How To Choose The Perfect Reception Drinks At Your Wedding

Stuck wondering what to do for the drinks at your wedding reception?
A cocktail reception is a great idea at a wedding as not only can you provide a contemporary twist to the standard bucks fizz, you can also offer a cocktail as your wedding favour.
If you are serving cocktails en masse they should not be too complicated or heavily flavoured; normally the simplest cocktails are the ones that taste the best. Popular flavours like Lemon, Lime, vanilla or elderflower are a good idea because you are less likely to disappoint anyone. Try and stay away from drinks with lots of alcohol and no juice or mixer, and drinks with lots of different sprits in. You want your guests to be hungry for their dinner not falling over on their way to dinner. Also cocktails with sparkling wine are a great way to impress your guests and give a very decadent feel to the reception. Prosecco and cava are better options to make these drinks with too as they are lighter in flavour and lighter on the budget!
When you mention cocktails people automatically think they are going to be expensive, this does not have to be the case. You can make long drinks like Tom Collins using just one shot of spirit. Sparkling wine cocktails work fine with only half a shot of spirit in. You don?t have to use popular brands either; supermarkets own brands or cheaper alternatives are fine because you?re mixing them into a cocktail.
If you have a venue that will let you supply a mobile bar to serve the cocktails, you can supply the alcohol yourself. This way you can purchase the stock you need from a cash and carry and some even offer a sale or return policy.

GOOD

Tom Collins (Gin) or John Collins (Vodka)

These are a splendid way to look like you have a few drinks on the menu when
really there are just one or two. A Collins can be any sprit shaken with fresh
lemon juice and sugar syrup, poured over ice and topped with soda water.
You can also add a small selection of fruit purees to widen the range of drinks you?re serving.



Cosmopolitan

This is a lovely, light and fruity cocktail made with lemon vodka, orange liqueur,
fresh lime and cranberry juice. Made popular by the Sex In The City girls,
most people will have heard of it. Cosmo?s are served ?straight up?
in a martini glass but you can also serve them ?on the rocks?
in a tumbler glass as some men don?t feel comfortable
holding a martini glass!



Pimm?s or Royal Pimm?s

A wonderful summer drink that everyone recognises and as Pimm?s is a
fortified wine it has a low ABV. One or two shots of Pimm?s topped
up with lemonade with sliced strawberries, orange, fresh mint, lemon
and cucumber. A Royal Pimm?s is topped up with sparkling wine.




French 75

Gin shaken with fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup, topped with
sparkling wine. Brilliant if you?re using sparkling wine from the
cheaper end of the market as the mixture will add depth of
flavour to the drink.

 

Fruit Bellini

As with Collins you can have a selection of purees behind the
bar which when added to the sparkling wine multiply your offering.

Kir Royale

Classic, simple, easy. Sparkling wine with a splash of crème de cassis.




BAD

Gin or Vodka Martini

A well-made martini is a beautiful thing but they are certainly not to
everyone?s taste. They are basically a double measure of gin
or vodka stirred over ice with a splash of vermouth. Very strong
if you?re not used to drinking neat spirits!

 

Mojito

This is a wonderful cocktail and a very popular one too.
They are not popular, however, with a bartender when
they have to make 50 or so! Mojito?s are quite labour
intensive and may mean that your guests will be waiting
for their drink for longer than it takes to drink their drink.
Also there?s not much mixer in a Mojito; Rum, fresh mint
and fresh lime muddled with sugar and topped with a little soda.

 

Long Island Iced Tea

Another cocktail that everyone knows, but does everyone know
exactly what?s in it? Vodka, Gin, Tequila, Rum, and triple sec
shaken with citrus juices and topped with a little cola. That?s
FIVE white spirits! Great recipe for a cocktail, not a great
recipe for keeping sober before dinner!

By Shaker Events ? Mobile Bar Hire