Party drinks need a good blender. I prefer those with narrow containers
(about 4 inches in diameter). Some blenders come with containers
an inch or two wider, and they act like mini food processors. They’re great
for pureeing soup but not for crushing ice into creamy drinks. The narrow
blender pulverizes ice better, thereby creating smoother drinks.
For shaken drinks, you have a number of choices. You can use a basic
metal cocktail shaker with a lid, or a larger metal bar shaker, which often
comes with a second glass that fits on top and acts as a lid.
This second
glass is usually marked for measuring liquid ingredients in ounces.
If you don’t have any shaker, you can always improvise. One way is to
fill a pitcher halfway with ice, add the ingredients, and aggressively stir
with a long-handled wooden spoon. Continue to stir until condensation
appears on the outside of the pitcher. Then strain the drink into glasses
filled with fresh ice. Or serve up (without ice) as the recipe indicates. I have
also used a quart-size canning jar to shake drinks with nothing but my
hand as the lid. This can get cold and messy, plus you need big hands. So if you choose to use a canning jar, use the lid the jar came with, or cover
the top with plastic wrap then use your hand to seal the plastic in place
while you shake the drink.
Whichever way you choose to shake your drinks, you will need to strain
them afterward. You can buy a fancy bar strainer that fits the top of your
shaker exactly, but the truth is, any small strainer will do in a pinch.
Measuring your ingredients in ounces is an important part of making
great party drinks. If you don’t have a shaker with the ounces indicated
on the side, you can buy a two-sided cocktail jigger with a 1-ounce bowl
on one side and a 1 ½-ounce bowl on the other. There is usually a halfway
mark indicated on both sides to measure ½ ounce and ¾ ounce. If you don’t
have one of these, you can use a tablespoon. Just follow the Measurement
Conversion Chart. All of these shakers, blenders, and strainers are available
at hardware stores, kitchen stores, and most department stores.
For serving drinks, you’ll find glassware in a wide variety of sizes, shapes,
colors, and prices—martini glasses, margarita glasses, highballs, iced-tea
glasses, wineglasses, balloon glasses, old-fashioned glasses, and more.
Picking a glass is a no-brainer—use whatever you like, or whatever you
have on hand. When I serve a drink that has a beautiful color, I prefer to
use a clear glass.
Other than that, pretty colored glasses make for festive
parties. Some people like straws, some don’t.
I always put a straw or a swizzle stick in my drinks and let my guests
decide whether to use them. Just make sure that the straws and stirrers are
long enough to fit the glasses you’re using. It keeps your guests from having
to fish them out.
The most important thing about making drinks is to have fun. And
whether you choose to serve party drinks with alcohol or without, remember
that aside from the company, a good drink is often the most memorable
part of any party.
To help you know which drinks don’t have alcohol and which do, simply
look for a little martini glass with an x through it next to the name of the
recipe. If you see one, you’re still on the wagon. If not, there’s booze in the
blender.
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