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Red, white and blue cocktails are fun for Memorial Day, 4th of July or any other patriotic event. Ingredients for these cocktails include strawberries, blueberries, pineapple and watermelon, vodka, rum and white wine.  Red, White and Blue Lychee Margarita
Answers to Memorial Day Quiz: 1. People in US Military Service; 2. The Civil War; 3. Decoration Day; 4. It was not the anniversary of a battle; 5. 3 p.m.
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We love the questions we get from our fabulous customers and today's question was one I haven't heard in all the years I've been creating party invitations.
"How do you word invitations to ask guests to bring tips for the bartender?" First, if you can afford a bartender, or your event supplies a bartender, you can afford the tip at the end of the evening. At most events, alcohol is the the responsibility of the hosts. If you can't afford an open bar, limit the guest's selections to beer and wine or coffee and tea, whatever you can afford. If alcohol is not in your budget, consider inviting fewer guests so you can budget for this expense. Also, check with your venue to see if the cost of a bartender and their tip is included as part of the overall bill for your event. I have been to events where there is a tip jar at the bar, and as long as you agree, it is fine for the bartender to put out the tip jar (remember, some guests will think this is tacky.) If you aren't okay with a big jar with a handwritten "Tips" note attached messing up your beautifully decorated venue, then make sure you let the bartender know that you are paying for their services as well as the tip at the end of the event and you would rather they put the tip jar under the bar for the duration of your event. You don't expect guests to tip the wait staff and other people who made sure your event ran smoothly, so you shouldn't treat the bartender any differently. Figure out how you can cover the cost of serving cocktails and beverages to your guests and include that amount -- plus the tip -- in your event's budget.
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 A non-alcoholic Mint Julep is perfect for any Kentucky Derby Party, especially if your party will have children or teens in attendance.
Ingredients:
Mix sugar, cold water, lemon juice and at least six mint sprigs in a bowl and let stand for 45 minutes for flavors to meld. Strain the mixture and remove mint. Tip: Because this mixture takes 45 minutes to meld the flavors, be sure to make more than enough at one time to serve all your guests. Using two 2 quart pitchers place half of the above mixture and half of the ginger ale in each pitcher. Top with lemon slices and additional mint sprigs in the pitchers or use for each glass. The one thing you need for mint juleps? Lots and lots of crushed ice, so be sure to stock up! This recipe makes approximately 3 quarts Non-Alcoholic Mint Juleps (about 12 - 8 ounce cups). Be sure to make enough at once to eliminate prep time after your guests have arrived. You might also like: Cinco de Mayo calls for cocktails with tequila, lots of limes! If you're not a fan of tequila, there are some great Mexican beers you can serve or you might want to try a Beer Margarita (they are good!)  One of my personal favorites is The Tequila Sunrise. It tastes fabulous, it is a great change from the usual Cinco de Mayo margaritas and it looks fabulous! Tequila Sunrise 4 oz orange juice 2 oz tequila 1/2 oz grenadine orange slice for garnish maraschino cherry for garnish Pour tequila and orange juice into a highball glass filled with ice and stir. To get the signature two-toned look, slowly pour the grenadine around the inside edge of the glass, it will sink and slowly rise to mix with the other ingredients naturally. Garnish a cherry and orange slice. Salty Chihuahua Mix first 3 ingredients in a glass: 1 - 1.5 ounce jigger tequila 5 ounces lemonade 1 wedge lime Serve over ice, salt optional Beer Margarita Mix first 4 ingredients in a pitcher: 1 12 ounce can frozen limeade concentrate 12 ounces tequila 12 ounces water 12 ounces beer 1 lime, cut into wedges Blend and serve over ice, salt rim optional Paloma 2 oz blanco or reposado tequila 6 oz fresh grapefruit soda (Squirt) OR grapefruit juice and splash of soda 1/2 oz lime juice Salt for rimming (optional) Rim a collins glass with salt. Fill the glass with ice and add the tequila and lime juice. Top it off with grapefruit soda. A light, fruity drink with a fizz and one of the smoothest, refreshing tequila drinks. Moonlight Blue Margarita Pour first 3 ingredients in a shaker with ice: 1 1/2 oz tequila 1 oz blue curacao 1 oz fresh lime juice lime wedge for garnish salt for rimming Shake and pour into a margarita glass rimmed with salt and garnish with a lime wedge. This drink keeps the orange flavor of a typical margarita, but the blue curacao adds a fabulously cool blue color to the cocktail.  Coco Loco 1 fresh coconut 1 oz white tequila 1 oz melon liqueur 1 oz coconut rum 1 oz pineapple juice 1 oz sugar syrup 1/2 fresh lime 1 cup ice Make a glass out of the coconut by slicing off top of the coconut. (Keep the coconut water to drink later-it's great over ice.) Mix tequila, melon liqueur, rum, pineapple juice, sugar syrup and ice into the empty coconut shell. Don't forget...fabulous invitations = fabulous party turnout! 
You might also like:  The Mint Julep is the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby. If the thought of making the traditional mint julep recipe that takes 4-6 hours for the bourbon-sugar mixture's flavors to blend doesn't sound like fun to you, you'll love this Really, Really (Really!) Quick Mint Julep Recipe you can make for your derby party crowd. This recipe makes a gallon of mint juleps. Ingredients: 2 cups sugar 2 teaspoons pure mint extract (not peppermint) 2 drops green food coloring Water Bourbon Whiskey Shaved or cracked ice Mint sprigs for garnish Directions: Combine the sugar, pure mint extract and the green food coloring (you can leave this out) in a container a little larger than one gallon. Add water to make a gallon of the mixture. Add water to fill container half full. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Once sugar has dissolved, add the rest of the water to bring the contents to one gallon. To make each drink, fill cups to the brim with cracked or shaved ice. Pour 2 ounces of bourbon over the ice. Pour 2 ounces of the mix over ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint. You will need lots and lots and lots of ice for your mint juleps so be sure to buy or make more than you think you need.  |
