I'm having a party. What kind of drinks should I serve, what mixers should I get, and what kind of alcohol

Question

Everyone there will be over 21. and I will be having soda for those who don't drink.. I am not really a drinker myself, so what are the names of some really good drinks and what would I need to buy to make them. Thanks a bunch!

Answer 1

The easiest trap to fall into is the one where you buy a bit of everything and then discover that no one is drinking half of it. Instead focus on perhaps a theme for the party, like the Carribean or South Pacific and then serve a few drinks to fill out the theme. This not only frees you from being bartender all night but also aids with heavy alcohol consumption. You want your guests to have a good time, but parties should be careful to limit the tendency to dissipate into drunkenness.
There are several half-decent mixes available for margaritas, planter's punch and the like, and you get to add the alcohol ahead of time. Make them a bit on the weak side if you want the party to last. Believe me, I have learned the hard way!
One way to do this is by starting with a punch. It serves a lot and you can make it ahead of time. Below is a good recipe:
Tropical Punch

6 cups pineapple juice
1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
1/2 cup frozen lemonade concentrate
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup grenadine

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and stir to combine. Serve chilled over ice. Makes about 2 quarts and is easily doubled. This recipe can easily be spiked with rum, vodka or tequila.
Sangria is also nice and I include a recipe I got from Sandra Lee, which can easily be multiplied:
Rose Sangria

1 pint bottle rum
1 pint bottle Spanish brandy
1 bottle rose wine
2 liters Sprite
Clear-colored large pitcher filled half-way with ice cubes
Apple slices
Grapes
Lemon slices
Lime slices
Measure 3/4 cup rum, 3/4 cup brandy, 2 cups wine, and 2 cups Sprite, and pour all into pitcher over ice and stir with a long wooden spoon. Dice a few pieces of apple, remove a few grapes, both green and purple, from stems and cut in 1/2, and dice a few pieces each of lemon and lime. Add diced fruit to pitcher and stir once more. Pour Sangria into tulip glasses.

As others have said, don't forget soda, diet soda and probably some beer.

Keep the food plentiful, even if it's just finger food. When people drink, they need food to offset the alcohol. Also, buy lots of ice and keep it in one of those insulated ice chests.
One last word of caution: if you start making blender drinks for a group, you won't ever get away from the blender. Have fun!

Answer 2

Typically I would to help deflect the expensive cost of alcohol, have a signature drink along with a good beer, bottle of white, and a bottle of red wine. The signature drink depends on the type of meal you are serving. My rule of thumb is to match the theme (if food is not being served or you have a certain the Ime over food) or type of food you are serving. This is what I typically do:

Hispanic (ie. Mexican, Cuban, Spanish) I would do one or two of the following with, a Sangeria as suggested before (which you can find very simple recipes for home made Sangeria online..and you can make couple days before the party..which I recommend to let the flavors meld), or a Margerita. I would then have some Corona or a good hispanic beer available for those who do not want the other drinks. Not to mention ususally makes the male guests happy.

BBQ - Hurricanes, or something that includes a fruit juice

Or just pick a really cool drink like Cosmos, Martinis, or something that you always wanted to try. Make it up and try it prior to the party and then make pictures of them.

If you are wondering about a stocked bar then you should have a good light rum, dark rum, vodka, gin, scotch, whiskey, tequila, vermouth both dry and sweet. That along with OJ, Tomato juice, soda water, tonic water, sweet and sour mix, cranberry juice, a diet soda, regular soda, and lemon/lime soda. Some people have to have certain brands or certain mixes, but honestly you can't please everyone unless you are a restaurant. But you can see why the alcohol grocery bill can add up and why a signature drink is a more economical way to go.

You can always mix it up with same drink but different choices, for example a bloody mary is a fun summer drink. You can offer them various garnishs, such as shirmp, pickles, celery, banana peppers, olives and so forth so that they can personalize their drinks. Same goes for a martini, various olives, onions, and so forth. Margerita is fun because you can get different flavor mixes but it all takes the same tequila (william sonoma has great different flavors).

I hope this helps! Also apologize for any spelling errors, Spell check was down when I wrote this.

Answer 3

I usually keep it simple. People will drink what you offer and rarely complain that you don't have a fully stocked bar.

Try the following basics:

Rum (Bacardi and Captain Morgan always good)
Vodka
Vermuth
Gin

Mixers:
Tonic water
Coke
Diet Pepsi
7-Up and/or Squirt
Lemonade or Limeade
Orange Juice
Club Soda

I also include a white and a red wine, as many people are only into that this time of year. The Sangria idea is a wonderful way to serve wine and keep it easy on yourself. Just put out big glass pitchers of it and you're done.

Beer is OK to serve, depending on the crowd. If you have a lot of young men there, I would definitely serve it. The older the crowd, the less important it is to them.

For a really simple party, just do Sangria, Margaritas and beer.

Answer 4

Well you need to get the basics. Beer for the guys that's a must! Then just get Vodka, Rum (people like spiced rum), and a Bourbon (Jim Beam or J and B). Mixers should consists of a Juice (OJ or Cranberry), tonic water, and soda. (Coke preferably and don't forget the diet drinkers.) And then maybe a box wine for the ladies or anyone else. Good Luck with your party!

Answer 5

How many people r coming? and how much time do you want to spend 'bartending'? think about this before deciding anything. Premixed drinks r fun and easy as long as u can trust all ur guests not to spike the punch
otherwise keep it simple, casks of wine (lots of soda or lemonade so people can make spritzers if they want) beer. and if you want to get creative y not give all guests a cocktail on arrival, u can make a fun one using real coconut shells, emtpy the milk out of them, mix with pineapple juice and bacardi (white rum) then pour back into the coconut shell and put a straw in so they can drink it, very carribean!! if you wanna keep it simpler use canned coconut milk and use regular glasses, not nearly as much fun though

Answer 6

Just an idea but if you have a theme for your party pick a special drink for that theme. Or do variations of your drink...If you were doing margarita's you could do regular and strawberry. Or if you were doing Martini's you could do regular and apple-tini's. If you go overboard with your drinks you will have a lot of mixers and alcohol left over and be overwhelmed when it comes time to make drinks for your guests. Pick one or two (I usually pick one "manly" drink and one "girly" drink and have a few extras on hand like tonic, lime, simple syrup and you will have a wonderful bar for your party.

try this site for drink recipes and ideas
http://www.bolscocktails.com/home.asp

Answer 7

Do margaritas - they're easy and fun, and taste great! Keep it simple because you don't want to play bartender all night long. Have a few bottles of wine, some beer and a some hard liquor and that's about it.

Answer 8

Buy a case of beer...something local if you have a brewery anywhere near you...a bottle of red wine, a bottle of white wine. If you want to spend money on liquor, keep it simple. vodka or rum with various juices and a bottle of tonic.

Answer 9

Sangria is always a great choice. You can buy it premade and then add your own fruit. They have red and white wine varieties. I add cherries, strawberries, grapes, oranges, and cut up star fruit. Sometimes the fruit sinks so I skewer it.

Answer 10

vodka,whiskey and something to mix it with + beer