What to do with people who have no taste? - Tiki Drinks and Food

H Hibiscus Member Boston-ish Joined: Sep 22, 2008 Posts: 211	H Hibiscus Posted posted on Thu, Jul 26, 2012 8:47 AM I occasionally have the same issue - I want to make something beautifully balanced and fresh, and some of my party guests find it "not sweet enough" or "weird" (!) or whatever. So I'm now in the habit of having something mid-range and "accessible" for them (think Blue Hawaiians, etc), and a couple of more sophisticated cocktails for the more adventurous and well-versed folks. Making top-notch drinks for people who are happy with Appleby's-style crap is always going to be a) annoying to you and b) wasteful of your good booze. I think you answered your own questions when you said "Do I make a batch of "Hawaiian Paradise" for them and let them swill that all night while I make real cocktails?" Yes. That's just what you do. And you can still make good cocktails for them to "swill" - just don't use your most convoluted recipes or top-shelf rum. Use a nice-quality carton of juice instead of giving yourself Carpal Tunnel hand-squeezing grapefruits or whatever. A good solid recipe with mid-range liquor will be fine. I'm guessing after a while you get to know who among your guests might like something a bit more sophisticated, and you can go to town on cocktails for them. Trying to shoehorn good liquor into unwilling palates is a futile waste for everyone.

I occasionally have the same issue - I want to make something beautifully balanced and fresh, and some of my party guests find it "not sweet enough" or "weird" (!) or whatever. So I'm now in the habit of having something mid-range and "accessible" for them (think Blue Hawaiians, etc), and a couple of more sophisticated cocktails for the more adventurous and well-versed folks.

Making top-notch drinks for people who are happy with Appleby's-style crap is always going to be a) annoying to you and b) wasteful of your good booze. I think you answered your own questions when you said "Do I make a batch of "Hawaiian Paradise" for them and let them swill that all night while I make real cocktails?"

Yes. That's just what you do. And you can still make good cocktails for them to "swill" - just don't use your most convoluted recipes or top-shelf rum. Use a nice-quality carton of juice instead of giving yourself Carpal Tunnel hand-squeezing grapefruits or whatever. A good solid recipe with mid-range liquor will be fine. I'm guessing after a while you get to know who among your guests might like something a bit more sophisticated, and you can go to town on cocktails for them. Trying to shoehorn good liquor into unwilling palates is a futile waste for everyone.

Post #645669 by Hibiscus on Thu, Jul 26, 2012 8:47 AM