Something to Drink with Alcohol from a Frugal Bar

Outclass the Competition baesoe.com
Harold Almon Etiquette Coach
Be at Ease School of Etiquette Austin

Something to drink with alcohol from a frugal bar can be a signature spirit drink selected to be associated with each event. In a private home, and or where appropriate, drinks suggestions may include alcohol items, but the choices are to be limited to three for cocktails that you or a guest can make using simple recipes. Get spirits where and when they are on sale. Get 1/5 for each 17-22 drinks: two drinks per person. You can make and have recipe cards available tented and set next to each spirit. Suggestions may be

Beer: (a current favorite local or foreign,) or a Double Bock. You could make Beer Margaritas:  What to do:

Place 12 ounces each of frozen limeade, tequila, water, and beer, added to ice in a large pitcher. Stir until blended well. Dilute with water to taste. Garnish each glass with a lime wedge. Before you do this, you may dip each glass rim in salt from a dish. You might serve

Orange Beer: Beer and Orange Juice or

Red Beer: Beer and Tomato Juice.  You can serve

Champagne alone or Champagne and something. Champagne and Orange Juice (OJ), or a sparkling wine: Cava or Prosecco and OJ equal a Mimosa.  A mimosa does not require real Champagne.

For Holidays festive drinks can include a Kir: a sparkling wine to which a teaspoon of Crème de Cassis (blackberry currant liqueur) has been added.  The variation made with real Champagne is called a Kir Royale. You can leave this to the Royals.

You may try soaking a sugar cube in Cointreau (orange liqueur) and dropping it into a flute of Champagne. Try it on yourself before giving it to your guest; you may decide you like it fine or that it is “a waste of good wine.” A Popsicle in a glass of sparkling wine can be a spritzer.

A drink can be served with a splash (something added) or neat (without ice.)   The same spirit drink can be used in more than one cocktail. For real old school cocktails you may use Gin; you will also need Dubonnet, and Club soda.   

Za Za: Gin and Dubonnet Rouge

Gin and Soda: Gin and Club soda 

Gin and Juice: Gin and Orange Juice or a

For a Martini you can use Gin (a London-dry style) and Vermouth, for a Gintini, or (Gin Martini) with Ten for a Tentini or, (old school,) it could be made with Vodka and Vermouth, or for a Mexican Martini you may use Tequila: Mazatlan and Cointreau, or blanco or reposado for a margarita. A martini can get muddy when shaken, and thus is to be stirred.

You can make a Chi Chi. What to do: 4 ounces Vodka, 2 ounces crème de coconut, 4 ounces of pineapple juice, and 2 cups crushed ice. Blend, strain, and serve.  OK now make two more. You may make a John Daley: Vodka, Lemonade and Ice Tea.

You can serve a Bloody Mary: 1 part Vodka, 3 part Bloody Mary Mix, a Screwdriver: Vodka and Orange Juice and, or a Margarita: Vodka and Margarita Mix.

You can make a Bloody Mary Mix:  What to do:

1 quart vegetable juice cocktail, ¼ teaspoon, granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon  lime or lemon juice, ¼ teaspoons black pepper, 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ hot pepper sauce,  and 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce.  You may just elect to buy it.

You could serve red wine.   Serve Merlot (*R), Cabernet Sauvignon (*R), or Cotes De Rhone as is or as a cooler.  You can use the cork screw faced away from you to score the foil just below the lip at the top of the wine bottle. Then use the tip of the cork screw to lift the foil cap from the bottom and discard it. You can use wax paper to cover the cork prior to placing it back in the bottle. You can take some wine, if only for your stomach sake, just ask Timothy. Red wine too may be good for your blood and your body. “To remove red wine from cloth, mix 1 teaspoon dish detergent with 1 cup hydrogen peroxide, let foam, sponge lightly; wash or dry clean ASAP.” Engine search this, and other ways to do it, prior to your event.

In public, learn to love an alcoholic drink that is routinely included among the reduced price specials.  Add something for the eye to each drink you make.

Something added to a drink may be fruit: Lemon, Lime, Maraschino Cherry, Orange or an Olive, or a vegetable: V8®, organic celery, or cocktail onions, or salt; more than that – get a license.  

After the first round, each cocktail can be pre-mixed in a pitcher or dispenser and set atop a holding tray, or made by a guest.

 To be truly frugal you can serve  a California Punch or a Hawaiian Punch.  You engine search and find more than one recipe for each one.