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TIP: Solve the perennial problem of “whose drink is whose” by creating drink tags for each glass. With a larger group, tags that allow names or other personalization are the best bet. While our family picnics are famous for Sharpies-and-tape labels, there are other creative options as well. Try this leaf-inspired version from Martha Stewart for stemmed glasses, or this “less elegant” version for cups and cans. If you’re super-crafty (and you’re not making tags for 50), here’s a reusable tag you can make yourself. |
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Cocktails for a Crowd
By Jennifer Matthews
Our mothers (and grandmothers) had the right idea when it came to the care and feeding of large groups – always have more food than you think you’ll need, and always mix up a delicious punch and encourage guests to help themselves. In fact, offering one or two pre-mixed cocktail choices in addition to wine and beer for guests at a large party or wedding can be a money-saving alternative to a full open bar.
While grandma’s crystal punch bowl set may be gathering dust in the china cabinet, that doesn’t mean you can’t steal her idea for your next party. Offering a signature cocktail (or two) -- in addition to or instead of wine and beer -- can elevate a party to a truly special event. Save yourself the trouble of playing bartender all night by mixing up a few pitchers (or punch bowls) ahead of time, and you’ll make the event a whole lot more fun for you, too!
Step 1: Match the cocktail to your occasion
Think seasonal ingredients and colours – herbs and fruit for the height of summer, ciders and spicier drinks for fall and winter. A few suggestions:
For a wedding – Bellinis; Kir Royale
For a pool party – snow cone cocktails; sangria (tip: freeze fruit the night before to chill drinks without diluting them);
For a backyard barbecue or family picnic – Raspberry Lemonade (spiked with easy-to-make raspberry-infused vodka, explained in our cocktail garden article), Palomas
For an Oscar party – Oscar’s Big Night (can be made with or without alcohol); Cosmopolitans
For a baby shower or afternoon tea – Bubbly Punch, hot tea cocktails
For a dinner party – Manhattans, Martinis (and their many variations), Mojitos (pitcher recipe)
For cottage cocktail hour on the dock – Caesars, natch!
For a Halloween party – Mulled spiked cider
For a mid-winter warm-up – Spiked hot chocolate/coffee/tea – have the mugs ready to go and the coffee ready to brew when you get in from outside. Cocoa or mulled apple cider can be warming in a crock pot while you’re out
For a Holiday Open House – Eggnog, Holiday Bellinis (tip: Have champagne flutes lined up on a pretty silver tray and pre-filled with the apricot nectar, then top with chilled champagne or sparkling wine just before serving) , Cranberry Collins
For a New Year’s Day brunch – Irish and Spanish coffee
Step 2: Calculate your pitcher quantities
Don’t be afraid to consider drink containers beyond the pitcher and punch bowl – try a chilled, hollowed-out watermelon filled with fruity Tropical Pleasure Punch for a pool party, a pretty glass jar filled with Lemonade Moderne and frozen lemon slices for a barbecue, or a crock pot with gently simmering mulled cider for your Thanksgiving gathering.
Once you’ve chosen your container, measure what it will hold. Let’s say your glass pitcher holds 32 ounces, and you’re making cosmopolitans, which are typically around four ounces each. Your pitcher will hold eight servings (32 divided by 4), so your recipe conversion factor is 8. Scaling the single serving to a pitcher of cosmos would then look like this:
½ oz. lime juice x 8 (conversion factor) = 4 ounces (or ½ cup) lime juice
1 ½ oz. vodka x 8 = 12 ounces (or 1 ½ cups) vodka
1 oz. Cointreau x 8 = 8 ounces (or 1 cup) Cointreau
1 oz. cranberry juice x 8 = 8 ounces (or 1 cup) cranberry juice
Orange peel (for garnish)
Remember to record your scaled-up pitcher recipe for future reference!
Step 3: Mix and serve
Pre-mix as many of your ingredients as possible, and keep chilled in the fridge (or warm in a thermos or crock pot for hot drinks) until serving time. A few tips to remember:
--Skip real Champagne for mixing in a cocktail: Cava (Spanish sparkling wine) or Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine) are smart, affordable alternatives
--Add carbonated beverages just before serving to maintain bubbles
--Make serving easy by having glasses pre-rimmed with salt or sugar, garnishes pre-cut and at the ready, plenty of ice on hand, and a cocktail shaker for drinks that require a little extra chilling
--Offer drink tags (see sidebar) so guests can keep track of their cocktails
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Click here for more ideas, tips and recipes for pitcher-perfect drinks...
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