Signature Drinks or a Full Bar?

Edited by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

Wondering what to serve your party guests? Signature drinks are a lot of fun; you can choose to serve a “signature” cocktail or two, in addition to wine, beer, and soft drinks, without the expense and work of having a full bar. Such libations get the conversation flowing and invite your guests to become their own mixologists, with the proper ingredients and garnishes. Print up the recipes on cards to place by the glasses and alcohol.

For a classic party, nothing beats gin and vodka martinis, with a garnish bar that goes beyond the traditional pimiento-stuffed olive to include cheese-stuffed olives (blue, goat, and feta are great choices) as well as olives stuffed with garlic, jalapeños, anchovies, and almonds. The advantage of using a neutral spirit such as gin or vodka for your signature drinks is that you can have a couple of traditional mixers on hand, such as tonic water, Collins mix, and juice for those who may want something different.

Champagne is, of course, another classic. You can spin classic champagne cocktails in many directions: using a bit of Cointreau, Chambord, crème de cassis, amaretto, or Midori, you can change the color and complexion of these classic drinks. You can also make a classic champagne cocktail using a rose champagne.

The other option is to organize a full bar, which can seem like a chore and a storage problem, but is certainly the swankiest way to go. Here is a basic bar setup for serving 20 people. Multiply upward or downward depending on your guest list. Remember to personalize it by taking your guests and their preferences into consideration.

Adapted from Happy Holidays from the Diva of Do-Ahead, by Diane Phillips, 2006. Used by permission of the Harvard Common Press.

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