How To Plan A Great New Years Cocktail Party
Classic Cocktail Recipes
Planning a great New Year's Eve cocktail party is fun. From drinks to foods to using the proper tools, let this handy guide help. These tasty beverages are can help ensure a successful cocktail party any time.
This collection of yummy drinks are variations on classic cocktails that have remained popular over time. Pick your main liquors (tequila, gin, vodka, rum, bourbon) and then decide on the liqueurs, fruit juices and garnishes you would like to customize with.
Consider Your Guests
As you plan your cocktail party, consider the guests you have invited and their usual drink preferences. Some may prefer beer or wine over mixed drinks so plan accordingly.
If you have to be concerned with expenses (most of us do), focus on two or three signature cocktails with one or two main liquors and then add a medium quality wine and beer.
Responsible Hosting
As host of the party, it is your responsibility to make sure driving home or sleeping over arrangements are made or taxi cabs are available. For your non-alcohol drinkers and designated drivers, be a thoughtful host and plan some attractive "virgin" drinks or a tasty non alcoholic punch in a pretty glass punch bowl. Stop serving alcohol at least a half hour before the end of the party. Consider even serving a light breakfast and coffee.
Pink Panther
- 1 ounce gin
- 1 ounce dry vermouth
- 1/2 ounce raspberry liqueur
- 1 ounce orange juice
Combine ingredients in a shaker filled with ice; shake and pour into a chilled cocktail glass.
Pear Margarita
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- 1 and 1/2 ounces silver liqueur
- 3/4 ounces simple syrup *
- 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
- pear slices
Combine all ingredients in a tall mixing glass. Add ice and shake vigorously. Pour into a pre chilled Margarita glass. Garnish with a pear slice.
New Old-Fashioned
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1 and 1/2 ounces pear liqueur
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup*
- ripe but firm pear slices
- Maraschino cherries
- splash of fresh lemon juice
- dash of bitters
Mash four slices of pear, one cherry and a splash of lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Add ice, bourbon, pear liqueur,simple syrup and bitters. Shake and strain into an old fashioned glass and garnish with skewered cherries and pear slice.
simple syrup: combine part white sugar to one part water in saucepan. Heat to boiling while stirring over medium heat and then cool.
Gin Rickey
- half a lime
- 1 and 1/2 ounces gin
- 1/4 ounce simple syrup
- club soda
Squeeze half lime into high ball glass over ice. Drop the half shell of the lime into the glass. Add gin and syrup then stir. Fill glass with sparkling club soda.
Tropical Peach- Mango Martini
- one part coconut creme
- one part peach-mango juice
- one part banana liqueur
- splash of coconut rum
Pre chill ingredients in freezer. Once cooled, pour the first three ingredients slowly, over the back side of a spoon into a martini glass. Top with a splash of coconut rum.
Blue Lagoon
- 1 ounce blue curacao
- 1 ounce citrus vodka
- lemon-lime soda
- maraschino cherry and lime slices
Pour the blue curacao and vodka into a highball glass filled with ice. Fill glass with lemon-lime soda. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and slice of lime.
Spicy Sausage Cheese Balls
Spicy Sausage Cheese Balls are a great choice for your cocktail party. Only three ingredients, make ahead and freeze.
Food For Your Party
You may want to have a cocktail hour before dinner and serve some light finger foods or you may have your cocktails along with heavy hor-d'oeuvres. Potluck dinners (where everyone brings a favorite dish) are popular. Either way, take some time to plan food to compliment your cocktails. It's impossible to have a great cocktail party without great food. You don't have to slave in the kitchen for days before the party. If you can, consider having a catering company to do your spread.More realistically there are many great recipes that are quick and easy to prepare. Below are a few to help get you started.
Other Cocktail Party Foods
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/bacon-wrapped-chicken-bites-114537.aspx
Mouth watering stuffed mushroomshttp://allrecipes.com/recipe/mouth-watering-stuffed-mushrooms/
Easy Smeezy Cheese Ball http://allrecipes.com/recipe/easy-smeezy-cheese-ball/detail.aspx
Types of Bar Glasses
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeOther Helpful Tips
- serve cocktails in sparkling clear clean glassware
- use correct glass for cocktail type (see below)
- never fill glasses completely full
- garnish,garnish,garnish
- provide drink stirs and cocktail napkins
- always measure liquor using a jigger or measuring cup
- consider practicing your cocktails before the party
- use cocktail shaker with top, ice tongs, ice bucket, long handled mixing spoon