Everyone wants a unique and memorable experience at events. A signature mocktail or cocktail is not just a beverage, it can be an experience and have a life of it’s own. From the moment your guest sees the drink to the time it meets their palate, the entire journey should be memorable.
Signature drinks provide a personalized experience
that you can share with your guests.
Signature drinks can be created in a way that help your guests feel connected to you or the theme of your event. They can highlight your personality, interests, goal of your event or shared experiences. The story behind the chosen drink can be shared with your guests giving them insite and elevating their experience.
When served during “cocktail hour”, signature drinks provide discussion points and conversation starters for your guests including why the couple/host chose these flavours, alcohols, garnish etc. They may bring up memories that guests have shared with you in the past.
Usually, these drinks are so eye catching that they provide a photogenic moment for your guests and will be another documented memory to add to their experience.
Signature drinks can be a budget helper
The expense of supplying alcohol, mix and glassware for a full-service bar can be significant. Having signature drinks complement a wine and beer selection is a creative way to serve liquor to reduce the cost of a full service open bar.
Don’t have more than 2-3 options. For a wedding... one drink from you, one from your spouse and one created by the two of you. More than that could take away from the uniqueness and add to the cost. It’s okay if the signature drinks don’t appeal to all of your guests. Having beer and wine options will cover the preferences of the majority of your guests. You could also consider offering a full-service bar at a cost for those guests that want something else.
Signature drinks can reduce bar line-ups
When serving custom drinks from a wide selection of alcohol the lines can get long, even with an experienced bartender.
Signature drinks can be pre-made and left on a table for self-serve. Providing signage for a table display outlining the story behind the drink and bringing it to life creates a more immersive experience.
Signature drinks can also be butlered to prevent your guests from having to stand in line. This is especially valuable if there is a short window of time for a “cocktail hour”. Servers could briefly describe the drink to your guests which also adds to the shared experience.
Consider combining your signature drink with an appetizer such as a charcuterie stick or a fresh fruit and cheese skewer for an all-in-one grab and go cocktail.
Provides inclusive Non-Alc beverage options.
Signature drinks can be made with our without alcohol and can be created to look identical. For those guests who don’t want to partake in alcohol consumption, a signature drink is a great way to include non-alcohol drinking guests in the essence of the “cocktail hour”.
Unexpected benefits you may not have thought of…
If you have a sensitive stomach, sticking to your signature drink throughout the day allows you to sip on a beverage you know you can tolerate when well intended friends, family or guests bring you drinks throughout the day.
Planning your signature drinks can also be a fun date night activity or conversation topic while socializing with friends. Explore many options, think outside the box and have fun creating and sampling different concoctions.
If your partner or colleague has taken on the lion’s share of planning the wedding or event, consider offering to take on the signature drink. This is a task they are likely more willing to let go of and will provide a meaningful and unique element to your love-story or theme. Plus, you will feel like you played a more significant part in the planning.
Take this opportunity to support and promote local and small business. Try choosing seasonal ingredients from local farmers' markets for garnish and pairing. Seek out local distilleries and breweries for hand-made spirits and brews. Sharing this information with your guests will also add interest to the story behind the drink and can also foster a sense of community connection after the wedding.
Tips to help you build your Signature Drink…
Pick a theme
A drink that reminds you of a place you have been... a vacation, a restaurant, special event or family tradition.
Pay homage to the location of your wedding or event... for a modern venue maybe a mezcal negroni? A pub or brewery? Try a craft beer with a personalized label. A mountain theme? Try a spiked coffee. Museum? How about a cosmopolitan?
Consider your favourite colours, flavours or fruit. Need gold accents for your decor… maybe a moscow mule? Silver accents…maybe a mint julep?
Consider a drink you always had after a favourite activity like your favorite ale after golfing, or a Pimm’s cup after tennis.
Consider interests… Tea enthusiast? Coffee lover? Movie buff? Health conscious? ice cream weakness?
Maybe a drink you had on your first date?
Season inspired… a spiked butter beer or hot coco and bailey’s for winter events or a strawberry rose punch or boozy popsicles served upside down in a wine glass for hot summer weddings.
Choose a name
Of course, you want a fun and playful name for your cocktail, but don’t make it too complicated. You want your guests to know what they are drinking! Aim for a name that is descriptive of the drink, and consider including the main ingredient or alcohol in the name itself.
Use your first or last name/s either blended or separate such as…Spencer + Heidi = “Speidi”, Billy’s Brew or Clarks’ Cranberry Crush.
Using your pet's name is a great way to incorporate them into your wedding. Fluffy’s Fizzy Fusion or Whisker’s Watermelon Whirl.
Try a funny pun such as “Mint to be Mojito”, “Main Squeeze Margarita” or “Smooth Operator Spritz”.
Select Ingredients
Choose Base Spirits and consider the flavour profile - sweet, bitter, sour, savoury
Build off the classics… Martini, Manhattan, Old-Fashioned, Margarita, Daiquiri and Gimlet.
Experiment with ingredients - fresh fruit, herbs, spices, florals and other unique ingredients. Be unconventional.
Secondary or complementary spirits or liqueurs can complement the base spirits to enhance the complexity and depth of the cocktail.
Create signature self-serve waters infused with fruit, cucumbers and fresh herbs at outdoor summer weddings.
Consider Glassware
There are usually no rules with Signature Drink glassware so think about presentation and make it unique and memorable ie. black glass, gold rim, ridges and design, coloured glass, tins or mugs etc…
Garnish
Garnishes can provide visual and aromatic elements.
Consider adding personalized / themed stir sticks, napkins, labels, picks and plastic cups with a logo or image.
Use fresh fruits in season or native to your location.
Flavour the rims - sugary or spicy will add texture and mouthfeel.
Egg whites can be added for frothy texture and carbonated beverages for effervescence.
Combine with an appetizer using a charcuterie stick or cheese and fruit skewer.
Taste Test
Invite some friends to sample your creation. Ask for feedback and refine your recipe.
Market to your guests
To make it clear for your guests, put a sign at the bar with the name of the signature drink and a list of measured ingredients.
Include details with drawings or photos and add to your wedding / event website or menu card.
Not everyone will opt for your signature cocktail, so it’s ideal to plan for about one-and-a-half per guest. For those who want something else to sip on, provide some beer and wine options.
If you still feel like the task of creating a signature drink is one you aren’t ready to take on, consider eliciting the help of a professional bartender who can recommend new ingredients or garnish to elevate the experience.
In light of Dry January and with the help of Market Wines University District and professional bartender Cassandra Zbrodoff, Matters of Gathering had fun creating our own Non-Alc signature drink using HP Juniper’s Floral premium spirits gin.*
introducing Matters of Gathering Signature Mocktail...
"Planned Perfection"
We personalized our mocktail by adding a catchy name, our branding colours, core values and ensuring it met all 5 senses which is always part of the plan at Matters of Gathering. Our drink includes…
Visual - Adding passionfruit juice to our drink not only reflects our branding colours but also describes how we feel about what we do! We also kept the glass clear so the ingredients are communicated clearly and with transparency.
Aroma - The botanicals in this gin are noticeable but not too pungent (which is how we think you should feel about your wedding/event planner :)) including the scents of… rose, hibiscus, elderflower, juniper berries, rose, cucumber, eucalyptus and violet.
Taste - Fresh and light highlighting the main event… the passionfruit.
Touch - Egg white foam provides your lips with a gentle pillow right before your tastebuds are treated with the botanical flavours of the gin.
Sound- The celebratory sound of clinking glasses during a toast at events, makes us happy knowing there is connection and a shared experience.
A Signature drink is a canvas for personal expression. It provides a memorable and immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression on your guests.
Have fun designing your own signature cocktail / mocktail and share your creations with us on instagram! We'll add them them to our “highlights” to inspire others.
*HP Juniper's Floral Gin contains 0.50% Alc / Vol.
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