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Home > Blogs > The Lounge Lizards > Archives > 2007 > December > 31
Monday, December 31, 2007
Last minute drink ideas for New Years’
Drinks by the pitcher
Good party planning is all about options. The more options you have, the more likely you and your guests are to enjoy the party. If your party includes a large number you might consider making your drinks by the pitcher, which can help in preventing traffic jams. There are several advantages of making your drinks this way. First, much of the work can be done ahead of time, allowing you to spend more time with your guests. Second, you can better estimate how much of everything you’re going to need — hopefully, eliminating that embarrassing moment when you run out of something. Third, preparing your drinks ahead of time gives you more options. Just like a mixer, the beverage you’ve created in your pitcher can be used as a base for cocktails or mocktails (alcohol-free cocktails).
Tip: Notice in each of the recipes below we used parts rather than ounces. This allows you to easily scale your recipes up or down based on the number of guests you are anticipating.
Here’s one way this scenario could play out:
Let’s start with the basic punch recipe …
Party punch
1 part cranberry juice
1 part grapefruit juice
Add to the pitcher and stir.
Fill a rocks or highball glass with ice cubes and then fill glass with punch.
Glass: Rocks or highball
Garnish: Optional
Tip: Cut fresh fruit into small pieces, pat dry. Spread fruit out across a cookie sheet and place on sheet in the freezer for several hours. Remove from freezer and use as ice in your party punch.
Want some fizz?
Fill a glass with ice cubes and then add punch about 2/3 of the way up. Top off with ginger ale or sprite.
Want to make a cocktail?
How about a classic — the Sea Breeze
3 parts party punch
2 parts grapefruit flavored vodka
Add ice, vodka and party punch to a drink shaker. Shake gently and pour into ice filled glass.
Glass: Collins or rocks glass
Garnish: Lime
How about a Cosmo?
1 part vodka
1/2 part Cointreau/Triple Sec
1 part party punch
1 splash lime juice
Add ice, vodka, Cointreau, party punch and lime juice to a drink shaker. Shake and pour into chilled martini glasses. Garnish and serve.
Glass: Martini
Garnish: Orange twist
Starting with our basic party punch recipe and just a few variations, we were able to make three additional drinks. And that’s the tip of the iceberg — the possibilities really are endless, both for the base punch and for the cocktails made with it. Sound easy? That’s because it is. So carry on with your party planning — we raise our glasses in a toast to you as we’re sure your future guests will also do. Cheers!
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