The stress of planning, prepping, and entertaining your guests as a host might not be something you consider enjoyable. But if you’re ever in the position of hosting a gathering, fret not, as we bring you an easier way to serve up some tasty, batched cocktails without any added strain. You can still appreciate this tip even if you’re an avid, seasoned party host. Take a trip down memory lane to your college party days and bust out that keg. And before you start to worry, you don’t need to hoist and invert your guests over a cocktail-filled keg for this hack. Unlike large pitchers and open serving bowls commonly used to serve large batches of drinks, kegs protect your cocktail from exposure to oxygen, keeping them crisp and fresh for longer. One of the key steps for batching cocktails is ensuring optimal dilution, so make room for that in your keg along with the other cocktail components. Seal the keg and mix thoroughly so all the ingredients are properly combined before letting it rest in the fridge till nicely chilled.
When ready to serve, insert the carbon dioxide cartridge and adjust the pressure levels depending on your keg size. This step ensures that the cocktail can be easily dispensed from the keg. Give the keg a good shake to evenly distribute the carbon dioxide. Now all that’s left is to pour into a glass and enjoy! Clearly, the characteristics of a keg serve their purposes beyond your home-brewed beer. So, the next time you’re gearing up to host a gathering, be assured that your cocktail in a keg will save you time, and energy, and is sure to impress your guests.
Elevate your batched cocktails with a seasonal flavors
The convenience of using a keg to prepare large batches of cocktails does not mean compromising the quality of the drink, however make sure to avoid adding large pieces of fruit or pulpy ingredients to the mix, as they run the risk of clogging the draft lines. Instead, use flavor-infused syrups or extracts to infuse your desired flavor into the drink and reserve the fresh fruit for garnishing when ready to serve. Now that batch-prepping cocktails got a quick and easy upgrade, it’s time to put it to the test and serve innovative craft cocktails all year round, be it for summer garden parties, cozy autumnal gatherings, festive holiday soirees, or springtime patio sessions.
From margaritas and martinis to rum punch and bubbly sangria spritzes, there is no shortage of cocktails that lend themselves perfectly to being made in a large batch and served in a keg. In the warmer months, there’s nothing like a refreshing, classic margarita. If you enjoy a thirst-quenching glass of horchata, a spiked version takes the top tier with its delightful balance of sweetness, spice, and creaminess. As the temperatures drop, warming spices ought to be in the mix, like in a fall-inspired apple cider punch with bourbon, or a pumpkin spice martini that will be the star of any Halloween-themed party. Hosting a holiday celebration? Jamie Oliver’s Christmas negroni or Ina Garten’s pomegranate gimlet puts a festive flair in the air. So, let smart batch cocktails prepared in a keg be your solution to hassle-free mixology all year.
