Time to Party: How to Master the Art of the Cocktail

This post was created in partnership with Hallmark UK & Ireland

I don't know about you guys, but when I hear the phrase, "cocktail party," my imagination is immediately flooded with images of the roaring twenties or the swinging sixties. It's glitz, glamour, and all things fancy! As amazing as that sounds, that kind of cocktail party is a little out of my league. Let's be real: I cannot recreate the party scenes in The Great Gatsby in my own home, despite my best efforts!

But ya know what? Cocktail parties aren't just for the rich and famous! We can make the cocktail party our very own. When you stay in for a cocktail party, you can skip the lines, the covers, the high drink prices, and the taxi fares involved with a night out on the town.

Here are some great ideas to help get you inspired to throw your own cocktail party!

Cocktail Experience

If you like the idea of throwing your own cocktail party, but aren't super confident in your bartending skills, you might be surprised to find that your favorite local bars may offer the "cocktail experience." Usually these sessions are booked as private parties where you're given a demonstration and then get a chance to try those mixology skills out yourself. The "cocktail experience" can be a great opportunity to get some friends together, get introduced to the world of cocktails, and get yourself warmed up for your own bash!

Take a Class

If you want to learn more about cocktails in less of a party atmosphere, you can always take a class in the art of mixology! If you look online, you can be sure you'll find the bartender training course nearest to you. You can also look for cocktail classes at places that offer cooking classes! In just one class you can gain the skills you need to become a pro in no time!

Buy a Book

If you don't have the time or money to sign up for a cocktail class, don't worry! One of the most accessible ways to master the art of the cocktail is to simply buy a book! There are all sorts of books available online or from your local bookstore and you can take your time to learn from them at your own pace. Whether you are looking for a book about the history of the cocktail, how to make your own bitters, how to make classic cocktails, or how to make fun seasonal drinks, you should be able to find a book that's right up your alley!

Seasonal Inspiration

Cocktail parties are fantastic, because you can throw them any time of year. One of my favorite suggestions is to style your cocktail party with seasonally themed drinks. You can go light and fruity with Greyhounds on summer nights, or warm and spicy with Hot Toddys for an intimate winter get together. There are all sorts of fun seasonal drinks, so do some research and you'll be sure to pick some winning cocktails.

With all your new knowledge of cocktails and drink mixing, your party is sure to be a hit! Even if the drinks dry up at the end of the night, the conversation will keep on flowing. To help it along, you can even brush up on the history of some of the drinks you are serving. They didn't just appear out of thin air!

So, what's stopping you? Get to Hallmark and send out your invites today! Your next cocktail party could be just a few shakes away!

Til next time!

-Becca

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