How to Host a Flawless Cocktail Party

Creating the Cocktails

Unless you are hiring a bartender, it may be easier to serve only one type of cocktail. If you like, you can base it on the season or on what you and your friends like to drink.

Pick a cocktail with no more than four ingredients, excluding the garnish -- but three is really best. That way, it’s easy for you or your guests to make drinks quickly, and having fewer ingredients cuts down on cost and mess. Or serve drinks that can be made in advance and served in a pitcher, such as sangria,mojitos, or margaritas.

We also suggest inviting a few friends over to taste test a few days before the event. Some cocktail recipes, like food recipes, need an extra dash of “this” or splash of “that.”