FORMULA IS FOR BABIES… AND COCKTAILS: THE BASIC COCKTAIL
GLM
Hosting parties on a budget can be quite a challenge. And when it comes time to stock the bar, it’s always the same problem at the store: what to buy, how much to buy, and what can you make with it that everyone will like? Most people will get the basics: a handle of vodka, a handle of rum, and perhaps whiskey or bourbon. Some OJ, cranberry, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, tonic, etc. Oh, and don’t forget the limes, maybe lemons, napkins, cups, ice—and the list goes on. While you’ve offered your guests a respectable basic bar to mix their own drinks, you’ve also spent quite a lot of money.
As the food and drink person in my circle of friends, I’ve noticed that when I go to parties with this kind of bar setup, I’m often asked if I can “make something good” for someone. It becomes my task to check out the ingredients at the bar (or what’s left of them) and improvise “something good.” The next thing I know, I’m making this concoction for a bunch of people who are happy to drink anything that they didn’t have to put much thought into. One night at a party, while mixing up random cocktail after random cocktail, per my friends’ requests, I decided to put this phenomenon to good use. In the process, I accidentally figured out a way to spend half as much on my “bar” and serve a special drink that makes a lasting impact.
The next time I went shopping for alcohol to stock a party, I decided to skip the part where people make their own drinks and go right to the part where I’m making them. So I made two cocktails. Two really big cocktails. I came up with two different drinks that I could make in pitchers. I then set up my bar with a bowl of ice, glasses, napkins, and my two pitchers, which I simply refilled as the night went on. It was a simple and very cost-effective way to host a party and leave a nice impression on my guests.
The trick is to use pretty much the same spirits but with different mixers so that there is variety. I recommend vodka as the main liquor, but you could easily substitute rum. Either way, use plain, clear, unflavored spirits. I recommend Seagram’s vodka or Castillo Silver rum—both are good quality yet relatively cheap.
Triple sec should be a staple of any home bar. It’s like a good bottle of hot sauce: it stays good for ages, a little goes a long way, and you can mix it with just about anything. A one-liter bottle costs around $15 and will last through many parties.
It’s time to let you in on a little bartending secret. Don’t get too excited, I have no idea how maraschino cherries get so red either—just a drink-making formula that you can adapt to almost any cocktail.
• 2 parts primary liquor: for now, primary liquors will be vodka or rum
• 1 part cordial or liqueur; which will refer to triple sec, peach schnapps, raspberry liqueur, or other flavored cordials
• 3 parts juice or mix, although a little more to fill the glass is okay
Measure in ounces for individual cocktails, or in cups for making pitchers and bowls. Just stick to the 2-1-3 ratio. Remember that individual cocktails should be made in a glass full of ice, while large drinks made in pitchers or carafes should be kept separate from ice until ready for service. In either case, a little stir and you’re good to go. No garnish needed.
I figured I’d start you off with some basic everyday drink recipes, but feel free to experiment. Just stick to the formula and see what you can come up with. Now let’s make some drinks! Here’s a handy cheat sheet for some classics:
• SEX ON THE BEACH: vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice and orange juice*
• WOO-WOO: vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice
• PEARL HARBOR: vodka, melon liqueur, pineapple juice
• MELON BALL: vodka, melon liqueur, orange juice
• PURPLE HOOTER: vodka, raspberry liqueur or raspberry schnapps, cranberry juice
• RUMRITA: rum, triple sec, sweet-and-sour mix
• TROPICAL BREEZE: rum, amaretto, pineapple juice and orange juice
• CARIBBEAN BREEZE: rum, peach schnapps, cranberry juice and orange juice
• LOST IN BERMUDA: rum, melon liqueur, pineapple juice