Annabel did say after a few sips of her first cocktail that we are the best cocktail makers in the world. We’ll take that of course! Now admittedly it is Annabel featured in the picture here, and it is true to say that she was trying one of our special mocktails, but it still counts. Everyone’s opinion is valid. 

Cocktail Shaker Boys set up for a 21st party - Kibworth

We had a great night, and we’re looking forward to a busy Christmas season. We’ve been working on cocktails recently (and last year admittedly) that are designed to taste like Christmas in a glass. Another bit of liquid alchemy. We’ll keep you posted with results.

We’ve got a new format we’re trying out in early December hopefully, we’ll post details once it’s all confirmed.

Anyway the point is that it was the Mojito from Cuba and the Mexican Margarita that were the 2 most popular cocktails at the cocktail party. Complete with gaming tables and a singer belting out some great covers of well known songs, the Cocktail Shaker Boys were kept busy for 2 hours serving cocktails to the ladies. Even the under 10s were catered for with some stunning, bright looking  mocktails. Some recipe details on Twitter here http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Cocktail-Shaker-Boys/235712456749 but you will need to login to Facebook to be able to see it.

The drink that thinks it's a tree - the Mojito on the left and the salt rimmed Margarita on the right

So, if you want such deliciousness at your special event, let’s talk cocktails.

The Woodside  was an excellent venue, and they supported us well. We’d certainly recommend them. Have a look at them here www.sundialgroup.com/woodside/

We have another 40th party coming up soon in Northamptonshire. Looking forward to muddling, stirring, shaking and mixing.

And we’ve added some more spirits and liqueurs to our collection over the weekend. The mixology starts soon!

Certainly not us and certainly not Charlotte who hosted a great cocktail party at home in Leicester. The cocktails offered were ; Tequila Sunrise, minty aero Grasshopper, Green Apple Martini, Sex on the Beach and the champagne/ Cava based Kir Royale.

No one obvious winner – but the mocktail the China Blue evolved into an alcoholic version with the addition of vodka, so pretty much a Blue Lagoon and it got renamed by the guests a Charlotte Blue.

And that’s how a new cocktail is born!

But be warned – you could end up looking like this……

We have birthday parties in Leicester, a social club Christmas party, as well as the 2 over New Year : one serving cocktails to a group in Leicester and a new format we’re trying for Market Harborough over new year.

Cocktail party guests - Coventry 40th birthday

Slightly different menu which featured the following 5 cocktails and 2 mocktails ;

• Mojito – which frankly looks like a glass of fizzy water with a tree growing out of the top but a great summer (!) refreshing drink. We’ll post our recipe in a future article.
• Cosmopolitan – by special request of the hostess and the most popular drink on the menu we’d say
• Grasshopper – a regular of our menus as it is sooo popular
• Green Apple Martini – again one of the very favourites
• Tequila Sunrise – still one of the most dramatic looking drinks and a real fruity classic

Our picture features from left : Tequila Sunrise, Green Apple Martini and Grasshopper

Plus the mocktails

• China Blue - blue gorgeousness in a sling glass with an unusual and exotic flavour.
• Merry Berry Cherry - featured heavily on this site.

Many more gigs coming up, a busy time – need to get practising. Also some new cocktails will be featured in some of our future parties. Recipes will appear here – eventually once we’ve tested market reaction!

Many Grasshopper cocktails were served in Harborough at 40th party

And that’s in addition to the joint 40th party we ran with a full team of 4 at Kibworth Rugby Club, serving cocktails to 140 guests. It seems the fantastically minty chocolatey Grasshopper is a firm favourite : liquid Aero is how most people describe it. However the Nigella Lawson Green apple Martini which we make with Gin also has many converts.

However with last night’s party we also served up lots of our classic 2 mocktails – alcohol free cocktails : the Merry Berry Cherry and the China Blue.

Party host with a cocktail shaker boy - summer cocktails at your home

So what’s next in the experimental world of the Cocktail Shaker Boys? Well, we’re interested in developing an idea to provide cold shots to guests on arrival. However we need some portable way of transporting glasses in something freezing. Anyone got any ideas? info@cocktailshakerboys.co.uk if you have.

Cocktail party at home - happiness in a glass

She’d hired in 2 games tables too : black jack and a roulette wheel, and we supplied the drinks. We offered a range of 6 cocktails and 2 mocktails ;

• Green Apple Martini – Gin, apple sourz and apple syrup
• Margarita – Tequila, Cointreau, lime juice
• Rusty Nail – Whisky, Drambuie
• Sex on the Beach – Vodka, Archers, cranberry, orange juice
• Sandbar – Malibu, golden rum, pineapple juice
• Kir Royale – Creme de Cassis, champagne

Plus mocktails

• Blue Lagoon – non-alcoholic blue curacao, lemonade
• Merry Berry Cherry – orange juice, cranberry juice, cherry syrup

Seems the Sandbar and the Merry Berry Cherry were the ones in each category which proved most popular, though many party guests determindly worked their way through the menu.

Next event is a surprise 80th in Leicestershire - ooh, there’s never a dull moment !

Let's make some new cocktails then

We’re planning on developing some fantastic new cocktails based around these unusual syrup flavours. They do something like 65 flavours and we’ve noticed a few coffee shops use them to make flavoured coffee.

We bought Ginger, Green Apple, Butterscotch, Lavender, more Green Apple, Cherry, Raspberry, Rose and Blue Curacao (non-alcoholic.)

We’re already using Monin Green Apple Syrup in the highly popular Green Apple Martini.

We use Rose in the in-house developed Belly Dancer, which has been compared to liquid Turkish Delight.

Stand by for some new cocktail recipes featuring these products, and we’ll post them on Twitter too. In the meantime we’re off to engage in a little liquid alchemy !