Host the Perfect Cocktail Party in Your Home Bar

Feeling classy? That’s a sure sign it’s time to have a cocktail party at home. Luckily for you, we have the drink recipes you need, as well as the perfect party-planning checklist. Your swanky cocktail party will leave guests raving long after it’s over—and we at Modernize have a few pointers to make that happen.

Recreate the Bar Scene

When you think of classy cocktails, you may think of swingin’ speakeasies or the mid-century chic of a Mad Men-style affair. It’s true, we have a rich history of our social engagements—the memory-making celebrations and good times —revolving around drinking tasty cocktails. You can host your very own cocktail party at home by setting aside room for a bar.

A basement is the perfect place to build a home bar. It’s set aside from the rest of the house, so guests won’t have to cross major common areas. If you don’t have a basement, go for a nook or small dining room near plenty of seating. Whether you build a bartop yourself, hire a carpenter, or pick out a bar that’s already built, you can really up your home bar game with a rich wood and granite. Choose patterns that complement your current decor and your favorite style — whether it’s rustic, modern, retro, or something else. A more cost-efficient solution is to set up tables or cabinets where guests can pour their own drinks. Think of a coffee nook, but with cocktails instead!

Up Your Bartending Game

If you’re making the cocktails, we’ve got a few tips to transform you into a pro. Since the classiest of cocktail drinks always seem to have a salted or sugared rim, this is a must! Fill a rimming saucer with water to moisten the rim of the glass. Tap the glass gently in the water, then move it to another rimming saucer with salt or sugar. You can get creative with colorful sugar crystals. For margaritas, add flavor by replacing water with lime juice.

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Next comes the fruit station. Cut up fresh, organic fruit and use skewer toothpicks to make your own creations. A Bahama Mam? Go for strawberry, pineapple, and banana, and your guests will feel like they’re at a Hawaiian resort.

Cocktails can mimic three-course meals if you serve up a sweet creation for dessert. Go for the Butter Chocolate Bliss or Hot Buttered Rum. For a festive idea, pick a few staple drinks and write them in chalk on a menu board. It’s an easy way to plan for the night and make sure you don’t run out of ingredients!

Atmosphere is Key

If you think about your favorite bar, it probably has a lot to do with not just the people, but the decor, lighting, and music—the overall mood. Atmosphere is what really makes a bar memorable. Incorporate mood lighting in your home bar—the options are nearly limitless. You can incorporate tabletop lamps with bulbs of different colors, or replace bulbs in overhead track lighting with soft blues and purples—whatever hue you desire. There are even some color-changing plug-in lamps to keep things new every few seconds. These often have a remote-control option, so you can adjust the lighting right from the bar.

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For music, you can choose throwback jazz to create a Prohibition-era party, or something from the 50s for a retro feel. But if you’re going for modern, kick up the volume on your favorite rock, dance, and techno songs. If you want your guests to dance, a higher volume is great. But if you’re going for more of a conversational party, keep it on low in the background. Cheers to your new home bar, and your impressive cocktail skills!