Custom Cocktails

You can save big bucks and make a party memorable by creating a specialty cocktail. I'm into a drink called Santa's Helper. Start by soaking peeled and sliced cucumber wedges and crushed mint overnight in Bacardi Limon. Then right before the party, strain out the solids and add limeade concentrate, no-sodium soda water and enough cranberry juice to create a beautifully crimson cocktail. Garnish with edible gold or silver leaf flecks and tie a bell around each cocktail glass.

Make it in large batches in advance (leaving out the soda until right before serving) and set up your self-serve bar with style. Include plenty of ice (at least a pound per person), glasses (at least two per person or you'll be washing glasses all night), cocktail napkins, backups of everything (hidden in the kitchen or under the bar) and a note with the drink name and ingredients since guests will be asking you all night.

Peppermint Stick Martini

1 peppermint stick, crushed

1/2 ounces vodka

1 ounce peppermint schnapps

1 ounce Triple Sec

Ice

1 small candy cane

Moisten the rim of a chilled martini glass and dip the wet rim into the pummeled peppermint. Combine the vodka, schnapps, Triple Sec and ice in a cocktail shaker.

Shake it like Santa knows you've been bad. Carefully strain the mix into the martini glass and garnish with the candy cane. Ho ho ho and away we go.

Don't forget to hydrate!

Have many bottles of fizzy water in plain sight. Not only are the bottle beautiful and luxurious, drinking lots of water brings people back down, and makes them feel better towards the end as well as in the morning (favorite: Pellegrino).