The Hip Hostess

Menus, tips and ideas for hosting with style!

Calculating the Right Amount of Alcohol – Part I October 7, 2008

Filed under: Beverages/ Alcohol, Drinks, Hip Tips, Miscellaneous, Party Planning, cocktails — hiphostess @ 9:26 am
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Figuring out how much alcohol you need for a party can be tricky.  Knowing how many drinks you can get out of a bottle of wine, liquor or mixer is a good starting point.  The following list can serve as a guideline, but know that it depends on how you prepare your drinks.  I tend to use 1.5oz of hard alcohol instead of the standard 1oz per drink, so a bottle doesn’t last as long at my bar.  You should also consider the size of your glassware.  In a large goblet, 6 ounces of wine doesn’t look like much, and people will tend to pour more into their glasses.  The same goes for pint glasses; if you use those instead of lowball glasses you will need more than a 1oz shot of hard alcohol to make a standard strength drink.  Bottoms up! 

 

750 ml. bottle of wine = 4 glasses of wine (about 6oz per glass)
750 ml. bottle of hard alcohol = 25 drinks (1oz each) or 16 drinks (1.5oz each)
1 quart of juice = mixer for 6 drinks
1 liter soda = mixer for 6 drinks

 

Hawaiian Lava Flow (cocktail) March 31, 2008

Filed under: Drinks, Lu'au, cocktails — hiphostess @ 9:39 pm
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I just discovered this amazingly delicious drink in Hawaii.  It is a variation on a pina colada, with the addition of a strawberry puree.  The drink is aptly named because the strawberry puree bubbles up like flowing lava.  This is a fantastic summer drink (especially for a lu’au theme party), but equally great for times when you just wish you were on a tropical getaway.


Lava Flow
1oz light rum

1oz Malibu coconut rum

2oz strawberries (fresh or frozen)

1 medium banana (fresh or frozen)

2oz unsweetened pineapple juice

2oz coconut cream

ice (preferably crushed) 


 

1.       In the jar of a blender, puree the strawberries and both rums.  Pour the strawberry puree into the bottom of a hurricane glass or another tall glass.  Rinse the blender with water to remove any strawberry residue.   

2.       Blend the remaining ingredients (banana through ice) until smooth and frothy.  Slowly pour the mixture into the glass over the strawberry puree.  Watch the strawberry bubble up like flowing lava.  Serve with a thick straw and garnish with a wedge of pineapple or a fresh strawberry (umbrellas optional).

 

Salty Dog Cocktail March 10, 2008

Filed under: Dog Theme, Drinks, Recipes, Theme Parties, cocktails — hiphostess @ 10:33 am

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My friends, Carolyn and Michele, recently adopted two puppies and threw a party to introduce the newest (furry) additions to their family.  The biggest hit of their dog-themed party was their signature cocktail - a Salty Dog.  These would also be great for a brunch or barbeque.  They are sweet, tart and deliciously refreshing.


Salty Dog

2oz vodka

4oz grapefruit juice

coarse salt for rim of glass

lemon (or lime) juice and wedges for garnish

ice
 

To salt the rim of the glass, either dip the rim into a small bowl filled with fresh lemon juice, or rub the rim of the glass with the cut side of a wedge of lemon.  Spin the wet rim in a bowl of salt.  Fill the glass with the vodka and grapefruit juice and a few cubes of ice.  Stir to mix and garnish with a wedge of lemon.  

  

Makes 1 Salty Dog 

  • Make a large batch by multiplying the recipe and mixing the vodka and grapefruit juice in a pitcher
  • Have glasses pre-salted, add ice and pour mixture over ice to serve
  • Serve this drink in a high-ball, old fashion, martini or 8oz wine glass
  • As an alternative, you can use gin instead of vodka
  • Try substituting fresh squeezed pink or ruby red grapefruit juice to make this drink sweeter
  • If you eliminate the salty rim, this drink would be called a Greyhound