I'll Drink To That!

One of the first items guests think about when going to a wedding: the bar.  Will it be open?  Will it be cash?  Will they only serve beer and wine or I’m I going to be able to have a rum & coke?  As trivial as it seems the drinks are a foremost concern and something that will leave a lasting impression on your guests.  In order to make your wedding stand out, why not have a “signature” cocktail?  The bartenders will be sure to make plenty so all your guests would have to do is walk up to the bar and grab one already waiting for them.  You have the option to pizazz it up some by coordinating your cocktail with the main color you have chosen for your wedding, as well as naming it anything you would like.  There are multiple possibilities to have some fun with the cocktails you offer. And who doesn’t like to have a little fun with cocktails?

Try to remember a few simple rules to go by.

1. You don’t want any frozen drinks.  Frozen drinks are heavy and filling.  You (or your parents) probably  will spend a sizable amount of money on dinner and appetizers for your guests, not to mention the wedding cake for dessert.  You don’t want your guests to fill up on drinks and then have no room left over for the food.
2.  If  you choose to have a colored signature drink that is served in a low glass such as a martini glass, you may want to ask the bartender if he can make yours in a tumbler.  This will reduce the chance that you spill on your wedding gown.
3. It is perfectly acceptable to choose a time for the bartenders to stop serving your guests, however make sure that non-alcoholic drinks such as water and coffee will be served up until the very end of your reception. Have the DJ announce last call so that your guests are aware and have the chance to get one last drink if they would like.
4. Keep the season in mind.  If you are getting married during the summer your guests will want something cool and refreshing.  In the winter they will be looking for something warmer, although warmer doesn’t always mean drink temperature.  For example, in the summer they are thinking fruity, hard lemonades, mai tais etc. while in the fall or winter they would be more likely to gravitate towards a holiday spice type drink or hard cider. 

While there are hundreds of options to choose from we’ve selected some of our favorites (one in each color, one for each season (two for winter), and a bonus throw in for good measure).

RED:   Red Devil  - Because who isn’t feeling a little devilish on their wedding day?

Ingredients:

1-1/2 oz. freshly squeezed pomegranate juice

1-1/2 oz. grapefruit vodka

1 oz. fresh orange juice

1 oz. cinnamon syrup

Garnish

Cinnamon-brown sugar powder (rim of the glass)

Preparation

Prepare a cocktail glass by wetting the rim with an orange and then frosting it with cinnamon-brown sugar powder. Assemble the first four ingredients in a cocktail shaker glass and shake well. Strain into the prepared glass.

ORANGE:  Orange Splash  - a new twist on a citrus cocktail.

Ingredients:

2 ounce(s) Absolut Citron vodka

1 ounce(s) Cointreau or triple sec

1 splash(es) fresh lime juice

1 splash(es) orange juice

Garnish
orange slice, sugar

Preparation:

Pour all ingredients over ice in a shaker or large glass and shake vigorously. Rim a glass with sugar and serve on the rocks. Garnish with an orange slice.

YELLOW:   White Lady – This is a no-brainer.  A cocktail called “White Lady” they day you and only you are wearing a gorgeous white gown?  Don’t be fooled though, this drink is most definitely yellow.

Ingredients:

1 oz Cointreau
2 oz gin
3/4 oz lemon juice

Garnish:

lime twist

Preparation:   

Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a twist of lime.

GREEN:  Berry Bliss – Yes, a berry cocktail that is green.  The best part, you can make it in a large quantity and serve as a punch.  

Ingredients:

1.5 parts Midori Melon Liqueur

1 part Vanilla Vodka

1/2 part Skyy Raspberry Infusions

Splash of Pineapple juice

Splash of soda water

Garnish: 

Strawberry slices

Preparation:

Fill a punch bowl half way with ice.  Add Midori, Vanilla Vodka, Skyy Raspberry Infusions, pineapple juice and a splash of soda water.  Garnish with strawberry slices. 

BLUE:  Blue Lagoon (Also known as Electric Lemonade) – This drink is versatile and can be used for a cool icy winter wedding theme, or as a cool down for a hot summer wedding.  With some ambiance lighting these drinks simply glow.  (You could also call it “Something Blue” to add a wedding touch.)

Ingredients:

1 shot glass vodka
1 shot glass Blue Curacao
4 shots lemonade

Garnish:

cherry, lemon, lime

Preparation:

Fill a highball glass with ice. Add the ingredients in order from vodka to the lemonade. Garnish with a cherry & a slice of lemon/lime

PURPLE: Purple People Eater – This is perfect for the fun loving couple that wants to make their guests laugh, if of course you keep the original name.  

Ingredients:

1 oz. Three Olives Purple Vodka
1 oz. Peach schnapps
4 oz. Cranberry juice

Garnish:

blueberries

Preparation:

Pour vodka and schnapps into a martini glass filled with ice and top with cranberry juice.  Garnish with a few blueberries.

PINK – Watermelontini – This is a simple yet refreshing drink.  It is an excellent summer or spring drink, which coincidently is when pink is used the most.

Ingredients:

1/2 ozfresh lemon juice
1 oz Midori® melon liqueur
1 oz citrus vodka
1 1/2 ozfresh watermelon juice

Garnish:

mint

Preparation:

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint, and serve.

CLEAR/WHITE:  Tuxedo – Regardless of most tuxedos being black this drink gives off a clear or just slightly ivory color.  It’s a great way to add a signature cocktail if you are having a classic black and white wedding.

Ingredients:

2 ounces London dry gin

1 ounce dry sherry

1 dash orange bitters

Garnish:

lemon

Preparation:

Shake the gin, sherry, and bitters well with cracked ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.Garnish with a wedge of lemon.

BROWN – Wedding Cake Martini – There are several different recipes for this drink but to make it brown use the following one.  Experiment with the Crème de Cacao in order to reach the level of brown you prefer as well as a heavier chocolate taste.

Ingredients:

1 ounce Vanilla vodka
1 ounce Creme de Cacao
1 ounce pineapple juice, chilled

Garnish:

chocolate

Preparation:

Combine ingredients into a martini glass.  Add shaved chocolate for a garnish.

BLACK: Black Martini -  For those of you daring enough to feature a black cocktail this is a simple black recipe that has a little kick of sweet to it.

Ingredients:

2.5 oz Black vodka

1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth

Garnish:

cherry

Preparation:

Place Vodka and Sweet Vermouth into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with the cherry.

Now for the seasons.  

SPRING:  Flamingo – Spring is all about fun colors and this gives way to having a fun layered cocktail.  These can be difficult to make just right, so for these you will want to be sure to have a professional bartender.  Its ok to ask them to make samples before you book them to ensure they can make the drinks you choose.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. Gin

1/2 oz. Apricot Brandy

Juice of 1/2 Lime

1 tsp. Grenadine

Preparation:

Carefully float each ingredient, in order, on top of each other by slowly pouring over the back of a bar spoon. Keep separated.

SUMMER:  Mojito – Summer is the perfect time to be traditional.  People will be hot and thirsty and to see a fan favorite will make them feel comfortable and relaxed.  You can change it up and offer a flavored mojito or a mix of flavored and traditional.

Ingredients:

6 ounces light rum

12 mint sprigs, or spearmint, 8 roughly broken apart

6 tablespoons fresh lime juice

4 tablespoons sugar

Club soda

Garnish:

lime, mint

Preparation:

Place ice in beverage shaker then add in the rum, 8 broken up mint sprigs, lime juice and sugar. Shake well and serve over ice in a high ball glass. Top off each glass with a splash of club soda. Garnish each with a slice of lime and a sprig of mint.

FALL:  Pumpkin Pie Martini – While it’s a touch too early to bring out the hot drinks, you still want something with the fall flair.  A pumpkin martini is perfect, especially if you used fall colors.

Ingredients:

1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger vanilla flavored vodka

1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger Irish cream liqueur

1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger pumpkin flavored liqueur

1 cup ice cubes

Garnish:

1 cinnamon stick, nutmeg

Preparation:

Pour the vanilla flavored vodka, Irish cream liqueur, and pumpkin flavored liqueur into a cocktail shaker over ice. Cover, and shake until the outside of the shaker has frosted.  Strain into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with a sprinkle of ground nutmeg and a cinnamon stick to serve.

WINTER (December) – Candy Cane Swirl – Everyone is in the Christmas mood so why not provide a cocktail with a little Christmas feel.

Ingredients:

1/2 oz Creme de Cacao
1/2 oz Peppermint Schnapps
1/2 oz OVAL Vodka

Garnish:

candy cane

Preparation:

Put ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Rim a martini glass with crushed candy canes. Strain into glass either straight up or over crushed ice. Put a small candy cane to hang over the edge of the glass

WINTER (Jan/Feb): Hot Toddy -  Its cold outside.  Snow is on the ground.  Give your guests something to warm up with.

Ingredients:

1 oz brandy, whiskey or rum

1 Tbsp honey

1/4 lemon

1 cup hot water

1 tea bag

Garnish:

lemon

Preparation:

Coat the bottom of a mug or an Irish coffee glass with honey.  Add the liquor and the juice of the lemon quarter. On the side, heat water in a tea kettle and add the tea bag to make hot tea. Pour the steaming tea into the glass and stir. Add lemon wedge for garnish.

BONUS DRINK:  Cotton Candy Martini – These are fabulous because you can use any color cotton candy you want.  The drink will turn the same color as the cotton candy you chose.  So choose one color, or multi-color to sweeten things up.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz Pinnacle Cotton Candy Vodka

1/2 oz X Rated Fusion Liquor

1 oz Cranberry juice (100% pure)

A nice size handful of cotton candy

Garnish:

sugar, cotton candy

Directions:

In a martini shaker add Ice, cotton candy vodka, X Rated, and cranberry juice. Shake until well mixed and chilled. Rim your martini glass in sugar or rub cotton candy around it. Take a heaping handful of cotton candy and place in your martini glass and slowly pour the contents of the shaker directly over the cotton candy. Watch the cotton candy just disappear and crystallize at the bottom of the martini glass

HAPPY MIXING!