Cocktail hour at home
I’m a fan of 30 challenges and I have some set up for 2021. One challenge that is ongoing, because I can’t imagine doing it daily is making different cocktails at home. I love cocktails. I miss occasionally going to a hotel bar or speakeasy and enjoying the bar tender’s specialty. I also miss entertaining and making a signature cocktail to mark the occasion. I miss that so lately I’ve been experimenting with classic and lesser-known cocktails so I’m not off my game when we can all gather again.
If this is something you are thinking of trying I recommend doing what I do and halve the recipe. It’s a great way to sample something new to decide if you like it or not without getting too tipsy. For the holidays we were given some beautiful Moroccan tea glasses which I’ve found to be perfect for small-sized drinks.
Moroccan tea glasses are the perfect size for smaller cocktails.
Aside from glassware, you’ll want some basic barware staples. You don’t have to go crazy here or spend a ton of money. The two tools I tend to use for most cocktails are a cocktail shaker and a mini angled measuring cup. I also keep my fridge and pantry stocked with staples that are common in many cocktails — lemons, limes, oranges, ice, bitters, sour mix, club soda, cherries, and simple syrup.
For recipes, I have the classics ingrained in my brain. If I’m looking for a beverage that contains I certain ingredient or spirit I’ll do a search online. I organize recipes I want to try on my Pinterest board. I also have a few cocktail and entertaining books in my kitchen library that I turn to from time to time:
There are several variations on a Foreign Legion the recipe I used was rum based.
I’ll be sharing cocktails I attempt and the recipes throughout this year on my Instagram. Come follow along and send me your favorite cocktail.
