This is the second in a series of two posts. Looking for Part 1?
Now that you have everything needed to serve your large crowd great drinks there are some other considerations for your party bar.
Specialty drinks
Specialty drinks seem to be falling out of favor lately. When well made, they look great and make a truly fun compliment to the event’s theme or signature colors, but very few people like a sweet, strong drink, which describes most specialty drinks. They do have their place though, especially in the very frequent case that the host wants to limit the varieties of hard liquor provided (for example, beer, wine, and vodka specialty drink only). In that case- even a well-made Vodka Tonic using a small batch vodka (such as Tito’s Handmade) and featuring a lime wheel and thin cucumber slices can be a fun signature drink.
Latin American options, like twists on the mojito or caipirinha are a good choice for a fruity signature drink. With their fresh mint and fresh lime they are fantastic, although many people now skip the fresh fruit, using bottled juices or premade mixes instead. We’re not fans, but with some fresh lime juice or added muddled berries they are passable. But let’s face it, fresh crushed blueberries steeped in simple syrup balanced with a bit of lemon juice makes a much better drink than any bottled mixer ever will.
Bar ware and last minute touches
- Coolers for chilling beer and wine, and for extra service ice
- Ice bucket for the bar counter
- Ice scoops
- Wine keys
- Shakers and strainers
The above items are must haves for a successful bar, so if the caterer or venue you are working with does not provide them, you will need to. Also, you may want to inquire about how they arrange chilled items on the bar. With really large crowds, we sometimes feel the best way is in a bus tub, (although usually we prefer our silver footed bowls!). When we use ugly plastic bus tubs or lexans we always line the outside with a tablecloth to improve the appearance. We feel the way the bar looks is just as important as the buffet or the tables look, maybe even more so, because the bar is the first thing the guest usually sees! Nicely arranged and plentiful glassware, a fresh flower arrangement or other decorative item, and an enticing display of the bar’s offerings always make the bar look nice. If you do have a featured drink (or drinks, for that matter) or if the beer or wine has significance for you or the guests of honor, consider taking the time to make tags or a menu card of drinks for the bar. The menu card is a great way to build anticipation and excitement and also to let people know what is being offered. Cheers!
