No-Fail Cocktails for Any Dinner Party

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What’s a dinner party with a little booze?

If you’re looking to up your hostess game this season, we’ve got 5 extremely easy cocktails to take your party up a notch.

And don’t worry if you’re not that great at mixing drinks. Everything on this list is just as simple and foolproof as Happy Camper’s very own winter brunch cocktail, Tarragon and Quince. Though in case you mess up on these recipes, or a guest isn’t a huge fan of your concoction, it doesn’t hurt to have a couple bottles of wine as a backup.

While we love our booze, we’d just like to remind you that alcohol is a diuretic. Pretty Me indicates the ratio of booze to water is 1:1, so make sure your guests readily have access to water to avoid getting dehydrated, as well as nasty hangovers!

Let’s get right into it!

1. Gimlets

One of our absolute favorite pre-prohibition style drinks, and also according to The Spruce Eats, this classic cocktail goes well with almost anything, and guests will have a hard time not falling in love with it.

You will need:

• 700 ml bottle of gin (try making it with an American or botanical style gin like Amethyst Gin from Washington state)

• Lime cordial (make your own from leftover lime juice!)

• Lime wedges

• thyme garnish

To make:

Pour 2 oz of gin and ¾ oz lime cordial in a mixing glass with ice. Mix thoroughly, then strain into a cocktail glass of your choice. Serve with a lime wedge and garnish with the fresh herbs.

2. Earl Grey Martinis

Courtesy of BBC Good Food, this martini is extremely easy to make and is a great alternative to after-dinner tea. Plus, you can make it in a huge batch ahead of time since there are not any citric or sugar ingredients that would break down over time and taste poorly if batched.

You will need:

• 1 tbsp loose leaf Earl Grey Tea

• 700 ml bottle of gin

To make:

Scoop Earl Grey tea into a large jug. Pour the gin into the jug and mix with a long spoon for a minute. Using a funnel, pour the liquid back into the bottle. Wash and dry the jug, then strain the gin back into the jug with a coffee filter or cheesecloth. Stores in the refrigerator for months. Shake with ice, or pour over ice to serve.

3. Molasses-Spiced Spiked Cider

Leaning towards a warm cocktail for this holiday season? This spiked cider from Real Simple is packed with amazing flavors to turn up the heat.

You will need:

• 4 cups apple cider (buy local for ultimate taste!)

• 3 tbsp molasses

• 2 cinnamon sticks (optional: extra for garnish)

• 1 in piece of ginger, peeled

• 1 orange, quartered

• ½ cup (4 oz) gold rum or bourbon

To make:

Add apple cider, molasses, cinnamon sticks, ginger, and orange into a pot. Heat on medium high until simmering, then turn down to low and cover. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, then remove from heat. Pour liquid through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a heatproof bowl or pitcher. Stir in rum. Serve warm in mugs or teacups.

4. Pineapple Party Punch

Distract your guests from the cold winter days with this fruity punch from Crazy for Crust. You might not be anywhere near a beach, but the tropical vibes of this beverage will totally make up for it.

You will need:

• 4 cups pineapple juice, chilled

• ½ cup white rum (we love Flor de Cana 4 year rum)

• 750 ml bottle of prosecco

• 2 cups chopped pineapple, frozen

To make:

Pour all ingredients into a large pitcher. Stir and serve immediately.

5. Candy Cake Vodka

Is there anything more fitting for the holiday season than this candy cane vodka? Courtesy of Rachel Ray Every Day, this can be served on its own or used to spike winter beverages.

You will need:

• 12 candy canes

• 750 ml bottle of vodka

To make:

Pulse candy canes in a food processor or blender. Pour the candy cane dust into the vodka bottle using a funnel. Screw the lid on and shake to mix. Let the vodka sit, shaking every now and then until vodka is red and candy is fully dissolved after 30 minutes. Add to homemade eggnog, hot chocolate, or serve it over ice.

Prepared solely for happycampercocktailcompany.com

Authored by Cindy France

Fauxchella: A Boho Bar Extravagazna

Corporate event season is upon us again! Summer picnics are popping up all over town and already, the holiday event planning has begun in offices all over this Emerald City. I can hear the event design gears turning now: "Flower crowns! Rockaroke! PNW Camp Out! Balloon arches! "Hook!" Lost Boys style food fight on a tarp-covered football field with colored pudding ammunition and large donations given to FoodLifeline to counterbalance the waste karma!" (Ok that last one is just mine, several times proposed to my old boss at Microsoft, and never seized as the genius bucket list style activity it is. I have the logistics all worked out if anyone is interested in hiring me to pick this one up out of the so to speak 'round file.')

As we just approach our last summer 2018 corporate gig next week, and as Seattle corporate event planners finish up their employee picnics, corporate barbeques, and end of the year parties city-wide, I have some inspiration for future you.

Shindig! Events and CRG Events did INCREDIBLE work in summer 2017 for their clients, and we were honored to be a part of the surprise and delight they delivered, via providing bar service for some of Seattle's top companies. Given that each of these events took place approximately one year ago, I thought that it would be fun to take a look back at the good times. 

As a fun and conversation-starting centerpiece for their #wayoutwest (Shindig) and #fauxchella (CRG) events, our camper bar and wooden bars shone, and more importantly, provided craft cocktails of the highest quality to its discerning sippers.

The guests at these events are the same folks who flood our city's craft cocktail bars, farm to table restaurants, and microbreweries, so it only makes sense that they should expect to drink the same quality beverages at their corporate picnics. After all, there is nothing more sad to us than a black tablecloth covered, 6-foot table "bar" pouring liters of generic wine by the glass. We were proud to deliver local beer, wine, and our garden to glass cocktails, mixed with Washington state distillers' spirits and our own farm's edible flower garnishes to these thirsty guests.

Propriety stops me from oversharing the details of these events, but I would like to share with you more about the bar service we put together.

Offerings included Seattle Cider Company's cider, Fremont Brewing's draft brews, and an inventive and on-theme menu of seasonal"garden to glass" cocktails curated specifically for our clients. We poured Heritage Distilling vodka and bourbon by the case in our signature bourbon peach teas, lavender lemonades, watermelon tequila smashes, as well as a dozen gallons of the drink of the summer, our own secret recipe frose- a frozen slushie of wine blended with Washington grown Strawberries. 

One event hosted 500 guests, the other welcomed 1,500 for a summer bash. We staffed up, built new bars, and rolled up our sleeves for fast, efficient, and craft dedicated "garden to glass" bar service for all. 

You can feast your eyes on the pretty party results below, and then give us an email to reserve your bar service for Holiday season 2018 and summer 2019. Trust us, it's not too early!

Way Out West: (photos by Barbie Hull photography)

Fauxchella: (photos by Bow and Arrows Photography)