Host With the Most!

Plan your party well in advance.

Give your guest at least a couple of weeks notice.

Unfortunately, no one seems to know what RSVP means nowadays so have more food, drink and supplies that you think you need.

Once you have selected the cocktail or cocktails you plan to serve make sure you have read the full list of ingredients and have everything you need BEFORE your guests arrive.

The word “cocktails” tends to connotate some sense of sophistication.  Don’t be afraid to play that up.  Aim high, your guests will appreciate your efforts and it will make your affair even more memorable.  Granted, everything is so causal nowadays but don’t be afraid to ask your guest to dress up if you want a more formal affair.  You have but a lot of energy and effort into hosting a cocktail party, its not asking too much for your guests but some energy and effort into dressing up.  This doesn’t have to mean formal attire, but business attire is not asking too much.  No t-shirts or cutoffs allowed.  Who knows, you may start a trend and you may find your guests welcome the requirement.

NO CELL PHONES.  That’s right, have your guests keep their cell phones securely lock in their cars.  Cells phone are anti-social, cocktail parties are pro-social.

Make sure your party space is clean and uncluttered.  Yes, that means dusting.

If your space has acfireplace use it, unless the weather temperature negates it.  Your guest will love the cozy warmth it provides the space, especially the ones that don’t have access to a fireplace themselves. I suggest three, 3 Hour Logs, two on the bottom one on top, nestled between them.  This gives you a great fire that you don’t have to attend to and it should last the time span of your party.

Depending on your budget, make or purchase an arrangement of flowers for your party space and a small one in the restroom.

Greet your guests at the door if at all possible.

Go all out to make your guests feel welcome and comfortable.  They will really appreciate your efforts and it will put them at ease.

It is your responsibility to introduce your fellow guests to each other.  Don’t assume they will do it themselves.  The Who Am I game works well.  Prepare 3x1 inch slips of paper and print on each one the name of a famous person.  Tape it on the back of each one of your guests without them seeing the name.  Now have your guests mingle around asking other quests for clues as to who they are regarding the name on their back.  

Choose good background music.  Mix it up with different genres and different decades.  Factor in your guest’s tastes if you are privy to them.  You could even ask your guests to each bring some of their favorite music, just make sure you have the required hardware to play it.

Low lighting helps set the mood.  You probably noticed that all bars and cocktail lounges have low lighting, it’s more relaxing for the eyes. Use dimmers if you have them.  The use of lanterns, candles and votives create a dramatic yet relaxed atmosphere to entertain in.

Ice. Always have plenty of fresh ice.  NEVER reuse ice.  Clear ice is best.  You can try to make clear ice at home, it’s worth giving it a try.  The key to clear ice is removing air and impurities from the water.  Boil water.  Let it cool.  Boil it again.  Let cool.  Fill ice trays.  Filling them with hot filtered water can create clearer ice by slowing down the freezing process.  Do this the day before so you can make a large batch. However, buy a bag of ice just in case.

Get a bar mat.  Like everything, they are available online.  These really help control spills, keep the glasses steady and keep your work surface clean and dry.  They are really easy to clean and they are not expensive.  Plus, they will make you look like a pro.

Have plenty of clean bar rags for the inevitable spills and accidents.

Always use fresh fruit and fruit juices.  The best ingredients make the best drinks!

Keep all carbonated beverages refrigerated or on ice.  Cut down on waste by using small bottles or cans of carbonated mixers unless you are making a big batch of cocktails or a punch.

Never used diet mixers.  The artificial ingredients adversely affect the outcome of your efforts.  If you are counting calories that closely, you should probably pass on a cocktail altogether.

Serve plenty of water to accompany the cocktails.  Help keep everyone hydrated.

If you are expecting more than six guests make your cocktails in a batch.  Chose one or two contrasting recipes and expand the ingredients by the number of guests.  Pre mix the ingredients in pitchers and keep refrigerated.  Add the alcohol, ice and mixer when you serve.

An easy to serve punch can be made out of most cocktail recipes.  Take the cocktail recipe for a single cocktail and multiply it by your number of guests times two.  With a punch, the guests can serve themselves, giving you more time to spend with your guests.  You can keep your punch cold without diluting it by making ice with your base beverage.  IE: You’re your punch uses cranberry juice for its base fill a medium sized plastic bowl full of cranberry juice and freeze overnight.  After you have mixed all your punch ingredients into your punch bowl, add the cranberry ice you made.  Now you will have cold punch that will not get watery!

Some syrups required for certain cocktails are easy to prepare.  Simple syrup (half water-half sugar) or honey syrup (half water-half honey) are no brainers.  Many others are not always worth the extra effort, in my opinion.  I have tried and the results have been mixed at best.  Bottled sugar-based flavorings work for me but if you are a purist, try making your own.

Don’t spend all your time bartending.  If your party size is more than four people, don’t take requests.  Plan on offering two or three rounds of cocktails, featuring a different cocktail for each.  Even though you are hosting the party that doesn’t you can’t enjoy everyone’s company too!

Don’t be afraid to experiment with the cocktail recipes if you desire.  They are guidelines.  Be creative.  A little more of this, a little less of that.  The best cocktails are the ones you and your guest like the best.  

Have plenty of cocktail glasses on hand.  Ideally you would have highball (tall) glasses, rocks or old-fashioned glasses and stemmed cocktail or martini glasses.  Different cocktails require different glasses.  Presentation matters!

Always serve your drinks in sparkling clean glasses.  Being handed a drink in a dirty glass is a major thirst killer.  Always clean each glass after use and before you use it again.  It easy and quick especially if you use a bottle washer or large sponge. And that way you don’t have to worry about whose glass was whose.  In my opinion, your cocktails should have the same presentation as you would get going out for a drink.  No lipstick or germs on the rim of a glass allowed!

Straws.  I like straws.  A good cocktail is part presentation and a straw adds to the presentation.  It has a purpose too.  It makes the cocktail easier to drink and also double as a swizzle stick to stir with, as the cocktails ages.  Never use a bendy straw for a cocktail and never use a clear or striped fast-food straw.  Those are for milkshakes.  The best straws for cocktails are black, blue or red.

A good set of bar tools are a big help in creating cocktails.  They are available in a wide range of styles and prices.

Always garnish your cocktails.  Depending on the cocktail, finish them with a paper parasol, Maraschino cherry, pineapple spear, candy cane, orange wheel, or a lemon or lime wedge.  Be creative. Added value!

Always have plenty of cocktail napkins and coasters to counter the beverage moisture condensation.

ALWAYS serve food.  Never serve alcohol without food to go with it.  Have the food out in advance so your guests can start to eat before they start to drink.  It can be elaborate (ribs, meatballs, wings and cold cuts or cheese platters, smoked Salmon) which your guests will surely cherish or simple (pizza, chips and vegetables with dip, Cheese ball and crackers, nachos, mixed nuts, seasoned popcorn, Chex mix, melted cheese over tater tots, pretzels, etc.).  But whatever you serve, have plenty of it.

Always have non-alcoholic choices for guests that don’t drink.  Never try to force a drink on someone who doesn’t want one.  Really bad form.

A little added entertainment always helps.  Amateur magic tricks, Charades, cards and even board games help to get your guests to mingle and interact.  And that’s a good thing.

Avoid discussing politics and religion if at all possible.   Nothing will pour ice water on all your efforts more than a nasty heated discussion.  Save that for another time and another place.  There are always plenty of other conversation topics.

As the evening winds down, cut the alcohol content way back for the last round of cocktails to give your guest a chance to process the alcohol. Three rounds of drinks over a two- or three-hour period should be enough.

Always thank your guests for attending and see them to the door when they are ready to exit.

Don’t feel bad or unappreciated if your cocktail party efforts aren’t reciprocated by some or all of your guests.  Not everyone can or should entertain.  It’s a gift and an art.  Be honored if you have it.