3 easy steps to step up your drinking making for house parties

Alright kid, listen up. Hosting a house party and trying to impress your friends with your cocktail skills? Let me give you a few tips from the trenches. You want to look like you’ve been doing this forever, and I’ve got three easy steps to help you step up your cocktail game. Trust me, these will save you a lot of headaches and make you the hero of the night.

Step 1: Pre-Batch Your Cocktails

First things first, pre-batch your cocktails. It’s inevitable that at some point, you’re gonna have to walk away from your drink station, and someone’s going to want a drink. You don’t want to make this complicated for anybody. Your potions should be as simple as “eat me” and “drink me.” Don’t be afraid to take a piece of tape and apply it to your cocktail containers with simple instructions: three parts this, one part that, equal parts this and that, etc.

In my years of working catering gigs, I’ve seen it time and again. Everyone will try out one drink, one will be a crowd favorite, and the other two will be forgotten. Then, everyone simply goes back to their comfort zones or shots of tequila. Make it easy on yourself and pre-batch. This ensures consistency and saves you from the chaos of making individual drinks all night.

Step 2: Keep It Simple, Stupid

Let’s get one thing straight: most of your house guests will be just fine with a simple margarita. It’s us bartenders who want to make it fancy and exotic. Sure, go ahead and add strawberries and squeeze all your fresh limes, but trust me, 10 hours of prep time isn’t worth the headache for someone who’s just as happy drinking whiskey and Coke.

So many times, we fall into the trap of trying to have 10 different cocktails, each with different spirits. We go way over budget, and we haven’t had a chance to practice these drinks before the guests arrive. We end up making it up on the fly. Stick to the classics. A well-made daiquiri or piña colada can be slightly modified with one ingredient, but save yourself the headache—don’t change everything. Don’t reinvent the wheel. Focus on making the best cocktail possible with a few key ingredients.

Step 3: Stay Updated on Cocktail Trends

Spend 10 minutes and look up the current cocktail trends. You might be a huge fan of the Cosmopolitan, but if you’re entertaining a group of people under 30, they probably want espresso martinis. Most cocktail blogs will have recipes for these trending drinks. Trends typically last about five years depending on the market, so anything from 2019 to the present should be fine.

Take into consideration who your guests are. A signature cocktail can be fun, but if it’s a group standing around a barbecue, maybe spend more time on the beer selection. If you’re young and scraping by, don’t be afraid to buy ready-to-drink cocktails and doctor them up slightly to call them your own. Trust me, Aunt Carol has been doing that with her pie for years.

Entertaining Shouldn’t Be Stressful

Entertaining at home shouldn’t be stressful. Don’t be afraid to keep it simple. You can always make your syrups ahead of time, or if you’ve got your cocktail pre-batched, many times it’ll hold for days. If your party is on Friday, don’t be afraid to make the cocktails on Wednesday night to save yourself time. It’s all okay, and you’re gonna do great.

So, let’s recap: pre-batch your cocktails, keep it simple, and stay updated on cocktail trends. Follow these steps, and you’ll not only elevate your cocktail game but also ensure your house party is a hit. Remember, bartending is as much about the experience as it is about the drink. Make sure everyone feels welcome, keep the drinks flowing, and most importantly, have fun. You’ve got this.