The One-Bottle Budget Bash
Inviting friends over for a get-together is a great way to reconnect and catch up. It’s also a good way to save money. After all, bars and restaurants get pricey. The bottom line? Whether you’re holding a happy hour at home or pairing cocktails and dinner, there’s a lot of entertaining value to be had with just one bottle of liquor.
One 750 ml bottle makes about 17 drinks—and no other spirit has the versatility of vodka. It has no taste or smell, which makes it easy to prepare with mixers. A bottle of vodka can be used to make simple drinks like a Screwdriver, or sophisticated cocktails like Martinis, Cosmos or punches.
Like vodka, gin is great with everyday mixers. Mix gin with grapefruit juice to make a Greyhound or with tonic water for a Gin and Tonic. Mixing it with a range of juices and sodas allows you to create a wider array of drinks.
People tend to associate tequila with Margaritas, but this Mexican spirit also mingles well with cola or ginger ale. Try mixing tequila with orange juice and cranberry juice for a Tequila Sunrise. Rum, which is commonly associated with tropical drinks, can be mixed with a variety of juices or sodas. Barbados Punch, Hurricanes, and Rum and Colas are all prepared with juice or soda mixers.
Even a bottle of liqueur can move beyond its usual realm as a dessert spirit. Lively cocktails with Baileys liqueur, for example, include the Baileys Shiver, the Baileys Martini and Baileys on the Rocks.
Remember, any cocktail is best enjoyed in moderation, and only by those of legal drinking age.
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