If you’ve hosted — or even attended — a company party or a wedding or a conference, you know how important the bar can be. Cocktails and adult beverages are often an afterthought in the party planner’s long list of to-dos, but recent trends show that more and more events are featuring high-end cocktails, top-shelf wine and craft beer. And in the past, a lot of resources went into menus and chef-catered events, but party-givers found a lot of food was wasted, but the bar was often (literally) tapped out.
As in all things, change is constant, and the catering industry is no different. And with the recent coronavirus pandemic, more celebrants have opted for smaller cocktail parties at home or at the office rather than large all-day gatherings. It’s no mystery that a good bar can liven up a gathering. The trend of featuring the bar at a catered event is good news for caterers and bartenders alike. Caterers may have more freedom with cocktail menus with simple appetizers rather than expensive custom chef-created dishes, and bartenders may find a lucrative side gig — or even make a shift to the more flexible catering life.
Most importantly, a good bar makes a great party. We at bevo are specialists in creative cocktails and locally-crafted beers and wines for Vermont weddings, corporate parties and family celebrations. From flights of local whiskeys for your football party to a martini bar for your anniversary party, we have some great ideas for thinking about cocktail catering for your upcoming holiday and year-end celebrations.
Top Bar Catering Cocktails of 2021
Taste.com in Australia recommends a streamlined bar featuring several drinks made with limited, simple bar ingredients — like vodka, gin, ginger, mint and lemon — for an efficient and varied drink menu:
Moscow Mule – classic with ginger beer, vodka, lime and mint
Gin Spritz – gin with lemon, mint and bubbles!
Vodka Martini – superbly flexible for a variety of martini flavors, from dirty to cosmopolitan!
Tom Collins – sweet and tart, with gin and lime
Gimlet – vodka or gin and lime make for a tasty cold treat
In 2021, spice has been added to more menus for both heat and international flair, and cocktails are no different. Liquor.com highlights some spicy favorites, sure to add a kick to your fiesta:
Pineapple Jalapeño Margarita – the classic tequila drink you love with some sweet fire
Bloody Maria – a twist on the vodka and tomato classic, using tequila or mescal and lots of peppers and spice
Michelada – beer, lime and hot sauce … warms up cold lager
My Thai – sounds like the syrupy Polynesian drink, with killer Thai chili peppers and coconut milk
When you’re ready for the perfect, creative bar for your Vermont party, wedding or celebration, contact bevo!
