check online of course but I have one other suggestion that may kill two birds with one stone! Get hold of your local college (and even high school). They often have bands, trio's, quartets that would work out wonderfully and many times the charges are either nothing or very little because the exposure is what they want! You never know till you ask! Oh and one other thing...don't be a dick about it, but you can always talk price (hopefully down lol) when inquiring about a bands availability and price.
Simple and Perfect...
Simply Perfect
Japan has a rich tradition of food carving called mukimono. You don't have to be am expert to create simple, attractive garnishes for your cocktails. Rather than cutting a wedge out of an apple for example and sticking it on the rim of your glass, cut a thin slice showing off natures own star created by the seeds in a Granny Smith apple for instance... Float it in the cocktail or gently slide it on to the rim of the glass. Simple and Perfect for an Appletini.
Cocktail Party...OUT!
It's all about getting friends together...right? If you are just too busy to get ready for a cocktail party with all the house cleaning, decorating, shopping and more, call you favorite local watering hole and talk to them about hosting your cocktail party there. They will provide the cocktails, the food and pretty much anything else you would and could get there anyway except all you do is show up and enjoy! Just an idea...but how about choosing a place that you and your friends may not go to all the time for a little bit of a change....something with great views and loaded with ambiance.....Pick one on the water so your friends with boats can sail or motor up, dock and join in on the fun!
With the Summer Heat
Upon Us, (almost)
Make a Punch!
With summer's heat, make sure to have a delicous punch, whether alcoholic, very light or nonalcoholic for your guests to drink. Kind of like having a glass of water between cocktails...it will help your guests pace themselves makig sure they have a great time all day log!
Please contact us with any questions
Jim Welborn
302-438-7388
JimWelbornBarServices@gmail.com
and visit
www.JimWelbornBarServices.blogspot.com
for Great Cocktail recipes!
Go Long Not Deep
Unless you are putting one kind of drink in a cooler, use a cooler or tub filled with ice that is longer rather than deep so that your guests don't have to dig and dig and dig to find their favorite iced beverage. The one pictured is 11.5 inches deep x 26 inches across and 72 inches long. Oh, and btw, think out of the box....the one pictured below is not any ole galvanized tub, it's a horse trough and retails at $18.50 a steal, where the typical tub will set you back around $32.00.
Party Idea!
Hire a Sushi Chef
Ok, I dare ya....How many of you have been to a cocktail party where the host hired a Sushi Chef to make fresh sushi and nigiri right there in front of you...It's fun to watch and certainly fun to eat. You can work out an hourly contract that includes everything or contract so many pieces broken down by type if you like. Don't be surprised, but many, if not all the sushi counters in grocery stores are leased departments meaning that the team is for all intents and purposes, renting that space to make and sell sushi with a portion of the sales going to the grocery store. They most likely have a buisness card navigating you to their website or possibly even a price list right there for you to take home. Best of all, you can taste what to expect right then and there at the store! Check it out!
Summer Food and
Summer Heat!
They Don't Mix
With everyone heading outside enjoying the beautiful weather, remember to keep your party foods safe for your guests. Many favorite summer time foods contain mayonnaise and eggs....and how about shrimp, crab claws and sushi! Hit a big box store or shop online for a Appetizer Tray with Ice
Just and Idea!
Ever wonder if those upper shelf liquors are worth the price? I have. I compare it to my experience with champagne. I, in the past, have tried what would be considered "expensive" champagnes.....and I have to say that the bottle that cost over $300, to me, was no better than what I had come to love and enjoy at around $42 a bottle, and I am talking both extra dry and from the same maker. So, with that said, keep your money in your pocket, or most of it, and hit your local liquor store and check out some of those "upper shelf" liquors in the form of a miniature (bottle)s, and find out what suits your taste buds as well as your wallet!
When is Big, TOO Big?
You tell me!
It's all in fun after all, but I suggest with this cocktail you serve a small dinner plate as well!...and the accruement to crack the lobster and cut the steak....make sure to leave room for the straw LOL My idea would be to make the drink yours by adding a food that you love and maybe friends know you for! How about a "Bloody Mary Buffet" ? Have two pichers of bloody mary mix ready to go, one spicy, one not, then gather all your favorite brunch foods that you think you can add to the cocktail. Have a contest and see who can create the biggest or most sensational cocktail. There has to be at least one rule and that would be, whatever you build, you eat!
Always Be Fresh!
Always have fresh soda on hand whether you are making tonic water, club soda or any other flavor you can pick up at the store. Fresh and delicious and best of all, if you keep the supplies on hand, you will never run out of fresh soda!
Think Safety For Your Guests
We have touched base on this subject a few times, but lets take it a step further. Just in case one or more of your guests imbibes too much, have all the contact information of a local Uber or Lyft driver(s) printed out and ready to go. You may want to do the same thing with a taxi cab company and even going as far as to visit them and ask for a few of their business cards. Look, you invited everyone over for a good time so have a good time. Never be judgemental of a friend who has one or two too many...although I would watch everyone through out the party. It's not that you want to be the safety patrol guy, but you do have responsibilities. The pre printed information or business card will let you discreetly pass on the info the your guest in need with out making a deal out of it and another guest possibly overhearing.
Let the Market be Your Guide in Making Summer Cocktails!
When summer has arrived and you breakout that blender or smoothie maker, let the market tell you what to make! There is nothing better than a cocktail that has been made with in season, fresh fruit! Experiment with flavors and have fun.....
Enlist Some Help!
No matter what size your party, it's good to have help. Don’t be afraid to ask a guest to open wine or carry a tray of hors d'oeuvres. (Or if you have the budget, hire someone.)
Tent It!
With the warmer weather already here or on its way to other parts of the country, gorgeous sunny days are on the menu but so are those thunderstorms that roll in out of no where! Take time to call around or check online for an outdoor tent. One large enough to help with the overflow of guests that won't fit comfortably on your patio (or in your house....imagine wet muddy feet..ummm no). Make sure you shop around becuase prices will vary drastically I have found. Keep the party going without a hitch making sure that you have plenty of beverages available, what ever they are, in the tented area. Crank up the tunes and have a blast!
Vodka Whipped Cream for Finishing Cocktails
This is going to change the whole meaning of raiding the refrigerator!
Plenty of cocktails could benefit from a dollop of vodka-infused whipped cream. Since it comes in a variety of flavors, including caramel, chocolate, vanilla, spearmint, pina colada, strawberry, and white chocolate peppermint you shouldn't have too much trouble concocting the perfect drink. Of course, you aren't limited to creamy cocktails either. Add vodka whipped cream to grown-up ice cream sundaes, not-your-Grandma's apple pie, boozy hot chocolate, whatever your heart desires! This stuff clocks in at 14% ABV, so they're not playing around. This vodka whipped cream will live up to its name and give your cocktails and desserts an extra buzz.
Cast a Way!
There are so many different party themes out there, all you have to do is choose one! After picking your cocktail party's theme, see how creative you can be with bring the party life using everyday items and keeping the cost to a minimum. First, it's more fun that way, your guests will enjoy your efforts and the morning after hopefully all you will have is a little hangover and not an empty wallet! In this case, Cast a Way, think about using drinking jars, mason jars, with a little piece of rafia wrapped and tied around the neck of the glass...Pour a tropical cocktail into it and add a paper umbrella....Presto! A fun tropical way to enjoy a cocktail!
Party in a Box!
No time to plan a party or shop? Stop by your grocers or liquor store and pick up cocktails to go in bottles or boxes. Just add friends, food and music. It's a party!
Combined Your Resources!
Get hold of your best friend, or two or three and throw a great cocktail party together! I know so many times when we plan a party that "WE", meaning ourselves and our bf's, partners or husbands, do it all alone. Not because we think we are singularly the best thing going, we just get into that mode and go....A team effort will help with great ideas, locales, reduce costs and most of all, the work load! The biggest road block will be picking a day when all of you are available for the party....NO one is that important or busy that you can't set aside a Saturday or Sunday to have a wonderful time with friends! P.S. It does help to pick two or three of your best friends LOL!
Keep It Simple
Caprese Skewers
On the way home from work, stop at the grocers and buy cherry tomatoes, both red and yellow, mozzarella balls, fresh basil and 4 inch bamboo skewers. Rinse all the tomatoes off, paper towel dry and skewer along with the mozarella balls adding a smal piece of torn basil in between each item. Brush lightly with a light olive oil , salt and garlic dressing (or use pre-made Italian dressing). Chill and serve!
Too Busy to Run to the Liquor Store?
Take advantage of the delivery service that your local liquor store offers. If they don't deliver or the surcharge is too high, check with larger "big box" stores that sell liquor and offer delivery services....Like Publix! That's right, Publix now offers liquor delivery. You know your brands, you know the prices, you know how much you want and need for your party. Call them with the list and have them deliver while you attend to other party detail!
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