Post #647853 by dcman on Sat, Aug 11, 2012 6:20 AM

It is somewhat unfair and difficult to be satisfied if you expect your friends and guests to have the same level of interest in your drinks that we all have. We're the weird ones, they don't have to be, even if they are uncultured. I agree with Chip - the whole reason for doing this is to be a host and if your guests enjoy Hawaiian Punch then that's what they enjoy. Kick them out and invite different guests, or serve them Hawaiian Punch.

I do however, think it is fair to want to try to elevate the taste of your guests. I have had varying degrees of success at parties getting folks out of their comfort zone. Typically, I serve very little beer (and when I do, I serve something out of the ordinary) and a series of mixed drinks. Some go over well, some don't, but people know they're going to get something different when they come to my tiki bar and they seem to enjoy that. Even if they do want their Genny Cream Ale when they get home.

Cosmogirl and I are trying something new that is proving to be somewhat successful. We're doing a cocktail tasting party. All guest are expected to bring a cocktail (with enough to serve a small amount to most guests, maybe the equivalent of 8 normal drinks) and to send their cocktail recipe ahead of time. They will serve their recipe at the party. In return, we provide food and a drink as well, and compile all the recipes into commemorative recipe books. All guests at the party get one that contains all the drinks that were served.

The party is next week, but response has been good. We got a little pushback initially but when we stressed that this was the type of party it was, every guest pushed themselves to provide a recipe. Several guest who couldn't come have also sent cocktail recipes, and we'll be sending recipe books on to them as well even though they cannot attend and their drink won't be served.

In short, this turned out to be a great way to create some interest in some cocktail culture and folks really seem to be enjoying it. Some recipes are complicated (we have a French Martini, a cosmopolitan, a tequila fizz, and some homemade limoncello among other things) and some are pretty straightforward (liquid pants remover, apparently discovered during a camping trip, 1 shot raspberry vodka served with 8 oz. diet berry soda). But in the end, our guests really got into the project and it is turning out to be a fun way to have a unique party. We didn't have to do all the work, and our guests seem to really like the idea.

dcman