Fandango Catering and Events Offers Holiday Signature Cocktail Tips

At holiday time, holiday-themed signature cocktails add a festive touch to gatherings. Below, ideas for serving signature cocktails at your holiday event this year and recipes for some of our favorite signature cocktails.

Tips for Serving Signature Cocktails

*Prepare at least one batch of the cocktail before your guests arrive and have them lined up on your beverage table or beverage area. An elegant touch is to put the served cocktails on trays. If possible, make or assign someone to make batches of your signature cocktail throughout the event as needed--but please make sure everyone drinks responsibly.

*Drink charms or identifiers are another festive touch and can be a great icebreaker. You may want to lay out a plate and put a few charms on it to give your guests a place to put the charms when they've finished.

*If your signature cocktail calls for a garnish, make things easy by preparing them early in the day. If you're thinking of serving a drink that calls for a fresh garnish, such as muddled (crushed) fruit or herbs, substitute it for another cocktail that doesn't require a fresh garnish. And if really pressed for time, eliminate the garnish altogether--here's where drink charms can come in handy to dress up your drinks. Or opt for an easy garnish such as a maraschino cherry--60s and 70s cocktail culture is trendy now!

*For most events, unless they're very formal or weddings, an all-purpose wineglass and/or martini glass are fine for your bar. You can rent these very reasonably from a rentals company. We do suggest that you serve your signature cocktail in a martini glass--most cocktails look fine in these, and don't worry about highball glasses unless you're hired bartender provides them.

Holiday Signature Cocktail Recipes

Poinsettia
Makes 1 cocktail

1/2 oz. Cointreau or Triple Sec
Champagne
3 oz. cranberry juice

Have all ingredients chilled. Pour Cointreau and cranberry juice into a martini glass or champagne flute. Stir. Top with champagne.

Rudolph Fizz (Adapted from Karen Bussen's Simple Stunning Parties)
Makes 6 cocktails

1 bottle (750 ml) of cava, Champagne, Prosecco, or other sparkling wine
6 tsp. cherry syrup (see recipe below)

Fill cocktail glasses 3/4 full of sparkling wine. Drop 1 tsp. cherry syrup in each glass and serve.

Cherry Syrup:
1 lb. frozen cherries
1 cup sugar
Combine ingredients with 2 cups water in saucepan and stir. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes. Strain, reserving liquid. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Cosmopolitan
Makes 1 cocktail

2 oz. vodka
1 oz. Cointreau or Triple Sec
1 oz. cranberry juice
1 1/2--2 tsp. fresh or Rose's lime juice

In cocktail shaker combine ingredients and shake well. Pour into cocktail glasses and, if desired, garnish with lemon twist.

¡Salud!

Kristina

Kristina Ríos de Lumbreras, Ph.D.
Director of Sales & Operations
Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077