Bars recognise the value of having cocktails on the menu. First it broadens the choice you’re offering your customers. Also it gives your customers a better choice of premium drinks and of course it adds to your gross profit GP.
We’ve had a few establishments (serving food and drink) approach us recently to add cocktails and cocktail events to their menu. Certainly if you’re running a bar, bistro or restaurant and you’re based in Leicestershire or Northamptonshire, we’d be happy to talk to you about this.
We love putting cocktail menus together for our clients. Admittedly this is usually for our clients’ parties, but we love fitting the menu to the audience. Hen party menus for instance will be different to a menu for a 70th birthday. Female orientated groups may want different choices to male dominated groups and so on.
We like trying out new concoctions, new flavours and to push the boundaries with unusual ingredients. Having started making cocktails back in the day (known as the 80s) with such legends as the Pina Colada, Harvey Wallbanger, Del Boy, Galliano and with fluffy animals and parasols to decorate the glass, through to modern sophistication we cover it all. Salted Caramel Alexander, drinks with Prosecco, drinks with cream, cocktails with innovative, unusual ingredients : lavender, liquorice, cherry, pear, cucumber, Pedro Ximinez sherry are all part of what we get involved in.
To stimulate your clientele with unusual cocktails and creations, we have some ideas.
Here some of our top tips for bar owners;
1. Think about the market you’re aiming at. Your cocktail selection can reinforce what you’re offering or get it wrong and it could look a bit naff.
2. Go with a short menu. Quality not quantity
3. Train your bar staff to understand the provenance of your cocktails. Just as you would with your food.
4. Simple garnishes work best.
5. Ice is for the shaker not the glass. Again it’s about quality.
We have an extensive library of cocktail books built up over the years. We also receive the bi-monthly Imbibe magazine keeping us up to date with the latest trends and useful articles on the industry and the on-trade.
If adding cocktails to your menu, or upgrading your cocktail menu is what you’re after, talk to us, the Cocktail Shaker Boys on 01858 898154. We have lots of ideas and frankly we like sharing them.
OP 23-3-15