Halloween is a major party occasion, even more so when it lands on a Saturday. Don’t believe me? Just ask Bushwick Bill.
“This year Halloween fell on a weekend/me and Geto Boys are trick or treatin’
So, if you’re planning on a major bash or even a little get together, you’re going to need a party plan. Sure, you could just put out some bowls of Halloween candy, stock up on a few six packs and tell your guests to bring a bottle. Putting a little bit of thought into your beverage offerings can take your soiree from Night of the Living Dead snooze-fest to major Monster Mash. If anyone would know how to put together a drinks plan for a Halloween bash it’s Sheldon Wiley, DJ and award-wining barman and ambassador for Cîroc. TheLUSHiouslife asked Sheldon for a few tips to help put together a killer Halloween party.
Know Your Crowd
Think about having a signature cocktail for your party. It adds a personal touch that helps your do stand out, plus it helps streamline your shopping list and prep work: When you know what you’re pouring you’re always prepared.
“When choosing drinks for your event, you should certainly take into account the number of guests attending as well as their likes and dislikes,” says Wiley. “If you have a large number of guests who don’t like fancy drinks, you should pick a simple, classic drink recipe that can be made quickly and lets the liquid shine.”
Do the Math
Nothing kills a bash buzz faster than running short on spirits, mixers and ice, especially if you’re the one that has to leave the party to head to the store. (Yeah, and you’ll be doing it dressed like Zombie Ben Carson so good luck with not getting stopped by the police).
“To ensure that we do our part in helping guests celebrate responsibly we recommend no more than 1 drink per person per hour,” says Wiley. “If the preparation specs of a cocktail call for 1.5oz of CÎROC then a 1 liter bottle is recommended for approximately 21-22 people per hour.”
As for ice…you can never have too much. Well, technically you can, but you can always let it melt in the tub. Pack out the freezer with as much as it can hold.
Go with a Spooky Theme but Keep it Classy
The folks at Cîroc created this crimson cocktail with Halloween in mind, but note the use of the martini glass rather than a red Solo cup.
CÎROC Bloody Mary Martini
1 oz CÎROC Vodka
3 oz Tomato Juice
.5 oz Lemon Juice
1 Dash Worcestershire Sauce
2 Dashes Pepper Sauce
2 Pinches Celery Salt
1 Pinch Ground Black Pepper
Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with cracked ice. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with celery and a wheel of lemon.
“The martini glass—or as it’s more accurately known, the cocktail glass, serves as a vessel for shaken or stirred drinks (without ice). The stem raises the dish of the glass vertically from your hands, which would otherwise warm the beverage. The stem is to be held with your fingertips and lifted towards your awaiting lips. In short, it’s a more sophisticated way of savoring a style(s) of cocktail generally attributed to common or basic glassware. The ingredients play no role in the name rather the style is a modern twist on the definition of the glassware itself.”
So go ahead, live it up!
Come back tomorrow for more ideas to spice up your Halloween cocktail menu.
