From their names to their ingredients, these fun drinks with a twist liven up any occasion! Cocktail hour, cookouts and more call for a tall serving of fun!
DISCLAIMER
*This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Feast + West may receive commissions for purchases made through those links — at no cost to you. All opinions are our own. Please read our full disclosure for more information.
Your ultimate guide to fun drinks
You may be wondering — what, exactly, makes a drink fun? It’s much easier to point out the serious sippers, those icons who have stood the test of time with little fuss or fanfare. You know the ones — the old-fashioned, the Manhattan, the martini… While these stately cocktail recipes have the same spirits as other “fun” drinks, they use it in a much different manner.
Now, these drinks here have plenty of fanfare. It may be in its color (anywhere from pink to green to bright blue); its taste (a favorite candy or full blown breakfast); its name (grasshopper or zombie); or maybe in its presentation (one word: fishbowl). One thing they have in common? These cocktails don’t take themselves too seriously.
These drinks showcase one of the reasons I love making cocktails so much! I love the playfulness that a drink can embody, bringing whimsy and fun to almost any gathering. The smiles they bring to the faces of those I share them with? Well that’s just the (cocktail) cherry on top.
Quick tips for hosting
Keep these things in mind when you’re serving up one of these fun drinks:
- Think big (batch, that is): Mix up a pitcher ahead of time so you don’t get stuck behind the bar all night. Just remember, you’ll want to wait to add anything sparkling (like soda water, ginger beer or prosecco) and garnishes until you’re ready to serve.
- Stay on theme: If you’ve got a theme going, stick to it! There are plenty of drinks to choose from, so don’t try to force something that may not be a good fit. For example, an airmail cocktail for a going-away party or a jungle juice for a throwback bash.
- Don’t skip the garnishes: Part of what makes these drinks so fun is their presentation, which includes a garnish. I’ll give you my suggestions but there are so many cocktail garnishes you could try.
- Offer options: It’s getting easier to offer non-alcoholic drinks outside of just soda or water. Have a bottle of zero-proof spirits on-hand for guest who prefer to skip the booze. You can even make your own zero-proof spirits at home!
- Fresh is best: Whenever possible, use fresh ingredients, like lime juice and lemon juice, in your drinks. The flavor is much better — the store-bought stuff can be much too tart and overpowering. I also like to make my own simple syrup at home when I can so I’m in control of the ingredients and taste.
What to serve with fun cocktails
Keep the fun going by serving food with its own twist. These southern cheese straws have a surprising kick of heat and offer a shareable snack. Nacho dip hides your favorite chip toppings under a blanket of melted cheese that can be served in several ways while prosciutto cheese twists combine your charcuterie board favorites into a grab-and-go snack.
Coffee chocolate chip cookies transform the classic recipe with a bit of caffeine and crunch that’s a crowd pleaser. Or try turtle brownies, which are packed with deliciousness in every bite — chocolate, nuts and caramel!
The most fun drinks ever
Here are some drinks that are sure to delight both your tastebuds and your guests:
Leave a Reply