Anne Keenan Higgins - Ladies Who Drink: A Stylishly Spirited Guide to Mixed Drinks and Small Bites

SO WHAT SHALL WE HAVE TO DRINK? IN TIMES PAST when you got together with friends, there probably were a few bottles of wine and maybe some cheese and crackers (we wont mention the keg of beer in the backyard). Today, you might be meeting in chic bars for cocktails and taking your snack menu up a notch or two.

Whether you call it a craft cocktail, artisanal mixology, or simply a good drink, any quality bar and most restaurants now feature a specialty cocktail menu that rivals the best wine list. In the hands of a skilled bartender, these signature drinks may feature an equally long list of ingredients and increasingly elaborate garnishes. Its all upped the ante on serving cocktails at homebut theres no need to be intimidated.

When guests arrive, go ahead and ask them, Would you like a drink? This collection of tasty cocktail recipes and simple food pairings will prepare you for their answer. The cocktails, both time-honored and original, are not overly complicated and do not call for exotic ingredients; likewise, the advice and instructions offered are meant to take you by the hand and demystify the process. Really, mixing cocktails doesnt have to be such serious businesslets focus on our friends and having fun. The emphasis in this collection is on fresh flavors and natural ingredients. The food suggestions require little in the way of cooking skills, and many make creative use of store-bought items.

Whether youre hosting the book club or having friends in for a holiday toast, setting up the Netflix queue or getting in the mood for your next vacation, youll find cocktail and pairing ideas to suit a number of themes. The details on five classic cocktails and their variations will have .

Consider these recipes as perfect excuses to gather friends and family, raise a glass, and share a toast and a few laughs. Thats the true definition of hours spent happily.

Cheers! Skl! LChaim! Slinte! Salute!

WHATS ON YOUR COCKTAIL CART? A HOME BAR BUILT for casual entertaining doesnt need to be an elaborate affair. Find an out-of-the-way spot in your living spacea dedicated bookshelf or cabinet nookto safely store a few bottles, a shaker, a shot glass, perhaps a small ice bucket and some specialty glassware, and youre set.

If you love the idea of a cocktail cart, youll find lots to choose from on home dcor sites, but also check out yard sales and flea markets for great-looking vintage carts from the 1950s and 60s.

When it comes to the bottles, start with what you, your friends, and your family like to drink and plan from there. If your liquor of choice is bourbon, thats your first bottle. Your best friendthe one whos over at least one or two nights a week? If she likes gin, thats your next bottle. Be a good friend and buy her favorite brand while youre at it. If your family lives nearby and your dad likes tequila, hell appreciate seeing a bottle when he drops in.

You can cover most impromptu cocktail situations with three bottles: vodka, gin, and bourbon. If you daydream about your next island vacation, add a bottle of rum. If your taste runs more to Cabo or Cancun, swap out the rum for tequila. Add a nice bottle of red wine, and a bottle of white, a bottle of Angostura bitters (see ) in the fridge, too.

To expand your mixology universe, add some liqueurs or amari. Liqueurs are low-alcohol distilled spirits, flavored with fruit, herbs, or floral extracts, and are typically sweet. There are hundreds of liqueurs available from around the world, in flavors from apple and orange to elderflower and ginger.

Liqueurs tend to be pricey, but some of the most popular ones are available in small bottles that are more affordable and much more practical. Vermouthwine fortified with a variety of botanicalsis an essential ingredient in many classic cocktails, including the Martini (). Its available in white and red, sweet and dry versions; choose a white, sweet vermouth for your basic bar.

Many liqueurs have long and storied histories, and they tend to rise and fall in popularity according to mixology trends. Follow your own taste and stock only those that you find in your favorite cocktails. Some of the most popular and widely used are Cointreau (with bitter orange flavor), St-Germain Elderflower (a citrusy floral, made from elderflower), and chartreuse in both yellow and green versions (intensely herbal).

Amari are a group of aperitif liqueurs characterized by their bitter flavors. These herbal blends have centuries-old medicinal roots in Italy, France, and Germany and are popular components in artisanal cocktails. The brilliant red Campari, infused with bitter herbs, is a good addition to the home bar; serve it with sparkling water, or as part of the classic Negroni (). Aperol, with notes of bitter orange and rhubarb, and Cynar, with its distinctive artichoke flavor, are other popular amari.

Dont break your budget to set up your home bar, but do buy the best you can afford. While its true that very top shelf brands are designed for sipping solo, its a myth to think that a mixed drink doesnt benefit from at least the middle shelf. The better the quality of the liquor, the better the quality of your cocktails, so shop around and keep an eye out for specials. Most good liquor storeseven the big box kindhave knowledgeable staff who can guide you to the smartest purchase. Liquor doesnt spoil, and with craft cocktails at bars costing an average of $10 to $20 each, youll actually be making a good investment.