Party Cocktails for Christmas and New Year
Christmas and New Year are some of the busiest times of the year for pubs, clubs, bars, bistros and restaurants. With Christmas parties, festive get-togethers and New Year celebrations filling the calendar, it is also a great opportunity to add something different to your drinks menu. Cocktails can certainly help create that festive feeling. However, when the bar is busy, drinks also need to be quick to prepare, consistent and profitable. That is where a well-planned cocktail menu, supported by reliable post-mix soft drinks and mixers, can make a real difference. Festive Cocktails for a Busy Bar Christmas cocktails often combine familiar favourites with seasonal flavours. Warming spices, cranberry, citrus, ginger and winter fruits can all bring a festive feel to a drinks menu without making things unnecessarily complicated behind the bar. Traditional choices such as Mulled Wine and Hot Toddies remain popular during colder weather. Meanwhile, cocktails using cola, lemonade, tonic, ginger flavours and fruit mixers can be prepared quickly while still giving customers something a little different. For example, a classic spirit and mixer can be given a seasonal twist with fresh fruit, herbs or a festive garnish. Likewise, cranberry, orange and mixed fruit flavours work particularly well when creating colourful Christmas serves. Most importantly, keeping recipes straightforward can help bar staff serve customers efficiently during busy Christmas parties and events. Cocktails for New Year Celebrations As Christmas gives way to New Year, sparkling and celebratory drinks usually take centre stage. Champagne and sparkling wine cocktails remain popular choices. The French 75 combines gin, lemon and sparkling wine, while a Kir Royale uses crème de cassis and sparkling wine for a simple but distinctive serve. However, your New Year cocktail menu does not need to rely entirely on sparkling wine. Long drinks combining spirits with post-mix lemonade, cola, tonic or fruit flavours can provide an excellent alternative. Furthermore, they are easy to reproduce consistently when several customers order at once. For venues expecting a busy New Year’s Eve, a smaller menu of carefully selected cocktails can often work better than an extensive list. As a result, staff can become familiar with each recipe while customers still have plenty of choice. Don’t Forget the Mocktails Alcohol-free choices have become an increasingly important part of a good drinks menu. Therefore, it is worth including a few properly considered mocktails rather than simply offering customers a standard soft drink. Post-mix soft drinks are particularly useful here because they can provide the foundation for quick and consistent alcohol-free serves. Lemonade can be combined with fruit juices, fresh citrus and herbs, while tonic and fruit flavours can create more grown-up alternatives. A Virgin Mojito, for example, can combine lime, mint and lemonade for a refreshing drink that is easy to prepare. Consequently, customers who are driving, avoiding alcohol or simply choosing something different can still enjoy a drink that feels part of the occasion. Keep Festive Drinks Simple and Consistent Presentation certainly matters, especially at Christmas and New Year. Fresh fruit, sugared rims, herbs and seasonal garnishes can transform a straightforward drink into something that looks special. Nevertheless, a busy bar also needs speed and consistency. A reliable post-mix drinks dispensing system allows staff to dispense soft drinks and mixers quickly at the point of sale. In addition, using consistent measures and recipes can help control costs while ensuring customers receive the same drink each time they order. That can be particularly valuable during the festive season when bars are busy and staff need to keep queues moving. Post-Mix Drinks for Pubs, Bars and Hospitality Venues At CS Drinks, we have been supplying post-mix soft drinks, dispensing equipment and servicing to the hospitality trade for over 35 years. Our post-mix range includes popular flavours suitable for serving on their own, alongside spirits and as part of cocktail and mocktail menus. Furthermore, we supply and install the dispensing equipment needed to serve drinks efficiently at the bar. We work with pubs, clubs, bars, bistros, cafés, restaurants and other hospitality venues across the North West. Because deliveries and servicing are handled directly by our own team, you’ll deal with people who understand both the equipment and the drinks you serve. If you’re considering a post-mix system for your venue, or you want to discuss your requirements before the busy festive season, speak to Steve or Dianne on 01539 559033 or email sales@csdrinks.co.uk. From everyone at CS Drinks, we wish our customers a very Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and a successful festive season.