A catered event is one that the host is putting a lot of effort, time, and money into–so why not make it even more special with a customized cocktail bar?
Chris Tunstall with A Bar Above. Photo courtesy A Bar Above.
Whether it’s a party for an anniversary or birthday, a high-quality bar that offers guests more options is good for the clients and your business.
Elevating Catered Events with a Craft Cocktail Bar
Rather than simply serving beer, wine, and basic cocktails, craft mixed drinks offer a unique sophistication that will impress your clients and make them remember you–meaning more referrals coming your way in the future.
And if we’re being honest, a luxury drink bar is something you can charge more for; it’s a great add-on that customers will love while also being good for your bottom line.
How to Scale Signature Cocktails into Larger Quantities for Guests
While providing tasty craft cocktails is a start, having at least one batched drink will cut down on serving time. You’ll need to make these large-scale drinks in advance; it takes prep time, but the service will be faster.
One example of how to pre-batch cocktails for events. Photo courtesy Belle Hunt (Unsplash)
Batching signature cocktails is a thoughtful detail that will not only please guests but also make the bartenders’ jobs much easier. Faster service makes everyone happier.
Formula, Types of Batching, & Production
Scale up a recipe to the number of servings you might need. Doing this will determine how much of each ingredient you’ll buy. Before batching, test and prep your ingredients, and then batch one of the following ways:
- Elemental Batching: Combine similar ingredients for rapid, fresh service. You’ll add all other ingredients on site.
- Punch Bowl Preparation: Build all ingredients right in a large-format vessel for quick service.
- Pre-Batch: Similar to a punch bowl, but decant the batch into smaller, more manageable quantities (usually 750ml).
What Not to Do When Batching Cocktails
After creating your large-format recipe and determining which type of batch you’ll do, put together all your ingredients. But there are some elements you’ll want to leave out till the last minute.
- Carbonated elements won’t last, so don’t add them until service.
- Add acid as close to service as possible to keep your cocktails tasting fresh.
- Be careful not to add ice or too much water beforehand, which will over-dilute your drinks.
Tips for Retaining Quality and Flavor When Batching Drinks
One downfall to batching drinks is that it’s easy to cut corners, making the cocktails feel generic and lackluster–which is the opposite of what you want. Here are a few tips for keeping the “craft” in your cocktails:
- Incorporate specific colors from the party into the drinks. For the holidays, offer red, green, or blue cocktails, achievable with natural ingredients such as berries and herbs or high-quality food dye.
- Always use fresh, seasonal ingredients so your drinks are delicious, fresh, and seasonally appropriate.
- Garnish with something eye-catching and fragrant for added presentation. Rather than a simple lemon wedge, use a twisted lemon peel, for example. Prepare these ahead of time if possible.
Remember, a daiquiri is a daiquiri, but a beautiful daiquiri is a game-changer.
Batched Gimlet Recipe for a Catered Cocktail Bar
To get you started, here’s a large-format recipe for 25-27 servings of a Gimlet that is easy to serve at any event.
Photo courtesy Chris Reyem (Unsplash)
Ingredients
2 bottles of gin (750 ml)
1 bottle of simple syrup (750 ml)
1 bottle of lime juice (750 ml)
1 bottle of water (750 ml)
Method
Add gin and syrup into a punch bowl, stir, and add lime juice. Stir, and add water. Stir again, and add fresh lime slices.
Happy serving, and cheers!
