Selecting a Signature Cocktail

Hopefully you’ll get a chance to throw such a big party that the idea of a assigning the word ’signature’ to trays of cocktails seems fitting. But then even for more casual or intimate occasions, a beverage with meaning might be in order.

Birthdays and weddings are easily some of the most appropriate functions. Maybe you’re a master bartending pro who can whip something up that puts a predictable old Cosmo to shame. But really, all you have to do is Google “cocktail recipes” to see how many websites offer massive lists of recipes to browse for ideas.

Some things to keep in mind –

Gathering Size: When you’re catering a party of 600, be mindful of expensive concoctions that require a number of different pricey ingredients. Choose the best alcohol you can afford, but unless you’re schmoozing with the rich and famous, no one is going to care if the vodka you’re using cost $300 or $30 per bottle.

Audience Style: There’s no rule of thumb here, just use your best judgement. Pay attention to what your friends order and adjust drink strength, exoticness and flavor to suit. You’re not going to please everyone – but with some decent research of both their tastes and recipe ideas, you’ll find something that works for the crowd as a whole.

Color: If you want to be all serious about colors at an event like a wedding, you’re going to have to keep this in mind while selecting a cocktail. When everything around people is red, red, red…a lime green concoction will either be a delightful departure or stick out like crazy.

Popularity: Ideally, you’ll find a drink that’s unexpected, delicious and says something about you. Quite the tall order, right? Well, don’t shoot yourself in the foot by thinking that if you stick with something common everyone will love it. Sure, you can make a Whiskey Sour the cocktail of the night. But don’t try to trick your guests into thinking that the name of the drink is “Rachel Rules” – they’re gonna laugh at you. 

Taste Tests: Don’t neglect to try out your signature cocktails before serving. And that means more than 10 minutes before the party starts. What may sound fantastic could taste like a Jolly Rancher that’s been stuffed between car seat cushions for three years. And besides, testing is part of the fun!

Here are some good cocktail recipe websites for you to start searching…

That’s The Spirit (3000 cocktails – search by name, ingredient, popularity, etc.)
Drinks Mixer (+11000 recipes – search by name, ingredient, alcohol content, popularity, calories, etc.)
Taste.com.au (1400 cocktails – editors picks, search by budget, occasions)