While entertaining is a lot of fun, it’s undeniably hard work, and getting everything together can be overwhelming. There’s planning the menu, ensuring the ambiance is top notch, and then, of course, there are cocktails. Many party hosts, including Ina Garten, are fans of making batch cocktails by simply scaling up a recipe. While batching your cocktails is a good option, it’s not the only way to go. For example, Giada De Laurentiis is a proponent of having her guests mix their own cocktails. The celebrity chef has said that when she has a gathering, she’s been known to set up her bar with all the fixings and instructions needed for her friends to craft a specialty cocktail.
In a YouTube video, De Laurentiis demonstrates how she prepares a bar station with a tray containing an elegantly framed cocktail recipe, the various ingredients needed to make it, and all the required mixing tools, including a shaker and a jigger for foolproof measuring, and an ice bucket. If your home doesn’t have a bar, not to worry. You can easily set everything up on your kitchen counter, dining room table, bar cart, or any other surface that allows for easy mixing.
Why having your guests make their own cocktails is a great idea
The main reason for taking this approach is that it greatly reduces the amount of effort you need to put in as a host. Unless you happen to revel in playing bartender for your friends, mixing individual drinks all night is no way to enjoy a party. Ideally, you want to be able to sit back, relax, and connect with your guests. This is why making pre-batched cocktails, whether served in a pitcher or a fancy punch bowl, is a popular method for hosts. However, the process of batching cocktails still takes time, which many are short on, and frankly, mixology isn’t everyone’s thing. Plus, not all cocktails are easy to batch make ahead of time.
Setting up a DIY drink station requires minimal effort. It’s just important to make sure you have all your ingredients, including any cocktail garnishes (such as olives or limes), the essential tools for mixing, and, of course, glasses and recipe instructions. Framing the recipe as De Laurentiis does is a nice touch but not essential. Depending on the recipe, you may needed different tools like a citrus squeezer, a strainer, or a muddler. You can buy these relatively inexpensive tools or a full set for home cocktail making at many stores. Once you have the necessities, all that’s left is to arrange everything so that it’s straightforward for your guests. Aside from making less work for yourself, you may find that having your friends mix their own cocktails serves as a fun activity to get everyone talking and interacting.
