Wedding Drinks

Do you know your Mojitos from your Margaritas and your Old Fashioned from your Moscow Mule?

Ever since Tom Cruise did his thing with a cocktail shaker (your mum will tell you, if you haven’t seen it), cocktails have had an appeal that extends beyond their mere ingredients. Cocktails are all the rage and they’re beginning to feature as entertainment too.

Somerset company, The Waiting Game offers a cocktail masterclass, which makes for great entertainment at a wedding reception or after the wedding breakfast – and you get to drink the results of your labours! The Ready, Steady, Shake! masterclass is all about fun, with expert instruction from a top mixologist and an element of competition, just to keep things interesting.

First, you’re shown how to make a cocktail of your choice from the cocktail menu. Your mixologist deftly manipulates the shakers and swizzle sticks and selects just the right amount of each ingredient from among the herbs, fruits, liqueurs and spirits, and voila – the perfect cocktail.

Then it’s your turn! Either individually or in teams, you step up to the bar. The challenge lies in remembering how to use the equipment to create the perfect cocktail – what could possibly go wrong? Needless to say, this can be quite amusing for all concerned. Your bartender will be diplomatic as he gives you a score for your creation and for what you’ve learned.

And we have a winner! Or rather, lots of winners, as you get to keep your creations – yum.

Ben Pickles, Director of The Waiting Game, tells us how much he enjoys de-mystifying the process of cocktail making and entertaining his clients and their guests,

“Cocktails are going through such a renaissance in Bristol at the moment. They’re appearing more and more on mainstream TV but, unlike food, you’re more likely to have them on an evening out, rather than make them at home. Cocktail masterclasses (we call ours Ready, Steady, Shake!) are a fantastic form of entertainment for guests. They also show that anyone can make cocktails and make them well.

The competition element adds a real bit of excitement during the evening. It’s amazing to see even the least competitive slowly become more and more involved. The best thing for us though is seeing the cogs tick when it comes to the guest’s own creations; you see some fantastic drinks and some truly, truly terrible ones, but that’s the fun of it!

An enthusiastic participant said of their cocktail masterclass,

“We’ve had lots of VERY positive comments from friends. Everything went perfectly and we all enjoyed it. The cocktails were delicious (even some of ours!).”

Ben has supplied us with some of his favourite cocktail recipes, which we’re delighted to be able to share with you. Do let us know if you try them.

Wedding Cocktail Recipes for a Spring/Summer Wedding

Bride’s Bouquet

50 ml Hendrick’s Gin

25 ml Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice

12.5 ml St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur

8 torn Mint Leaves

2 Slices Cucumber

60 ml Cloudy Apple Juice

Shaken and strained into Highball filled with cubed ice and garnished with a massive sprig of mint and a cucumber stick. Straw placed alongside the sprig to get a big hit of mint as you drink.

Autumn/Winter Wedding

Orchard Warmer

37.5 ml Vodka

10 ml King’s Ginger Liqueur

30ml Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice

25ml Cloudy Apple Juice

2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters

2 Apple Slices

Shaken and strained over Highball filled with cubed ice, topped with Ginger Beer and garnished with an apple slice and straw.

Who can resist those lip-smacking flavour combinations? But beware the alcoholic content, which can take you by shurprishe!

Organising original entertainment for your wedding, private function or corporate event is all part of the service at Clevedon Hall – we’ve got lots of wonderful ideas to fill your day with fun and laughter. Get in touch today on 01275 778025.