Bartending Archives | Party on the Rocks

Spiced Cranberry Cocktail

October 9, 2019

Fall has come to the Pacific Northwest! Rain and all, we love the beautiful fall colors, crisp air, and slower pace that comes with the season. On top of that, fall cocktails are simply delicious and we can’t wait to dive into more of them this holiday season!

A few weeks ago we got to test out one of our new favorites at the Sky Valley Celebrates Tour. The tour featured six venues of the newly formed Skykomish River Valley consortium. It was an amazing inaugural event focused on collaboration and sharing to promote venues, vendors, tourism, and lodging in the Skykomish River Valley.

Party on the Rocks was thrilled to be featured at the Gray Bridge Event Venue, which hosted eighteen vendors and over 150 guests. It was a great way for wedding couples and their families to experience a venue and meet with local vendors and community members. As we heard from Gray Bridge Owner Stacy MacGregor, an unexpected “win” of the day was the rainy weather, which allowed everyone to see the rain plan tents in action! It was also the perfect opportunity to feature beautiful fall decor, florals, and of course the Gray Bridge S’MORE station.

We kept the guests warm with our spiced cranberry “mocktail”, adapted from Caroline’s Cooking. This delicious warm drink of cranberry juice, spices, agave, and rum is the perfect fall pairing. We can bet that you’ll be whipping up a batch for each holiday this year!

We suggest making this in a slow cooker ahead of time to have on hand for your next gathering. The slow cook time will infuse the cinnamon, clove, and ginger into something magical.

This is the perfect drink to serve as a mocktail or cocktail, depending on your preference and the occasion. We’re turning up the spice in our recipe below by adding rum or spiced rum for an additional kick!

Make sure to use a high-quality cranberry juice for this recipe, avoiding cranberry cocktails and juice from concentrate. The agave, orange, and cinnamon will give this drink all of the natural sweetness that you need!

Let us know if you make this fall cranberry cocktail! Tag us @partyontherocksseattle on Instagram, and stay tuned for more great recipes!

Spiced Cranberry Cocktail

Ingredients

Makes 5 cocktails

30 oz cranberry juice
15 oz orange juice
2 cinnamon sticks
4 cloves
3 inch piece of fresh ginger
4 T agave
8 oz rum (or spiced rum)
Orange slice for garnish

Instructions

Place the cranberry juice, orange juice, cinnamon, clove, and ginger in a slow cooker on low. Heat for 1-2 hours. If short on time, instead bring to a boil on the stovetop and then simmer for 5 minutes.
Before serving, remove from the heat and stir in the agave and rum.
Strain off the spices to serve. Add an orange slice for a garnish. Enjoy!

Beverages: Party on the Rocks

Venue: Gray Bridge Venue

Photos: Emily Keeney Photography

Floral: Pollen In Love

Rentals: Cort Party Rental; REMEMBER ME Pretty

Remember Me Pretty

What Every Bartender Should Have In Their Bar Kit

August 8, 2019

From measuring ingredients to muddling herbs to straining cocktails and opening beers, bartenders need a variety of supplies to get their job done. Having a good bar kit stocked with the right tools can make the difference between a quick bar line, happy guests, and a happy bartender!

We’re taking you behind the scenes to show you the top ten items every bartender should keep in their bar kit. Whether you’re a professional bartender or just looking to up your at-home mixology game, this post is for you!

1. Cocktail Shaker

A bartender’s best friend, a cocktail shaker is a necessity for your bar kit. We use Boston Shakers, which are two-part shakers consisting of a glass and a metal tin. Another option is a cobbler shaker (which includes a strainer), but we find the Boston Shaker to be the most user-friendly!

2. Cocktail Strainer

The sidekick to the shaker, a cocktail strainer keeps the ice and other non-liquid ingredients out of your final cocktail. Shown above is the Hawthorne Strainer, which works perfectly with a Boston Shaker.

3. Muddler

Mash fruit, herbs, or spices into the bottom of a glass (think a mojito!)

4. Jigger

A jigger is an hourglass-shaped measuring device for accurately pouring alcohol. They come in multiple sizes, with the standard being 1.5 oz on one side and 1 oz on the other.

5. Flat top Bottle Opener

Speed open beer bottles in quick succession with this handy tool.

6. Wine Key

The preferred wine opener, a wine key has a knife to cut the seal on top of the wine bottle, and corkscrew to remove the cork.

7. Pairing Knife & Cutting Board

Cocktails aren’t just about the liquor. For garnishing and flavoring drinks, you’ll need a versatile pairing knife and cutting board to peel and chop fresh fruit and herbs.

8. Pour spouts for the five most common types of liquor

A pour spout fits snugly into the top of a liquor bottle and is essential for smooth, consistent pouring and measuring. We keep pour spouts for the five most common types of liquor in our bar kit: Vodka, Gin, Tequila, Rum, and Whiskey

9. Cocktail Stir Spoon

Not just any old spoon! Also known as a Bar Spoon, this spoon has an elongated handle and is specially designed for mixing around the inside edge of a glass.

10. Two Bar Towels

Thick absorbent bar towels always come in handy. From wiping up spills to drying off your hands and polishing glasses – we always carry at least two with us in our bar kit!

With these ten essential items you are ready to tackle anything the bar throws at you. Feeling inspired to make some cocktails? Check out our recipes for classic and beginner cocktail recipes!

Why you should hire a licensed and insured bartender for your party

October 29, 2018

Whether you’re hosting a private party for twenty, or planning a wedding for 200, hiring a bartender for your event has a ton of perks. Not only do they ensure your guests are taken care of, they keep things running smoothly and free the host up to enjoy the event too! However, not all bartenders are the same. Here is why you should hire a licensed and insured bartender for your party (and not a friend or family member).

Protect yourself from liability

Serving alcohol inherently comes with liability, plus regulations that vary based on venue and location. In the State of Washington, a bartender can be held liable for damages if they serve alcohol to someone who causes an accident or inflicts harm to a third party. Known as dram shop laws, this means that anyone injured by an intoxicated person has the right to sue the individual who provided the alcohol. Without an insured bartender, event hosts could be held liable, especially if minors are involved.

Know your state liquor laws

Your best friend’s cousin might make a mean cocktail, but you still shouldn’t hire her for your wedding. A licensed bartender is more than a mixologist, they are also well versed in the laws and regulations of your state. They are trained to spot fake IDs and know when a guest may have had too much to drink. Many venues even require the use of a licensed bartender.

It’s important to know that liquor liability varies widely from state to state. Be aware of what your local regulations are so that you can protect yourself, and your guests.

Licensed and insured bartenders really make all of the difference when it comes to the safety of your event. If you are planning an event in Seattle or the Greater Puget Sound area, consider Party on the Rocks! We take partying (and safety!) seriously. All of our bartenders are licensed, professionally trained, and are covered by our $1 million liability insurance. We offer full-service bartending, event staffing, and we can even supply the alcohol for your party.

Learn more about our services and how they can help you take back your right to party.