Cocktail Tasting Party

Last evening we hosted an informal cocktail tasting party. I invited a small group over to help us test some non-alcoholic cocktail recipes. It was a lot of fun.

You might ask why I wanted to focus on non-alcoholic cocktail recipes. The answer is simple. There are many sources for alcoholic cocktails and many of those recipes are tried and true.

There are fewer resources for non-alcoholic cocktails. But there are many people for whom an alcoholic cocktail is not an option or is not preferred. Consider the following:

1. Pregnant and nursing women
2. Recovering alcoholics
3. Those on medication not compatible with alcohol consumption
4. Those who know they don’t hold alcohol well (two drinks and it’s lampshade time)
5. Under 21’s
6. Those who have a religious belief about alcohol consumption
7. Those with medical conditions that are aggravated by alcohol consumption
8. Those who never learned to enjoy the flavor of alcohol

To prepare for the party, I researched recipes I wanted to try. I made my grocery list and stocked up on cream, grenadine syrup, cherries, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice, passion fruit juice, peach nectar, lemon lime soda, strawberries, cream of coconut, and lots of ice.

Preparation was easy. I made some simple syrup ahead of time. We set out freshly popped corn, some pistachios, and chips. I arranged a bowl of oranges, lemons, and limes. The blender, shakers, glasses, strainer, and measuring implements were on hand. And I put all of the juices into ice chests so they would be at hand and so we wouldn’t be constantly opening and closing the refrigerator all evening.

I gave the guests a choice between some of my favorite cobalt blue cocktail glasses and a clear wine glass. Everyone chose the cobalt blue ones, of course. They were just so appealing. (By the way, I have some new margarita, wine, and martini glasses coming in soon. I can’t wait!)

I started out bartending, but luckily some of our guests enjoy the job as well, so no one person got stuck making drinks all evening.

The first cocktail was the Bobby Cocktail. It was an instant hit with all but one guest. No one could believe that she didn’t like it. But each to her own. The Bobby Cocktail is a cream and citrus beverage that reminds me of a fine lemon mousse.

Our second beverage of the evening was a non-alcoholic cosmopolitan. The reactions were pretty hilarious and none of them were good. You will not find that recipe listed here or on the Laurie’s Cobalt World website. It failed to please anyone. Some comments were, “Curls your toes,” and “Will grow hair on your chest.” Enough said.

The next cocktail – Unfuzzy Navel - was a huge success. Some guests noted at the end of the evening that it was their favorite. The flavor is very robust – nothing wimpy or watery about it. Peach and orange flavor comes first and you finish with a lovely pineapple aftertaste. You really want to try this one.

I especially liked the Alice Cocktail. Several guests thought that the cocktail was strawberry-based, but in actuality, there was no strawberry in it. It’s a creamy cocktail flavored with a generous portion of grenadine syrup, a pomegranate-flavored syrup.

I made an error that affected the next recipe. I put the cream of coconut into the ice chest with the juices. That caused the cream to congeal, making it a little difficult to use. I put the coconut cream and milk into the microwave and melted it enough to stir before using it. It was a pretty funny moment when we opened the can!

Luckily, my boo-boo didn’t affect the recipe at all. And the Virgin Strawberry Colada was another hit. This drink is a frozen cocktail. Make sure that you don’t make it too thick. Late in the evening, the drink was repeated (I told you it was a hit). But this time, it was too thick. When I tried to drink it, a lump of beverage broke loose all at once and I got it on my nose! Not elegant. Not at all.

We ran out of evening before we tried all of the recipes I had in mind. My family and I tried Safe Sex On the Beach – the cocktail by that name, that is. It was nice. It’s a good choice for someone who doesn’t like their cocktail too sweet but doesn’t care for too sour either.

• 1/4 cup peach nectar
• 1/3 cup cranberry juice
• 1/3 cup orange juice

Mix all ingredients and then pour over ice. Garnish with a cherry, if desired.

If you like to pucker up a bit, try the Yellow Jacket. We made this twice and adjusted the recipe the second time. It was much preferred in this version:

• 1/3 cup pineapple juice
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice

Fill a shaker half full of cracked ice. Pour all ingredients into the shaker. Shake until the cocktail is very cold and the ice just begins to melt. Strain into two martini glasses and serve.

The last non-alcoholic cocktail recipe we tried is a Tequila Meadow. No, there’s no tequila in it, of course. It’s crisp and light, and sweet, but not overly sweet.

Tequila Meadow

• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
• 1 T. cranberry juice
• 3/4 tsp. grenadine syrup
• 1/4 cup lemon-lime soda

Fill a shaker halfway with cracked ice. Add all ingredients except the soda. Shake well and strain into a glass. Add the soda and stir gently.

While it is fun to have formal parties, informal evenings can be so entertaining. I highly recommend getting some of your friends and family together to cook together, taste something together, or otherwise have a shared experience. It’s worth it.

Laurie

Tags: beverages, entertaining, mocktails, recipes