Guest Post: Fueled by Cocktails!

2/17/2014

This is a question we often get from our planning brides and grooms: "what should we serve at the bar?" One of the suggestions we love to give is to serve the standard beer + wine combo but add one or two signature cocktails to the menu. This will allow you to spice things up a bit but help keep the cost down if your budget doesn't allow for a completely open bar {or even for an open bar, a signature cocktail is always a fun twist!}.

To help with some signature drink ideas, we've enlisted cocktail enthusiast, Amy Powell! Treating your guests to a fun, unique event experience is what it's all about; Fueled by Cocktails can bring the funk to an otherwise standard party and serve up your totally tailored bar menu. We're looking forward to having Amy at upcoming weddings + events to share her crazy cocktail skills!

I was barely 21 when I got married. My husband & I opted for the cheap wine & beer route for the reception, which was all we knew at the time. Oh how times has changed! Last week my husband & I launched Fueled by Cocktails, a cocktail event business offering in-home cocktail classes & tailored bar service for events.

How I wish I could spin back time and approach the bar at our reception with more care!

So I asked my husband: If we were planning a tailored bar menu for our wedding right now, what would we serve? Within ten minutes, we came up with three cocktails that represent the most formative times we've had as a couple... the times we've spent in New Orleans.

New Orleans is where my husband's family is from. When we visit, we're always surrounded by close family friends who open up their homes and share the love they have for the unique city that is New Orleans.

First up is Spooky's Old Fashioned Punch. Spooky is an 85 year old man (married to Belva) with more spunk than I've seen in a 20 year old. And like any old gentleman, he loves himself an Old Fashioned. But not just any type of Old Fashioned. He likes it almost sickly sweet.

This cocktail is a spin off of Spooky's tastes taken to the extreme.

Spooky's Old Fashioned Punch

Muddle 3 maraschino cherries and 3 dashes Peychaud's Bitters. Add 3 oz. Southern Comfort and juice from half an orange. Add ice & stir. Top with 1 tsp. maraschino cherry juice & an orange twist.

Second is a Crème Brûlée Flip. My favorite cocktails are champagne cocktails. The best French 75 I've ever had was off Bourbon Street, which was quickly followed by the best Crème Brûlée I've ever eaten. In honor of that experience, we pulled together the nuttiness from Amaretto, mixed with roasted berries and champagne, topped with egg whites.

It's an elegant cocktail bursting with character and life!

Crème Brûlée Flip

Put 1 TBS. amaretto berry jam and a dash of amaretto liqueur in a saucer champagne glass, gently stir to combine. Fill glass with chilled champagne until almost full.

In a cocktail shaker, dry shake the egg white until fluffy & spread a dollop on top. Garnish with berries.

Amaretto Berry Jam

Place 1/2 cup raspberries & 1/2 cup blueberries on a baking pan and sprinkle with 1 TBS granulated sugar. Broil for about 10 minutes, let cool. When cooled, puree the berries (and their juices) with 2 oz. amaretto liquer. Store in the refrigerator.

Finally, you can't experience the culture of New Orleans without beignets and chicory coffee. We've had so many good chats over the pair. This is a spin off of classic Milk Punch. We just added some espresso to it for the extra kick.

Top it with some powdered sugar & you have a lovely display for your guests.

Espresso Milk Punch

Follow The Smitten Kitchen's absolutely perfect milk punch recipe. Just substitute 1/2 cup espresso for 1/2 cup milk.

The cocktails you serve at your wedding can be such a lovely testament to who you are as a couple. They can tell your love story - about adventures you've been on, experiences you've had and memories you've made. So have some fun with it!

Cheers!

Amy from Fueled by Cocktails

About Fueled by Cocktails:
Inspired by my ever-growing interest in craft cocktails, and my life-long love of a good event, I launched Fueled by Cocktails in February 2014.
I wanted a place to play with cocktails and share my passion for them with friends & family. So I set out to create a company that does just that! With Fueled by Cocktails, I am able to create recipes, serve others and even teach how to make the perfect drink.

Find Amy around the web!

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