Specialty Drinks!
Specialty Drinks are always a favorite and a great way to watch the budget!
But how do you choose what to serve?
There are two ways to decide on drinks - what is your theme for your event? If your not sure about that- look at your location. If you are in a location like our venue at the Oviatt Penthouse- then you might want to research some vintage cocktails. It's a 1927 building- all art deco- there are some great ones that will work with the location! Look below for a list of favorites!
If you are getting married at an Ocean View Location like the Adamson House - then something a bit more refreshing and light- something that says "California" might be more appropriate.
Now if you are totally unsure- then just remember your friends and family are there for YOU- so what's YOUR FAVORITE Drink? What is your Fiance's favorite drink? Might as well start with what you like!
Wines and Beers can also be fun! If you or your fiance like gourmet beers- there is nothing wrong with making that gourmet beer one of YOUR signature drinks! Let your guests experience something NEW! I had one couple that went and made their OWN beer and had it bottled and delivered to the wedding! The guests loved it! So don't be afraid to think out of the box- even when it comes to alcohol!
Wines are great too! Do you travel a lot? When you travel do you go abroad and to certain wine regions? Feel free to incorporate some New Zealand Wines, or some Argentine Wines! If your guests know you- it will make sense to them!
Now don't feel you need to supply enough of any one drink for everyone! This is a common mistake and many people over buy! Remember not all of your guests will like wine- or beer- or whatever your specialty drink is- so you need enough for about half of your guests- if not even a little less. And remember you get more drinks from a bottle of hard alcohol than you do from a bottle of wine! So if you're on a tight budget a hard alcohol signature drink might be a better choice. And please don't worry about running out! This is a wedding- NOT a bar! This is a gift you are giving your guests- so it's ok to run out!
***Hint - try to make these at home first- and see if you like them! There are variations of recipe's online- so search away. Also make sure to supply our bartenders with the ingredients and the instructions for any specialty drinks!
Here is a list of some fun signature drinks!
1920's Popular Drinks!
Singapore Sling:
2 oz. Gin
1/2 oz Cherry Brandy
1/2 Lemon Juice
1 tsp. Powdered sugar
Seltzer Water
2 Cubes Ice
directions:
Add Lemon juice to a glass with ice. Dissolve sugar in water and add brandy and gin. Stir gently and top off with seltzer water
Mary Pickford "America's Sweetheart":
1 1/2 ounces white rum
1 ounce unsweetened pineapple juice
1/2 teaspoon grenadine
Directions:
Stir well with ice and strain into a glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
French 75
This was a prohibition Classic!
1 1/2 ounces dry gin
1/2 ounce lemon juice
3/4 ounce simple syrup
champagne
Directions:
Shake Ingredients with Ice. Strain into glass full of cracked ice and top off with chilled champagne.
*** Now Moving Ahead- 1970's Drinks!
Alexander (Brandy)
1 ounce Gin or Brandy
1 ounce Dark Creme de Cacao
2 ounces Heavy Cream
Pinch of Freshly Grated Nutmeg for Garnish
Directions:
Combine first three ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled one-third full of ice. Shake well. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with nutmeg
****This drink cannot be done if you have an outside venue - NO REFRIGERATION - only an indoor venue!
Greyhound
1-1/2 ounces Smirnoff Vodka
4 ounces Grapefruit Juice
Directions:
Pour ingredients together in a highball glass filled with ice
Tequila Sunrise
1 1/2 ounces Plata Tequila
4-5 ounces Fresh Orange Juice
Grenadine
Directions:
Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour in tequila and then orange juice, leaving room to top off with a float (approximately 1/2 ounce) of grenadine
Tom Collins
1 1/2 ounces Gin
3/4 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
1 ounce Simple Syrup/ Bar Syrup
4 ounces Club Soda
Orange Slice for Garnish
Cherry for Garnish
Directions:
Shake the first three ingredients with ice and strain into a Collins glass. Add the soda and stir. Garnish with the orange slice and cherry.
*** Current Trendy Drinks!
Tanning Bed Drink
1 1/2 ounce jigger coconut flavored rum
1 1/2 ounce jigger pineapple juice
1 maraschino cherry
Directions:
In a rocks glass, pour coconut rum over ice. Pour pineapple juice to top. Garnish with Maraschino cherry.
Sparkling Sex on The Beach
4 Ice cubes
1 ounce peach schnapps
1 ounce raspberry flavored liqueur
1/2 cup orange juice
1 fluid ounce chilled lemon-lime soda
Directions:
Fill a highball glass with ice, pour in peach schnapps, raspberry liqueur, and orange juice. Stir and top off with a splash of lemon-lime soda.
Flirtini
3 ounces champagne
1/2 ounce vodka
1/2 ounce orange liqueur
1 ounce Pineapple juice
Directions:
Mix all ingredients over ice
*** For The Guys!
Billionaire's Margarita
5 ounces crushed ice
1 ounce Jose Cuervo Reserva De La Familia
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier Cuvee du Centenaire
2 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
1 lime wedge
Directions;
Fill a shaker with ice and add the Jose Cuervo, Grand Marnier and lime juice. Shake it well, pour into a glass with ice and garnish it with a lime wedge.
Kamikaze
1 1/4 ounce Smirnoff Red Label Vodka
1/4 ounce triple sec
1/4 ounce lime juice OR sour mix
Directions:
Shake the Vodka, triple sec and lime juice together, pour in glass and serve
Black Velvet
3/4 pint Guinness
1/4 pint champagne
Directions:
Pour Guinness in a tall glass and top it off with champagne
Dirty Martini
1 1/2 ounce Smirnoff Red Label Vodka
1 splash olive juice
1 olive
Directions: In a shaker with ice, add the Smirnoff Red Label Vodka and olive juice. Shake it and strain the drink into a martini glass. Garnish with an olive.
Enjoy the drinks and the planning!!!! Remember it's great to test these our and change their names to reflect YOU! Just make sure to have a 5X7 framed with the signature drink AND the ingredients to give to the bartender so we can display on the bar. It's good for your guests to know what you have chosen!
