Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Cocktail Party To Enjoy Life


The first step in cocktail party provision is to create your guest list. You do not want to target one personality type. Variety is the spice of life. Include guests that are interesting, cheerful, forthcoming and friendly. If you ar hosting a business cocktail party, don’t be afraid to exclude friends. If your business is aerospace engineering, your neighbor would probably not have much in common with the other guests. So carefully select the right guests for the proper party typeOnce your guest list is created, you need to create a budget and a checklist. Be sure to consider everything when creating a budget. You will need to allow for: food; invitations; cocktails; bar supplies; ice; drinking glasses; decorations; a bartender; a caterer. A bartender and a caterer ar optional, of course. A checklist will keep you on track with your cocktail company provision and keep you from forgetting something.

The third step is to send out the invitations. You want to send these out at least two weeks in advance of the cocktail party. Invitations can be professionally printed, or easily made by you using some of the pop software products available. Be sure to ask your guests to RSVP.

The next step in cocktail party provision is to create your menu. Cocktail party menu provision allows you to get originative with the food. Cocktail party food usually consists of “finger food,” such as hors d’oeuvres and appetizers, creating great flexibility. Decide how you plan to serve the food: on trays or buffet style. Plan to place small bowls of snacks and nuts about the room so guests can nibble. Include foods that can be prepared a day or two in advance. This will save you time and stress on the day of the party.
Now for the fun part: the cocktails! You can serve wine and beer only, or you can prefer for a stocked bar. For a fancier style party, you may wish to consider champagne. An important consideration in Cocktail Party Planning is whether or not to hire a bartender. One option is to set up a bar area, and allow guests to serve themselves. If you ar hosting a large party, a bartender is a wise choice. You will be busy with other host or stewardess duties. A bartender can be useful in monitoring the guests to be sure none of them ar drinking too much to drive.

It is not a bad idea to have a designated driver on hand if you can swing it. It is not uncommon astatine really large parties to have a “taxi” service so to speak, which consists of a van and a teetotaler. It is always better to be safe than sorry. If a designated driver is non an option, have the phone number handy of a reputable local cab company just in case.

There are some other things to remember when cocktail party planning. Make sure you have enough serving dishes and glasses. Depending on the cocktails you serve, you may need the following: wine glasses; highballs; tumblers; martini glasses; beer mugs; margarita glasses. You will need plenty of ice. Allow non only ice for serving, but for icing down beverages as well.

Basic stock bar beverages include vodka, red and white wines, beer, and whiskey. A more advanced bar would admit gin, tequila, vermouth, triple sec, bourbon, and rum.

Beer kegs are a great option for a party. They can be chilled in advance and your guests get beer on tap. Don’t forget mixers! The most common include: orange juice; tonic water; cola; ginger ale; oranges; lemons; limes; margarita mix. The mixers will depend mostly on what cocktails you offer. Include soft drinks and bottled water for those that ar not drinking alcohol. Prepare to offer coffee as well. You will need coffee, sugar, cream, mugs, coffee maker, etc.

Select the euphony you plan to play, and have CD’s on hand anterior to the party day. Do your shopping a few years in advance. Try to get as much as potential done before the day of the party. The day before the party, do your decorating, set up serving tables, and set up the bar area. You will be busy on party day with other activities, such as table setting, icing down party beverages, creating your flower arrangements, and preparing any food items that need to be fresh, such as fruits and salads.

Be sure to allow yourself sufficient time to review your checklist. You will need time to get dressed for the party. Be a little selfish if you can; take a nice restful soak in the tub and unwind before the party. You want to be totally refreshed when your guests arrive. You successfully completed your cocktail company planning, so now you deserve to enjoy the event. Relax and have fun. Your guests will enjoy themselves much more if they see that their host or stewardess is enjoying the party as well.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Recipes For Two Great Cassis Cocktails


Today you get two great cocktail recipes, similar but different, for the price of one. On Father’s Day I received a bottle of Cartron Crème de Cassis and mentioned it on Twitter. I soon received a tweet from kingvonelk (Kelvin Kong) with an interesting recipe to try: 1/3 each of Gin, Dry Vermouth, and Crème de Cassis.

It sounded like something definitely worth trying, so I gave it a go. It was delicious (a trifle on the sweet side) with the Cassis dominating the flavors. After requesting the name of this delectable cocktail from Kelvin via Twitter, I started doing some research on the web and discovered a cocktail with similar ingredients: the Magique. Kelvin soon messaged me with the name of his cocktail: the Paris. The Paris cocktail has been around a while: it shows up in the Savoy Cocktail Book (1930) under the name “Parisian Cocktail”.

In the Magique, the flavor of the Vermouth comes out more as that ingredient predominates, resulting in a dryer cocktailthat still delivers that great Cassis flavor. So if you’re looking for a good Cassis-based cocktail, these two should be high on your list. Try the Magique if you want something on the dry side; the Paris if you want something a little sweeter.

The two dominant ingredients in these cocktails are the Crème de Cassis and the Dry Vermouth. When buying Crème de Cassis, you should avoid the really cheap stuff that my wife says tastes like cough syrup, and stay in the $20 or higher price range. Having a bottle of Crème de Cassis around the house is also your gateway to great apertifs like Kir and Kir Royale.

As for the Vermouth, Noilly Prat is a good, dry French Vermouth that will improve your Martinis as well provide a nice boost to these cocktails, so pick some up if you don’t already stock it.

Paris Cocktail
1 oz Bombay Sapphire® Gin
1 oz Cartron Crème de Cassis
1 oz Noilly Prat® Vermouth

Combine ingredients in a shaker half full of ice. Shake enthusiastically while remembering your last romantic night in Paris (use your imagination if necessary). Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and garnish with a twist of lemon. Salut!

Magique

1 oz Bombay Sapphire® Gin
½ oz Cartron Crème de Cassis
1 ½ oz Noilly Prat® Vermouth
Combine ingredients in a shaker half full of ice. Shake enthusiastically while imaging a magique night in Paris. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and garnish with a twist of lemon.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Cocktail Recipes With Vodka

Transparent and nearly as odorless as spa water, vodka has little recognizable flavor of its own — putting it as the most suitable ingredient for composing a variety of cocktail recipes with vodka. When you blend vodka into cocktails, it exaggerates the flavors of other constituents. Vodka can also come infused with other lovely ingredients like strawberries, spices, and even chocolate.
First found from Eastern Europe, vodka was originally discovered in the 9th century, but the esteem of vodka was not seen in the west until the 20th century. Vodka can be stirred or shaken, and vodka cocktails are as easy to prepare as they are to quaff. No wonder that 25% of alcohol sold contains vodka. With just a few constituents, vodka can be used to make many of distinctive cocktails.
Nevertheless, the grade of your cocktails is in relation to the grade of the vodka you are using. A cocktail that was made with a low grade bottle of vodka will be a stark contrast from a cocktail made with a $20 bottle of vodka. You don’t have to spend a vast amount, but try to find a good compromise. Usually, vodka found on the cheap shelves of the off license is the worst and least flavorsome when it comes to making cocktails. Instead of reaching for the bottom bottles, why not try being adventurous with the bottles from the pricier shelves?
An important part of producing cocktails recipes with vodka is understanding all the other elements. Creating cocktail recipes would not be the same without the other elements. If the cocktail lacks the correct taste or kick, you can improve its interest by putting in flavorings. You can utilize fresh elements like chili peppers, strawberries, apples, lemons, limes, or even herbs. Although the whole process takes a month, it is absolutely worth it. Readily add the desired elements to the vodka bottle and leave it to stand in a dark corner for about four weeks — or even longer, if you desire. The longer the drink sits with the elements, the more potent the aroma and the character will be.
Finally, one last aspect that is extremely useful in making cocktails recipes with vodka, is to always check that the cocktail glass is the same in temperature to the vodka itself. When serving cold cocktails, your shot glasses need to be iced. In the same issue, warm cocktails must be issued in warm glasses. If you wish to chill a glass, empty a bag or two of ice cubes in a portable chiller and insert the glasses inside of it. Perhaps, place the glass inside of a freezer for sixty to eighty seconds prior to delivering the ready cocktail. If you require warm glass, just pour warm water over the receptacle before emptying the warm cocktail inside.
Whether you’re a newbie to mixing cocktails or an expert, it is relatively simple to create tasty cocktails using vodka. All you need to do is use your imagination and you will be able to make a beautiful drink that everyone will enjoy.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Enjoy Cocktail Recipes With Vodka

Transparent and nearly as odorless as spa water, vodka has little recognizable flavor of its own — putting it as the most suitable ingredient for composing a variety of cocktail recipes with vodka. When you blend vodka into cocktails, it exaggerates the flavors of other constituents. Vodka can also come infused with other lovely ingredients like strawberries, spices, and even chocolate
First found from Eastern Europe, vodka was originally discovered in the 9th century, but the esteem of vodka was not seen in the west until the 20th century. Vodka can be stirred or shaken, and vodka cocktails are as easy to prepare as they are to quaff. No wonder that 25% of alcohol sold contains vodka. With just a few constituents, vodka can be used to make many of distinctive cocktails.
Nevertheless, the grade of your cocktails is in relation to the grade of the vodka you are using. A cocktail that was made with a low grade bottle of vodka will be a stark contrast from a cocktail made with a $20 bottle of vodka. You don’t have to spend a vast amount, but try to find a good compromise. Usually, vodka found on the cheap shelves of the off license is the worst and least flavorsome when it comes to making cocktails. Instead of reaching for the bottom bottles, why not try being adventurous with the bottles from the pricier shelves?
An important part of producing cocktails recipes with vodka is understanding all the other elements. Creating cocktail recipes would not be the same without the other elements. If the cocktail lacks the correct taste or kick, you can improve its interest by putting in flavorings. You can utilize fresh elements like chili peppers, strawberries, apples, lemons, limes, or even herbs. Although the whole process takes a month, it is absolutely worth it. Readily add the desired elements to the vodka bottle and leave it to stand in a dark corner for about four weeks — or even longer, if you desire. The longer the drink sits with the elements, the more potent the aroma and the character will be.
Finally, one last aspect that is extremely useful in making cocktails recipes with vodka, is to always check that the cocktail glass is the same in temperature to the vodka itself. When serving cold cocktails, your shot glasses need to be iced. In the same issue, warm cocktails must be issued in warm glasses. If you wish to chill a glass, empty a bag or two of ice cubes in a portable chiller and insert the glasses inside of it. Perhaps, place the glass inside of a freezer for sixty to eighty seconds prior to delivering the ready cocktail. If you require warm glass, just pour warm water over the receptacle before emptying the warm cocktail inside.
Whether you’re a newbie to mixing cocktails or an expert, it is relatively simple to create tasty cocktails using vodka. All you need to do is use your imagination and you will be able to make a beautiful drink that everyone will enjoy.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Special Vodka Cocktail Recipes

Vodka is like the actor that never steals the spotlight, but always makes the other actors shine. Because of its almost non-existent taste, vodka goes perfectly with almost any ingredient that you can imagine. If you’re looking to create a sweet, sour, or spicy cocktail, vodka can fill the bill and be the perfect matching spirit.
Although there are plenty of cocktails that have vodka as a main ingredient — such as the Screwdriver, which calls for orange juice and vodka — some of the more interesting cocktail recipes containing vodka are the ones that will really make your party memorable. Most people have had vodka before to some extent, and are not adverse to trying something new with it as the main ingredient.
One recipe worth trying out is a cocktail known as a Minty Chocolate Vodka. First, mix 22 mls each of vodka, white cream of chocolate, and green cream of mint. Shake the combination well, strain, and pour the liquid into a single shot glass that has already been chilled. The Minty Chocolate Vodka is a cocktail that will have your guests coming back for more.
Everyone’s heard of a Bloody Mary, so why not try this unique variation at your next cocktail party? It’s called the Fresh N’ Fruity Bloody Mary. First, use a muddler to crush six to eight fresh raspberries in a cocktail shaker. Add 88 mls of vodka with orange zest, 66 mls of fresh orange juice, 55 mls of cranberry juice, and 22 mls each of raspberry-flavored liqueur and fresh lime juice, then shake. Add in three or four ice cubes and pour into a tall cocktail glass. Garnish your Fresh N’ Fruity Bloody Mary cocktail with a fresh raspberry.
The Melon Coconut Sensation is the perfect drink to serve when you’re relaxing by the pool, sunning at the beach, or just hanging out with a couple of friends. This tropical drink is made by adding 88 mls of vodka to 132 mls of fresh pineapple juice. Then add 22 mls each of melon-flavored liqueur and coconut rum liqueur. Serve it in a tall Collin’s glass and garnish the cocktail with a wedge of fresh lime. Your guests are sure to love this drink!
Try this next cocktail recipe on a beautiful autumn day. It’s called the Sweet Apple Vodka. First, press about 4 fresh ginger slices on the bottom of a cocktail shaker with a muddler or a pestle. Then add 176 mls of fresh apple juice, 66 mls of bison vodka, and 22 mls each of sugar syrup and apple schnapps liqueur. Strain the liquid and pour it into a Collin’s glass over crushed ice. Finish off the cocktail by grating nutmeg over the surface and garnishing it with a slice of fresh apple.
It’s possible to come up with a completely original cocktail recipe that contains vodka all on your own. Learn as much as you can about popular ingredients for cocktails such as flavored alcoholic spirits and flavored syrups in order to experiment with combinations that will be all your own.