Cocktail Party Tips & Triple Sec Cocktail Recipe

Suggestions, Recipes and Ideas for Hosting a Festive Celebration

Sep 7, 2008

Have a low-stress party with simple snacks, a well-planned bar and some festive cocktails. Drink recipe included.

For the host who dreads having people over, doesn't enjoy cooking, but feels guilty about never reciprocating those invitations from other regular hosts, a cocktail party is just the solution. Learn a few tips to make party giving a pleasure.

Easy Snacks

Most people understand that a cocktail party does not include a meal, but some kind of food should still be offered. Try these easy tidbits:

Spiced nuts - toss nuts with spicy herbs or brown sugar and toast in the oven.
Easy dip - Soften feta cheese and run through food processor with chopped olives and a splash of olive oil. Serve with pita triangles.
Chocolate fruit - Purchase chopped fruit from a salad bar and serve with a bowl of chocolate chips melted in microwave.
Frozen snacks - Find ethnic bites in the freezer section, such as mini spinach pies (spanakopita) or egg rolls.

Atmosphere

Don't overlook the setting. Atmosphere can play a big part in putting people in party mode. Select music carefully and set it up for the duration of the party. Light candles in safe containers. Push furniture around so that people have room to both mill about and find cozy nooks for more quiet conversation.

Cocktails

Of course, provide wine, beer and a few varied bottles of liquor. But what really makes a cocktail party festive is offering at least one kind of special cocktail. This can be a pitcher of sangria, homemade margaritas, or a liqueur made from scratch. The latter will need some time, so plan ahead.

Bar

Have plenty of ice, and be sure to use an ice bucket, scoop, swizzle sticks, cocktail napkins and glasses of all types. Set up the bar area in a central location that encourages conversation, and allows people to socialize together after pouring their drink.

Hosting

Be well rested before hosting a party. It is the host's mood that will set the tone for the night. Show a festive spirit in clothing selection, whether you go black tie or Hugh Hefner pajama style.

Recipe:

This liqueur recipe came from the book Luscious Liqueurs, a great reference for homemade cocktails.

Homemade Triple Sec

Ingredients

4 or 5 medium large oranges
1/2 cup water
2 cups sugar
2 cups vodka

Instructions

Wash, dry and peel 2 of the oranges, trimming away any white pith. Put the peels in a glass container with a tight-fitting lid.
Juice the oranges (use a juicer for easy results). You want one cup of fresh juice.
Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan, stir well, and turn on the heat to medium. Slowly add the orange juice, stirring all the while. Raise the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture just to a boil. Lower the heat a bit and simmer gently for five minutes. Remove from the heat and cool completely.
Add the syrup and the vodka to the peels, stir well, and seal. Place in a cool, dry spot away from sunlight. Let the liqueur stay calm, except for occasionally swirlings, for one month.
If it's really pulpy, filter the liqueur first through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl. Otherwise, just strain through a double layer of cheesecloth into a pitcher or other easy-pouring vessel. Strain again through two new layers of cheesecloth into one large bottle or a number of small bottles or jars.

Makes about 2 1/2 pints.