Classic Cocktail Ideas
You've hired your glassware from Allens and you can also hire bar equipment. Now it's time to decide what drinks you will serve to your guests.
With that in mind, here’s a rundown of 10 Classic Party Cocktails for a Classic Cocktail Party.
- Martini
Whether shaken or stirred, this legendary cocktail always goes down well. It’s sometimes made with vodka but a classic Martini is a mixture of gin and vermouth in equal measure, served in (yes, you guessed it) an Allen’s Hire Martini glass.
- Margarita
Sugary and sweet, Margaritas are ideal for parties because they’re easy to make in batches; and you might need to. Margaritas are still amongst the very most popular cocktails around. Made with tequila and triple sec and fresh limes, for fans of five-a-day try other fruits too, and serve in a pitcher, cocktail glass or champagne saucer.
- Old Fashioned
For a sophisticated crowd, the Whisky Old Fashioned is smooth, sweet and (importantly) simple to make with 2 parts whisky to 1 part sugar muddled into water and a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters. Serve it over lots of ice in an Allen’s Hire whiskey tumbler and pop a cherry on top for the final flourish.
- Screwdriver
Also known as a Vodka and Orange, cocktails don’t come simpler than this; and the Screwdriver is versatile too. A popular cocktail at breakfasts and brunches, Screwdrivers can be made with a little or a lot of orange. Serve an evening Screwdriver in our swirl cocktail glass and the breakfast variety in a Slim Jim filled all the way to the top.
- Manhattan
Like a variation on the Martini, this cocktail made from rye whisky ,vermouth, and Angostura bitters, can be sipped in a martini glass or nursed in a whiskey tumbler. Either way it has to be served chilled for the best effect. The Manhattan cocktail has been enjoyed for more than a Century and it’s still going strong. Have you tried it for yourself?
- Bloody Mary
Another enduring favourite is the Bloody Mary. Like the Screwdriver, it’s a fixture at morning events and can made as strong as you like or as spiced as your tastebuds can handle. Made with vodka and tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and tobacco, the Bloody Mary is best poured into a frosted zombie glass full of ice with a vegetable (eg, celery) garnish.
- Gimlet
Stay classy at an evening event with the Gimlet, made from nothing but gin and sweetened lime juice. This crystal clear cocktail looks the part when served in martini glasses but if you’d like them to be less potent you can also pour extra juice into a whiskey tumbler full of ice.
- Mojito
Few cocktails can beat this Cuban classic for pure refreshment. The Mojito is made with white rum, lime juice, soda water, sugar and fresh mint. Perhaps more popular in summer months, we recommend pouring your Mojitos over heaps of ice, in a Slim Jim, zombie or two-tier tumbler.
- Daiquiri
You’ll need an Allens Hire cocktail blender for this one. The Daiquiri is a sweet and slushy party favourite made from rum, sugar and a lime juice. Mix it up and then serve chilled in a martini glass or champagne saucer. Just add strawberries to create a strawberry daiquiri - You could even pop a fresh strawberry on the rim.
- Pimms No 1
Simply add your lemonade to your pimms and decorate with lemon and cucumber peel , or give this simple drink a festive twist by adding Cranberry juice, mint, and slices of cucumber, apples, oranges and lemons.
