Ole Red Beverage Director Cassie Wade offers clever ideas for festive cocktails that will wow your party guests.
1. As with cookies, cocktails are best made in batches.
Youâve got tons of people coming over. Just because youâre the one prepping the food and drinks doesnât mean you should miss out on the fun. The key to enjoying yourself as the host is a strategically stocked bar cart. Donât worry about having every liquor represented. We say this with love: Just keep it simple, stupid. That means selecting two wines â a red and a white â one style of beer, and a single type of liquor. (Cassie recommends a dark liquor like whiskey or bourbon this time of year. We like to think it warms our cold, dead hearts.)
That way, you can offer beer, wine, or an old fashioned to the purists and make a festive yet simple wine-based cocktail for those looking to get into a little trouble. Weâre partial to Cassie’s own concoction that she has dubbed as the Rich Mahogany. Its recipe can easily be adapted for a party of 100, 10, or one â hey oh! Mix red blend wine, pinot noir, or shiraz â nothing too dry â some bourbon, orange bitters, and a splash of something sweet like agave nectar or simple syrup. Prepare the cocktail up to a day in advance.
2. Vodka soda ⌠but then make it fashion.
This Ole dog doesn’t want to learn new tricks, which is why we love classic vodka sodas and gin and tonics. But instead of serving them plain, add a special touch that gives your guests the impression that the burnt-out twinkle lights on your front porch totally havenât been hanging there since Christmas 2007. The night before your party, freeze a bunch of ice cubes that youâve garnished with fresh cranberries, orange peels, sage, and the like. Never underestimate the power of a sprig of rosemary. Blake used one at a party once. To this day, people still confuse him with Martha Stewart.
3. Donât sweat the small stuff.
Cassie gets it. How a cocktail looks is key, but that can be intimidating to someone whose prior hosting experience is limited to serving pigs in a blanket from the freezer aisle. No judgement here â those weenies are damn delicious. Donât get too wrapped up presentation. Youâd be surprised how the swap of a glass can drastically improve a drinkâs appearance. For large-batch cocktails, simply set out empty glasses that guests can adorn and garnish according to preference. If a drink looks ugly, they have no one to blame but themselves. Same goes for the sweaters theyâre wearing.
4. Improvise. Ditch the egg whites.
If you love a whiskey sour but the thought of handling raw eggs holds you back from making the cocktail, weâve got to ask: Have a can of chickpeas lying around the house? Yes? Get ready to go full MacGyver. When making hummus for the vegetable platter, reserve the juice found in the can of chickpeas, known by chefs as âaquafaba.â (Good party joke: When someone asks what your astrological sign is, tell them âaquafaba.â Everyone will laugh. At how stupid that joke was.) Aquafaba replaces the need of egg whites while still maintaining the silky, frothy texture you love. This is a party, so just remember to shake it real good â and the cocktail, too.
5. Be hospitable, ya little jerk.
After youâve charmed your guests with your wit and stunning good looks, leave them with something lasting to remember you by. If youâre whipping up your own simple syrup for the cocktails youâre serving â emphasis on simple â might as well make enough to turn into parting gifts.
Cassie swears by this recipe for Holiday Simple Syrup:
Round up any empty liquor and vinegar bottles, clean âem up, and decorate them with a bow or glitter or fish hooks or whatever until your heartâs content. Once youâve prepared the simple syrup, distribute into bottles and cap with pour spouts. You can find a large pack of spouts on the cheap at lots of liquor stores or online, and the syrup will keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks. If you attach a recipe card for cocktail that uses simple syrup, your guests will love you and probably want to marry you, so hope youâre cool with that!
