Summer parties are the best, and pre-batched drinks are a total game changer. I love making drinks for friends and always have a great time doing so, but it does have the tendency to suck away some of the socialization opportunities. The last party I hosted I whipped up all pre-batched cocktails, which meant all I had to do was pour and serve! I’ve also been discovering the magic of packing these on trips, which has completely upped my travel game! Pack em in mason jars, stick em in any hotel fridge, and you’re set! If there’s no fridge, just add a few cubes of ice from the hotel ice maker. Here are a few ideas and tips, let me know your fav drinks to pre-batch!
Spirituous drinks
Any drink that contains only spirits without juice/citrus can be easily pre-batched. They will keep perfectly for a week or more! You can dilute it with about 25-30% water (sounds like a lot, I know!) and stick it in the fridge/freezer, and you won’t even need to stir it with ice. The added water balances the drink the same way that melting ice would. Just pour and serve, and if you’re feelin’ extra fancy, add a fresh citrus twist to totally elevate this to freshly-made status. Serving these in old liquor bottles is also particularly fun and convenient!
Ideas: Negronis, Boulevardier, Old Fashioneds, Corn N Oil, Manhattans
Tiki-style punches
These large-format drinks are great to prep in advance. As these generally include fresh citrus, it’ll lose freshness after time, but anytime up to half a day should be fine. Stick em in the fridge to cool before the party, and you can pre-dilute these as well in case ppl don’t use enough ice when serving themselves, and serve over fresh ice.
Ideas: Zombie, Planter’s Punch, Scorpion, Hurricane
DIY
Mimosas are fun and all, but for a bit more creativity, let your guests create their own drinks with fun options like the classic Aperol Spritz (3-2-1 aperol/champagne/soda) or Champagne Cocktail (cognac&champagne over an Angostura-soaked sugar cube). Lay out a selection of gins and various garnishes for a DIY gin&tonic bar, or have a freshly mixed sweet-and-sour syrup (fresh citrus juice mixed with simple syrup) ready to go alongside some tequila and fruit syrups for build-your-own margaritas!