Elevating your Wedding Bar

Often a focal point for your cocktail hour or reception, your wedding bar is a statement-making structure that can add originality to your event. See below for Lisa’s tips for setting a HIGH BAR at your wedding celebration.

LOCATION:

A particular part of the country may scream “classic” cocktail to you, such as: a Mint Julep if you’re in horse country; a Napa wine spritzer if you’re in wine country, a Sazerac if in New Orleans, a Manhattan, well if…in NY, of course. Scroll down for our Sparkling Peach Mint Julep recipe.

SEASON:

In the moment, use peak season to inspire, such as a Peach Bellini; add a bowl of gorgeous fresh peaches to your bar. Heirloom summer-tomato-water Martini with tomato vodka. Spring Wild Elderflower Cordial with Gin & Cucumber Soda. A Winter Pama Liquor Martini with sage leaf.

FAMILY:

Your family’s country-of-origin or favorite family libation, may be a fun way to weave a tale at your reception-bar. An Italian bride and Greek groom chose to offer a Campari Prosecco spritzer and a “Greek Pair” with ouzo, pear purée, lemon, Greek honey syrup, & champagne.

Theme:

A couple chose Day of the Dead as a theme, honoring their Mexican Heritage, the fall time of year, and they simply loved the whimsical aspect of the decor presented for their cake, reception and bar! A Mezcal Mule, Rum Horchata with cinnamon stick, and Pomerita were served.

The cake was served with Mexican drinking chocolate, tequila and ancho chili-spiced whipped cream -YUM!

Sparkling Peach Mint Julep:

Rocks glass
8 sparkling juleps
11 oz. Haagen-Dazs peach sorbet
1/2 cup mint leaves, crushed
16 oz. Kentucky Bourbon
In a small sauce pan, melt the peach sorbet until it simmers a bit. Add the crushed mint and let it cool completely. Add the bourbon. Add to a soda siphon bottle and charge it with one CO2 cartridge, refrigerating for an hour after. In a rocks glass packed with finely crushed ice, release the sparkling cocktail over the ice and garnish with a huge bunch of mint. Serve with a fine straw for sipping and a slice of fresh peach.