ATOT Chefs/Drinkers - Need ideas for cocktail hour

[Sho'Nuff]

So as some of you know my neighborhood has an annual "progressive dinner," which involves lots of drinking, carousing, and eating as people move from house to house over the evening.

This year the Sho'Nuff household has been tagged for cocktail hour duty. We are to host 12 neighbors for cocktails and hor d'oeuvres. That said, I thought I would ping the masses for some ideas for a signature drink (to serve in addition to the typical beer and wine), and for a some good appetizers. Right now I am leaning towards the following:

Beer:
Dark: Sam Smith Oatmeal Stout http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/113/571/
Brown: Tuckerman's Headwall Alt http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/624/22919/; or
Smuttynose Old Brown Dog (http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/141/184/)
Light: Still open - probably something boring like a Sam Adams

Wine - Whatever swill my wife decides to drink

Specialty cocktail - Espresso martini (2 parts vodka, 1 part espresso, 1 part coffee liqueur = 4 parts awesome)

hor d'oeuvres (options).
- Fruit, vegetable, and cheese plate with home made hummus
- Baked apricots with thyme
- Candied bacon

 

[Denly]

Light: Still open - probably something boring like a Sam Adams
Brooklyn Lager? I don't have access to much US beer, this is one of the rare one I remember.

 

[sourceninja]

...

 

[bbhaag]

Oh that sounds like so much fun. I wish my neighborhood did something like this.
You should check out some regionally produced wines and see which ones get good reviews. Maybe keep it light like a sweet red.

An hor d'oeuvre idea could be something like Brie cheese with a red pepper jelly on a nice cracker. Like this.

 

[KeithTalent]

Boulevardier (bourbon, campari, sweet vermouth, with an orange peel garish). Delicious and it sounds fancy.

KT

 

[Gibsons]

Just a dark, a brown and a light for beer? Where's the ipa?

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I'm a cocktail snob, but I like the idea of an espresso martini; that's a surefire crowd pleaser. If you want something a little more interesting but very much in the same vein, I'd recommend The Revolver: 2 ounces Bulleit bourbon, half an ounce of Kahlua, a dash or two of Regan's orange bitters, stir with ice for 30 seconds or so, strain and serve up with a flamed orange peel garnish. It sounds odd, but it actually tastes similar to an espresso martini with the sweet coffee flavors from the Kahlua stringing together nicely with the spiciness of the bourbon and a slight orange note from the bitters and garnish. Great drink.

As far as light beers, is there a beer store with fairly wide availability near you? It's a long shot, but The Commons brewery in Portland, Oregon does an Urban Farmhouse Ale that is simply spectacular. Maybe a bit spendy for a crowd ($9 a bomber locally), but worth picking up and sharing if you can find it. If not, maybe a blonde ale? Not terribly exciting, but they're generally pretty easy drinking, and it's more novel than Sam Adams.

 

[Ns1]

Candied bacon and bacon dates.

 

[Darwin333]

Grey Goose Orange and sprite. You just gotta trust me on this one, it's a damn good drink.

A good one for the laddies is firefly vodka and lemonade, we usually mix up huge batches in a yellow 5 gallon water dispenser. We call it panty dropper and it most definitely earned its name.

 

[DigDog]

you think sam adams is boring - i cannot help you.

 

[Mixolydian]

Manhattan

 

[WelshBloke]

Classic Champagne cocktail, can't go wrong.

If you want to be vulgar you can use some edible gold leaf for the bling.

Also for nibbles, you guys have blinis? Do mini blinis anyway.

 

[NetWareHead]

Im a fan of gimlets. Although that points to my appreciation of gin, which Im sure is not shared by everyone. 3 parts good gin and 1 part roses sweetend lime juice. Pair it with a good gin like bombay saphire or my recent favorite Hendrick's.

IMO, I'm the type of guy that avoids anything coffee or caffeine before a meal. its just a gastronomic rule I follow where I feel coffee should come after a meal. Before dinner should be a cocktail or some sort of aperitif.

 

[Uppsala9496]

For a light beer pick a simple lager. Maybe something simple such as a Czech pilsner (Staropramen, Pilsner Urquell, etc.). Or go with a domestic lager - not sure what local breweries you have near you.
If you pick Sam Adams Boston Lager, you are going with 3 heavier beers. Go with something light and crisp.

 

[vi edit]

Could go with the bastard old fashioned…bastard in that it's got the concepts but it's easier to make since you aren't muddling anything.

2 ice cubes
2oz bourbon
4 dash aromatic bitters
tbl spoon of simple syrup
dash of orange juice
dash of club soda
Garnish with orange slice and cherry


It's got the spirit of an old fashioned without the work. Those things go down tooooo easy. Will be a crowd pleaser with both the ladies and the gents.

 

[GasX]

Spicy grilled shrimp and mango margaritas is always a winner

 

[NikolaeVarius]

You need a double IPA somewhere. Hipsters love themm double IPAs with IBUs in the hundreds that demolish your ability to taste anything else subtle.

 

[NetWareHead]

Light: Still open - probably something boring like a Sam Adams

For something light, something that has recently become my favorite is Long Trail - Mostly Cloudy. A non bitter but light tasting beer that is tasty and well made. I have a big appreciation for most things from the Long Trail brewery. You are in NH so any Hannaford or supermarket will carry it. Go to a specialty beer store who can order you a 12 pack, as most times the Mostly Cloudy comes packaged in a sampler pack with other beers.

 

[smackababy]

Since we don't know the audience you're preparing for, suggestions make no sense.


With that said, I'd have at least one margarita. It is the most popular cocktail in the country and is easy to make. I'd probably have vodka martini (because gin is fucking awful) as well. A couple bottles of wine (likely something sweeter for the girls and something bolder for the men).

As for hor d'oeuvres: bacon chips. Go to an Asian store and get some pork belly. Cut it thick, bread it, and deep fry it. Serve with lemon wedges and some kosher salt for dipping.

 

[JEDI]

turpentine, antifreeze - look them up

antifreeze had almost no liquor taste but after 2 glasses, I doubt u can drive

 

[Squeetard]

Dude, you need some wine on that menu, sheesh. And not 4 different kinds of beer.

A stout, a lager, wine and a cocktail or 2.

The cracker appies sound great!

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Boulevardier (bourbon, campari, sweet vermouth, with an orange peel garish). Delicious and it sounds fancy.

KT

Sounds delicious.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Just a dark, a brown and a light for beer? Where's the ipa?

With limited exception, I do not like beer that I can see through. So I would be open to serving an IPA as I will not be drinking it.

I would serve heady topper if I could get my hands on some, but I don't feel like taking a 2 hour trip to Vermont on a Monday morning just to pick some up. Got any suggestions?

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Sounds delicious.

Boulevardiers are fantastic, but Campari is an acquired taste; unless you know your guests like a sharply bitter drink, I wouldn't put that as the only cocktail on offer. My wife likes most drinks I make, but she HATES Campari, and by extension, anything made with it; my sister-in-law is the same way. Something to keep in mind.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Dude, you need some wine on that menu, sheesh. And not 4 different kinds of beer.

Did you not see the part of the OP where I said that the wine will be whatever my wife decides on? I drink wine with food, but I don't like enough to drink it independently.