everyday celebrations
Martini Tasting Party
Plan the Party
The Atmosphere
Take the time to and do the planning for your party, this will ensure everyone has fun and that the party will run smoothly. The party should start around cocktail hour (6-7pm) on a Saturday evening and last for about 4 hours. Your guest should include about 12 guest. The area for the party should have room to mingle as well as comfy and cozy sitting. To mix and serve up the drinks use a counter top that is bar height or set up a table.
Invitations
Send out formal invitations by mail, not by email. You can design your own or buy them. Plan on sending the invitations out at least four weeks in advance.
Music
The music for the party should be funky and sophisticated. Choose laid back jazz tunes to set the mood.
Organize Details
Plan the Menu - you will need a drink menu as well as a hors d’oeuvres menu.
Create a Martini Shopping List (the list below represents that items that are needed to create the martini's on our menu)
- Premium Vodka (Grey Goose, Three Olives, and Ketel One)
- Premium Gin (Bombay Sapphire, Van Gogh, and Hendrick's)
- Dry, Sweet and Extra-Dry Vermouth
- Ketel One Citroen Vodka
- Sour Apple Schnapps
- Key Lime Liqueur
- Vanilla Vodka
- Praline Pecan Liqueur
- Chambord Raspberry Liqueur
- Olive Juice Brine
- Dove Chocolate Discoveries™ Chocolate Martini Mix
- White Chocolate
- Juices and Soda (Pineapple, Lemon-lime soda, Lemonade
- Garnishes (Olives, Stuffed Olives, Limes, Lemons and Mint Leaves,Sugar, Graham crackers)
Create an Hors d’oeuvres Shopping List - We have a great menu that we've put together that will impress your guest. Check out the recipes on the menu and make your food shopping list from the menu items you will make.
Bar and Table Top Shopping List
- Beverage napkins
- Linens for the table
- Glassware
- China
- Silverware
- Serving pieces
Decorations Shopping List
- Bouquet of flowers
- Candles
- Different colored light bulbs
- Extra martini glasses to use for serving snacks
- Extra cocktail shakers to use as vases for fresh flowers
Stocking the Bar
- Plenty of martini glasses (pre-chilled)
- At least two cocktail shakers
- Hawthorne strainer
- A very cool and sophisticated ice bucket with tongs
- Bar Towels
- Garnish picks
Plan to have a taxi service available for anyone that can not drive home safely. Stop serving drinks two hours before the party ends and make sure that your guest have plenty of food, water and coffee.
Final Planning Details
- 4 weeks before the party: Make sure invitations are mailed out
- 3 weeks before the party: Plan your menus, music and decor
- 1 week before the party: Contact non-RSVP guest
- 3 days before the party: Purchase nonperishable food
- 1 day before the party: Set up the bar area, clean the house and prepare menu items that can be refrigerated
- 4 hours before the party: Prepare remaining menu items
- 2 hours before the party: Get dressed
- 1 hour before the party: Reheat the food
- 30 minutes before the party: Set out food
- 15 minutes before the party: Fill ice buckets, light candles, turn on music