Signature drink

MISSCOURTNEY20 · October 2010

We are not having alcohol at our reception. At least, this was until last night when we met with the venue's coordinator. She said that we could have a signature drink for only $2 more per person. I am really thinking that this would be a nice thing to have. Any ideas?? I really like fruity drinks and since it's an early reception @ 12pm, that should be okay.

kpwedkk · October 2010

We did Mango Lassis (Mango + Yogurt) since we were Indian... but we also had a couple bartenders too..

Anyways, on to the recipes!

Cranberry Spice Sparkler (served at Bookmarks Lounge, NYC)
5 fresh cranberries
1 tsp. agave nectar
Splash of fresh lemon juice
1 pinch pumpkin pie spice (store-bought)
4 oz. sparkling wine <-- this can be apple cider sparkling non-alcoholic as well
Directions: In the bottom of a mixing glass, muddle the cranberries and pie spice in the agave and fresh lemon juice. Then add ice and sparkling wine and stir briefly to incorporate. Strain into a chilled champagne flute. Top w/ extra splash of sparkling wine.
Garnish: 3 floating cranberries

Spiced Pear Sparkler (served at soon-to-be-opened Harmony Harlem, NYC)
3/4 oz. Pear puree
1/2 oz. clove syrup**
3 oz. Sparkling Wine (Veuve du Vernay) <-- this can be apple cider too!!
Directions: Add ingredients to a mixing glass with ice and stir briefly to incorporate. Strain into a chilled champagne flute and top w/ extra splash of sparkling wine.
Garnish: 1 star anise
**clove syrup is made by dissolving 1 cup demerara sugar in 1 cup water, along with 1 tsp. dried cloves. Allow sugar to dissolve, and simmer for 15 mins. Strain out cloves and chill.

Tea Cider Sparkler (non-alcoholic)
1/2 oz chamomile-cinnamon tea syrup**
Splash of fresh lemon juice
3 oz. Non-alcoholic sparkling cider (Martinelli’s)
Directions: Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir briefly. Strain into chilled champagne flute. Add extra splash of cider on top.
Garnish: chamomile flower and/or lemon peel
**chamomile-cinnamon syrup: dissolve equal parts white sugar and water over heat. Once dissolved, add 1 chamomile tea bag and 3 cinnamon sticks per 1 cup water to mixture. Allow to simmer for 5 mins, then remove tea bag(s). Then continue simmering for approx. 10 more mins. Remove cinnamon sticks and chill.

Raspberry Limeade

1 c fresh or frozen raspberries
1/3 – 1/2 c simple syrup*
3 juicy limes, juiced
5 c cold water

Puree the raspberries and put juice into a pitcher. Discard seeds. Add in lime juice and simple syrup and cold water. Stir and taste making any adjustments to sweetener or lime juice. Serve over ice.

* Simple syrup is an equal mixture of water and white sugar combined over heat to make a syrup. It’s simple! I usually take 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar and mix them over medium-high heat until it just starts to boil. Once it completely melted, remove from heat and cool. I store it in a jar in the fridge to use for all kinds of drinks.

2dbride had some advice too : We're doing nojitoes (nonalcoholic mojitoes). We're just mixing one bottle of Stirrings mojito mix with four liters of club soda, adding ice, and garnishing with fresh mint. We tried it out, and ended up loving it so much that we're getting a bunch of extra bottles of the mojito mix, so we can drink it ourselves at home.

Hope that helps!

LessThanZero · October 2010

Did you mean that you want your signature drink to have alcohol??

If so I'd choose something with vodka. maybe it's just the area I live in or the people I know but I think that overall, that's the best universal liquor to go with instead of rum or tequila. Next best choice would be rum.

Maybe a type of cosmo or martini would be best? Like a cosmo but with a splash of grapefruit, orange ro pineapple juice. Or an apple or cherry martini? Something along those lines.

staceytaylor0704 · October 2010

Yes, another vote for something that includes vodka!

MISSCOURTNEY20 · October 2010

Yes, the sig. drink will have alcohol. Vodka sounds good.

Do you guys think it would be too much to have the sig. drink include champagne? I saw one with pear and apple.

LessThanZero · October 2010

Are you doing Champagne for the toasts already? if so, I'd say definitely not. Otherwise I'd say maybe. You know your guests better than we do. But for thise who might like to have a few drinks throughout the night, Champagne is usuall not something people want to have a few of, you know?

cupcakesfrosting · October 2010

I like the idea of Champagne and something.. What are your colors? I'm obsessed with this drink, it has Pomegranate Juice, a small squeeze of lemon, and champagne.. It's called a Pomegranate Fizz.. <33