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Planning Your Most Special Occasion

January 2, 2017

Forget getting the happy couple a new toaster.

Get them the tools they need to make a proper toast!

Plan a Stock-The-Bar Shower

Want a modern twist on the classic wedding shower? Why not try a Stock the Bar Party. It's a great way to include couples in the pre-wedding festivities and it will make entertaining fun and easy for the newlyweds. Bonus: you'll get to enjoy those future parties as their guest. 

Couples can register for specific items or the party host can offer suggestions to guests based on a theme. One idea is to divide your guests into four groups with each assigned to a certain type of gift based on that classic wedding phrase...

Something Old

Older wine vintages (say the year the couple met), ingredients for a classic cocktail or aged whiskeys and bourbons.

Clark’s Picks:

  • 20 Year Old Taylor Fladgate Port
  • 2009 Moet Chandon Vintage

Something New

Unique and trendy items, the latest pre-mixed cocktails or craft beer.

Clark’s Picks:

  • Spigelau Beer Cannoisseur
  • 1000 Stories Bourbon Barrel Aged Zinfandel

Something Borrowed

Beverages that "borrow" their taste from something else such as flavored vodkas or wine blends.

Clark’s Picks:

  • Iron Horse Wedding Cuvee Sparkling Wine – 78% Pinot Noir, with its expressive berry fruit flavor, borrows added borrows 22% Chardonnay to add expressive freshness and acidity to the blend

Something Blue

Cold and icy items like vodka or frozen drink mixes or silver bar tools.

Clark’s Picks:

  • Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch
  • Chimay Blue Belgium Dark Ale

“O” is for Open Bar

So you want to have an open bar at your reception. Here are some money saving tips:

  1. Make selections that are not the nationally-recognized brand names. For example, some of the most popular imported vodka brands can cost two to three times as much as lesser known quality brands.
  2. Make selections that are not “age specific.” Scotch, Bourbon and Irish whiskeys that are aged for 12 – 30 years are naturally going to be expensive. Choose Scotch Blends, and Bourbons and Irish whiskeys that carry no age statement. 
  3. Purchase the 1.75 Liter size. In virtually every case, the cost per ounce will be considerably cheaper.
  4. Offer only the basic bar set up. It is impossible to have everyone’s favorite. Usually, a Bourbon, Scotch, Vodka, Gin and Rum will meet requests of the large majority of guests.
  5. Make sure bartenders know to open only one bottle per bar at a time. Most stores will allow the return of unopened bottles for credit. You don’t want to end up with a lot of opened bottles.

Tip:

If you ARE brand conscious, think about using well marked decanters to pour from. They look much nicer, are easier for bartenders to handle, and add a touch of elegance.


Mixology-Wedding-WeddingCakeMartini.jpg

Wedding Cake Martini

  • 1 part wedding cake vodka – Pinnacle recommended
  • 1/2 part white vermouth – Cinzano White recommended
  • vanilla cake frosting
  • coconut*

In shaker, pour vodka and vermouth over ice. Shake well and set aside. Add warm water to frosting to thin and pour into a bowl or plate. In a second plate, pour coconut. Rim glass with frosting, then with coconut. Strain martini from shaker into the rimmed glass.

For larger quantities: Pour 1 part vodka and 1/2 part vermouth in pitcher over ice, stir vigorously, and serve. 

• Variation: Use colorful cake sprinkles in place of coconut.


Mixology-Wedding-BlushingBachelorette.jpg

The Blushing Bachelorette Martini

  • 1 oz. peach Schnapps
  • 1 oz. grenadine
  • 4 oz. Champagne

Pour the peach Schnapps and grenadine into a Champagne flute.
Top with Champagne


Mixology-Wedding-GrinningGroom.jpg

The Grinning Groom Martini

  • 2 parts ROXOR Gin
  • 1 part St Germain
  • ½ part fresh squeezed lime juice

Fill shaker with ice. Add all ingredients over ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into chilled Martini glass. Garnish with lime twist.

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