TEN leading tips for hosting the perfect beverage party

by Charlotte Lancaster We believe in Quality

Got a crowd coming? Need some advice on how to prepare all your drinks for the rabble? Our top tips will light your way to how to create an ideal cocktail party.

1 Keep it simple! Making complicated, fiddly cocktails for a crowd is no fun at all, and might lead to a disastrous flap. So stick to straightforward recipes with minimal ingredients.

2 Do as much of the work ahead of the guests arriving: squeeze and chop the fruit or decorations; polish the glasses; get all the liquid ingredients and cocktail-making kit ready; bring out the bottles and you’ll be set to go.

3 Invest in the finest spirits you can. You’ll need premium products to get the best results. The initial cost might seem steep, but remember that spirits stretch a long way - often a large splash is all you need.

4 Use fresh spirits, bitters and liqueurs - not old ones that have been hanging about in the back of a cupboard for years. These drinks lose their flavour and aroma over a long period, so if in doubt, dump that dusty bottle and get a new one.

Cut long stalks off any herbs (especially mint) or fruit you use in a cocktail or as a decoration - the stalks can release bitter flavours into your drink.

5 Buy top-quality, organic, fresh fruit for squeezing and/or making into decorations. In particular, try to source unwaxed citrus (it often says so in the shop, or ask) when using the zest

6 Don’t fret too much about having the right glasses. Although serious mixologists (cocktail-makers to you and me) make much of exactly the right shape, nothing can go terribly wrong if you use a normal, fairly large wine glass, or a glass tumbler. If you buy one cocktail glass, make it the classic, pyramid-shaped martini style.

7 Make your ice cubes out of still mineral water, especially if you live in an area with unpleasant tap water.

8 Cut long stalks off any herbs (especially mint) or fruit you use in a beverage or as a decoration - the stalks can release bitter flavours into your drink. And always use ultra-fresh, well-washed cuttings.

9 Avoid creamy cocktails at a party, especially when you’re serving light food. Cream-based drinks clash badly with many savoury snacks.

10 Instead, for a hot, crowded house party, major on clean-tasting, tangy, fruity cocktails. Your guests will really appreciate the lift they get from an elegant, deeply refreshing drink.