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| TIPS & ADVICE |
Party Planning
- by Paul Harrington |
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When planning any cocktail party, from an impromptu gathering after work to a formal reception, there's a certain amount of math to be done. Like balancing a checkbook, this tallying, while not complex, has humbling consequences when wrong.
First, decide which cocktails or mixed drinks you'd like to serve. There's no need to mix more than two or three types, especially while you're still polishing your mixing skills. If you decide to serve only a few drink recipes, it's quite acceptable for them all to have the same primary liquor.
A successful cocktail party rarely lasts longer than three hours: an hour for everyone to be late, an hour for everyone to sound smart, and an hour for everyone to leave. Evening gatherings should start earlier rather than later, so if new friends are made people can continue the evening over dinner or a movie. If you're planning to serve dinner after cocktails, drink time need only last an hour or so. If you're not planning a meal, at least serve hors d'oeuvres. If you have snacks like nuts or pretzels, plan on refilling their bowls at least every 20 minutes. Always reserve some special snacks for those chosen few you'd like to invite to stay after the crowd thins - when you can really relax. Plan on about four to six snacks per person.
Bottled spirits will be your greatest expense at any cocktail party. A 750-milliliter bottle of a primary liquor will make about 18 drinks, with a jigger each of the liquor. Buy the best you can afford. Most human bodies can process one serving of alcohol per hour. For guests particularly wanting to unwind, plan on serving two drinks in the first hour and one every hour after that. |
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