Organizing a Cocktail Party........

D

DETAILKING

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I am having (hosting) a cocktail party in a few weeks and wanted some input.



The plan is to have drinks, beer, wine, and cocktails, and some light food (appetizers and orderves).



What is a good time to start? I don't want to start it too late but if I start it too early people might be disappointed there is not going to be a TON of food like a full dinner.



Any ideas for the menu?



How can I keep the drinks simple, I have a lot of liquor but don't want it to get out of hand making a ton of different drinks. Thanks!
 
I'd just keep it simple, have a nice Merlot and Chardonay for wine, whatever kind of beer you like, maybe some margarita mix, redbull, vodka, cranberry, orange juice, Captain, and Diet Coke.



Usually when I bartend at weddings people can pick from one of these drinks without being disappointed. But it all depends on taste, and who you are hosting. If these are business associates or something you may want to keep it a little conservative so you don't look like a boozer :)



Hope this helps, I'm only 19 and don't drink so my views may be flawed a little.



By the way- - For the menu I think something like shrimp/cocktail sauce, cheese, meatballs, and then some fruit on a stick.



The fruit on a stick can simply be slices of oranges, pineapple, grapes, honeydew, cantaloupe, etc..

and then buy a watermelon and stick the sticks in this to make a nice decoration as well.
 
start at around 8 and if you make invitations, specify "Afterdinner"



my suggestion for liquor is:



orange juice

cranberry juice

club soda

coke

diet coke



most of these mixers can be used even after the party so it doesnt go to waste. you can make quite alot of drinks with that
 
8:15, I'd say for a cocktail party get vermouth, collins mix, sour mix, red bull, lime juice, triple sec (you can make a mean margarita with just lime juice, triple sec and tequila), club soda, tonic water, cranberry juice. For classic cocktails you're gonna be looking to have some high-quality gin and vodka on hand, i'm partial to Bombay and Absolut myself.



Depending on how drunk you want to get your guests, hunch punch is a winner too. Just make up a bowl of punch, and add everclear 190 to taste (I find about 1/3-1/2 bottle per gallon of punch is a good ratio).
 
I always just mix up 1/4 orange juice, 1/4 pineapple juice, 1/4 cherry juice, and 1/4 captians for my hunch punch. Easy and quick to make even when you yourself have had to much to drink. :)
 
Corey Bit Spank said:
hors devours!
Click to expand...



"Hors d'oeuvre" if you want to get picky about spelling... it literally means "outside the work" or apart from the main dish.



Last time we had a cocktail party we had it at 4:30PM and the invites hinted that there are numerous restaurants to choose from in the area for a light after party meal. 4:30 was perfect because people could go to dinner afterwards and didn't stay late!



If you don't mind people staying late then shoot for 8PM and mention ont the invites that there are numerous restaurants to choose form in the area for a "light before party meal."
 
DFTowel said:
"Hors d'oeuvre" if you want to get picky about spelling... it literally means "outside the work" or apart from the main dish.



Last time we had a cocktail party we had it at 4:30PM and the invites hinted that there are numerous restaurants to choose from in the area for a light after party meal. 4:30 was perfect because people could go to dinner afterwards and didn't stay late!



If you don't mind people staying late then shoot for 8PM and mention ont the invites that there are numerous restaurants to choose form in the area for a "light before party meal."
Click to expand...





Good call!





Check out this website for food/drink/planning ideas, too: http://www.epicurious.com/
 
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