15 Mistakes Everyone Makes With Big Batch Cocktails
As a host, you have a truly wild number of details to stay on top of in order to create the perfect event. Invitations, food, entertainment, theme, budget, and decor are all things you'll need to consider, and that is no small feat. Then, of course, there's the matter of the party beverages, and if it's an adult event, chances are, you'll need some adult drinks. Fortunately for you, the art of batch cocktails has been perfected by countless hosts over the ages, offering up a cost-effective and comparatively easy way to provide beverages for your thirsty friends.
Ensuring that people have a good time socializing requires a delicate balancing act on your part, but we feel you're up to the challenge, and batch cocktails could very well be your secret weapon. However, as time-saving as they can be, it's important not to take batch cocktails for granted. Yes, they're a lot easier to make and serve, and they could very well save you money by eliminating the need for a bartender, but that doesn't mean they can be dialed in with no preparation or thought. To help make your next event a success while eliminating any avoidable stress along the way, we have a few tricks and tips to assist you along your batch cocktail journey.
1. Starting too late or too early
As in most walks of life, when creating batch cocktails, timing is everything. With any drink, freshness can be a major concern, as items like wilted mint leaves or expired syrups can alter or even ruin the taste of the cocktail. Yet, you don't want to wait until the last minute, as that could lead to extra stress and leave the drink tasting rushed or incomplete. Storing shelf-stable ingredients in the fridge or freezer can help you get a headstart and set your mind at ease while you tend to other hosting responsibilities, so make sure you have a sealed container that will limit oxygen intake and get started early.
While you'll want to avoid adding anything that will turn your batch cocktails into a block of ice, you can at least get the general assembly underway. This will help you go through your checklist to make sure you haven't forgotten anything, granting enough time before the event to go get any last-minute items that might have been forgotten along the way. When it comes to party preparation, waiting until the last minute for anything is usually a mistake, and that goes double for deceptively simple creations like batch cocktails.
2. Assuming you have the appropriate tools
One of the many nice things about batch cocktails is that you absolutely will not need a complete cocktail kit in order to make your drink of choice. In fact, standard tools like a cocktail shaker will only slow you down. However, that doesn't mean that you're totally in the clear when it comes to tools. For instance, you will want to invest in some kind of storage container, be it glass, plastic, or otherwise. Glass mason jars for storage will limit the intake of oxygen and keep things fresh, although this is obviously something you want to avoid if you plan to freeze the drinks for a longer period.
While we'll go more into the importance of proper measurements in a bit, know ahead of time that liquid measuring cups are among the most valuable tools in any kitchen, and that is extra true when it comes to creating the best batch cocktail you can make. Another handy item to help you along your way is a funnel, which will reduce spills and allow for a smoother pour as you assemble the ingredients. Other key items like measuring spoons, glasses, and ice trays are going to be your biggest helpers when it comes to making and serving batch cocktails.
3. Not testing the bowl's structural integrity
Along the lines of using the proper tools, using the correct serving bowl is going to be one of the most important steps on the road to batch cocktail success. Not only will you want to choose a large enough bowl, but you might want to do a test run if time allows to make sure that the bowl you choose is up to the challenge. Making it to the day of the event only to realize that your container isn't up to snuff is the stuff of hosting nightmares, but it can be avoided by ensuring that your equipment is structurally sound well before the event begins.
Keeping a tried and true option on hand and even investing in a backup in case things go awry can save the day in the event of a serving bowl catastrophe. As many hosts choose glass bowls for serving, the potential for things to go wrong is always there, but you can always opt for plastic if glass feels too risky. Similarly, choosing the proper ladle is a vital step in the process, as it not only helps limit portions, but also prevents potential disasters that could be caused by guests using cups to bob for cocktails.
4. Adding citrus too soon
Citrus and cocktails go hand-in-hand, with incredible combinations like the raspberry lemon drop martini, the sweet citrus fizz, and the winter sea breeze rating high on the list of tasty drinks that are easy and quick to prepare. Yet, citrus can be tempestuous when underestimated, meaning that if you're serving a batch cocktail with fruit juices involved, you're going to want to give it a little more consideration. When left out for too long, citrus has a habit of oxidizing, which can lead to a drastic drop-off in taste. This is something you definitely don't want when going to the extra effort to include fresh juice.
Fortunately, this can be avoided by simply squeezing the juice on the day of the event. Though it can feel last-minute to hold off on this crucial step in the cocktail preparation process, it's for the best in the long run. Rather than storing overnight, allowing for extra time to squeeze the fruit an hour or two before the event can make a world of difference for the taste profile, and that's the kind of detail you want to keep at the forefront of your mind when preparing this kind of drink. Even a subtle flavor change can make or break a beverage, and that's especially true with batch cocktails.
5. Forgetting to add water
Lest you end up with incredibly boozy, strong-tasting drinks that might lead to guests with more delicate palettes begging off after a few sips, you're going to want to add water to your mix. While ice will take care of some dilution, getting ahead of the curve by adding a little extra water is always a good thing. A common recommendation is to add something like 25% water to any drink. However, if you are interested in going further, "Liquid Intelligence" author Dave Arnold recommends a more complicated but more accurate method in which you weigh the ingredients, add ice, weigh again, discard the ice, and then estimate how much water needs to be added by looking at the difference in total weight and the weight before dilution.
It's also important not to add fizzy ingredients like sparking water, Prosecco, or Champagne until the last minute in order to preserve the bubbles. Flat Champagne is no one's idea of a good time, and it can be easily avoided by simply timing things correctly. Assembling everything except for the fizzy part of the equation is a good way to ensure that the drinks taste fresh throughout your gathering. When refilling the bowl, simply remember to add your fizz before you open servings up to your guests and that will circumvent any potential fizz-related problems.
6. Not remembering the golden ratio
Just about any cocktail that you love follows the "bartender's rule," otherwise known as the "golden ratio." This straightforward, easy-to-remember recipe for success breaks down to including measurements of 2 parts liquor, 1 part sour (usually some sort of citrus like lemon or lime juice), and 1 part simple syrup. Everything from a Moscow Mule to a Cosmopolitan, a Daiquiri, a Gimlet, and beyond is crafted by this simple equation, and it also applies to batch cocktails. In order to create the ideal concoction, make the extra effort to accurately measure each ingredient rather than rushing through the process, which can lead to spills.
Throwing out all your hard work and planning by forgetting proper measurements is the kind of rookie mistake we've all been guilty of at some point or another, but it's an easy one to bypass simply by pulling out the measuring cups and spoons and getting to work. It's important to remember not to try to cut corners with messy measuring practices, as it can completely alter the taste profile and throw off the whole recipe. Control and moderation are your biggest assets when making drinks, and that applies to batch cocktails just as much as any other beverage.
7. Leaving off the labels
Whether you're offering several different batch cocktails to choose from or only one, you're going to want to stay on top of the labeling process. Much like when you're preparing food for multiple guests, adding a brief explanation of what your guests are imbibing is just one quick thing you can do to ensure that everyone has a great time. Label makers are easy to find, but even just adding strips of tape and writing things down is a perfectly acceptable approach to staying organized. Especially today, with many allergy and dietary considerations to take note of, it's just better to be safe than sorry.
Not only is this going to help your guests, it will likely help you. Although the event may start neatly organized, chances are that as the hours drag on, things are going to be moved around and the chance of you forgetting what exactly went into which bottle is simply another stressor that can be eliminated before it begins through planning. This is one to be especially aware of as labels are an easy thing to forget. Banking on the assumption that you will remember everything you put on the table after entertaining multiple guests for hours is the kind of chance it's best just not to take.
8. Treating the drinks as an afterthought
If there is any key bit of advice we can offer when it comes to assembling batch beverages for a gathering, it's that, while they are easier than making drinks on an order-by-order basis, that doesn't mean that they can be treated as an afterthought. Grabbing a few bottles and pouring them all together at the last minute would be inviting a level of potential stress and disaster that just isn't worth it in the long run. Particularly if you're leaning into the drinks as a major drawing point of your get-together, flying by the seat of your pants is not recommended.
An event where the drinks are clearly whipped together without any thought to taste profile, temperature, or ingredients can certainly lead to a diminished view of the gathering, and as a host, that is definitely not what you want to achieve. Making something easier on yourself can't come at the cost of dialing it in for your guests, especially if you want them to feel that you're prioritizing their good time. Batch cocktails are best viewed as a way to better serve your guests through fast and efficient servings, but that shouldn't mean failing to deliver taste and quality. One way to avoid this is to consider assembling the drinks around a theme just to show that extra bit of forethought.
9. Going light on the fixings
Just because you're cutting out some of the hassle by going batch with your drinks doesn't mean you should forget the fixings and garnishes that make any cocktail that much better. Standard add-ins like cinnamon sticks, citrus wheels, maraschino cherries, and olives can do wonders for your skills as a mixologist, and often they're just as simple as adding a few little bowls to the side with easy-to-use tongs for guests to portion their own servings. That takes the stress off of you and grants the partygoers a bit of control over their own experience, which can add to the fun.
As with anything else on this list, making it easier doesn't mean it's entirely without some level of effort on your part, so don't forget to take a little extra time to properly match the garnishes with the drink. Allowing for a little room to experiment for the guests is one thing, but offering up something that will clash with your beverage is the kind of thing you want to avoid. Fortunately, this is easy to do simply by following general recommendations and recipes as well as taste testing on your own time. In the end, garnishes add to a dish or beverage rather than detract from it, so it makes your job just that much easier.
10. Improperly storing the syrups
If you're taking our advice and following the "golden rule" listed above, then you're going to want to look into properly storing your syrups. In any realm of cocktail preparation, having a batch of simple syrup mixed up and ready to go is recommended, but the highly sticky nature of the ingredient means you're also going to want to take a little extra care of how you're containing it. Finding a clean, airtight container, preferably with an easy-to-remove lid, and keeping it in the fridge is all you need to do. Add a label and move on with the preparations.
Simple syrup is easy to make at home simply by perfecting the ratio of water to sugar, heating and cooling the ingredients, letting them cool, and bottling them up. This essential ingredient stays fresh for long periods, meaning there is little risk in having a batch on hand, but it's a lot more complicated to try and assemble at the last minute. Preparing the syrup in the early stages of the party planning can be a good thing, but that's all the more reason to keep it bottled and contained.
11. Not considering bitters
With so many other things to keep in mind in the event planning process, it's understandable if you let the details of when and how to add bitters to your batch cocktails slide, but it's still a potentially taste-changing error to do so. While bitters (which are more or less simply extracted botanicals) are relatively stable unlike fresh fruit juices, they can also become increasingly, well, bitter, over time. While batch cocktails generally won't be sitting out for an extended period of time, it can still have an effect on the taste to add a regular amount of bitters to a recipe only to allow it to soak for longer than an average cocktail might.
This is why it's generally recommended to cut the recommended amount of bitters in any cocktail recipe in half when batching. That will help reduce any negative effects while ensuring that guests are still able to enjoy the unique profile that bitters can bring to a drink. Bitters tend to be highly potent and as such added in much smaller amounts than spirits, but cutting the weight even just that little bit more is a solid route for success when multiplying a drink recipe.
12. Adding ice too soon or forgetting the ice
As with any chilled cocktail, ice is one of the most important factors when it comes to taste and enjoyment, as well as one of the easiest to overlook. To begin with, you'll want to be sure you have more than enough ice available. Always err on the side of caution here, as having too much ice is a much easier problem to tackle than having too little. Likewise, as ice has a habit of melting, you'll want to stay on top of making sure that you don't add too much off the bat lest you dilute the batch by adding more down the line.
Forgetting the ice entirely can lead to the sort of hectic, high-anxiety scramble to run to the liquor store that you can really do without when hosting an event. Making plenty of ice in the days leading up to the gathering and storing it in the freezer is a great way to make sure that doesn't happen. Likewise, having a backup is going to be vital, as even when you think you have enough, you can be very wrong. Particularly during the summer, being strategic about your ice reserves and when to add it is something you want to keep in mind.
13. Not taking the time for quality control
Batch cocktails take time to perfect just like anything else you do in the kitchen, so it's important to experiment and try new recipes to see which ones work the best for you. One way to gauge this is through simple taste testing. Either you or a beverage enthusiast you know can easily take a sip or two to check the quality of the drink to make sure everything is tasting great, making modifications as desired. Better yet, doing a sample run well before the event could eliminate any regrets that would otherwise arise after the fact.
In general, using high-quality ingredients is recommended, but even using less-than-ideal items can work to great effect if you simply take the time to test and try the concoction until it's perfectly suited to your needs. Fortunately, many drink recipes are created with potential modifications in mind, so this is one realm where trial and error is encouraged, although you will want to make sure to do so in a low-stress setting well before any event planning begins. Even if you don't have the time for this, getting feedback can help create a better recipe for the next round. Trying different combinations and ingredients is one of the great joys of mixology, and just because you're saving time with batch cocktails doesn't mean you need to miss out on the fun.
14. Neglecting the importance of temperature
When it comes to batch cocktails, don't forget temperature. As many who work in the food industry know, understanding, recording, monitoring, and controlling food and drink temperatures is one of the most vital elements of the job, applying to everything from fast food to gourmet coffees. Although the numbers might change, the sentiment remains the same — failing to uphold the proper temperature can at best alter the flavor of a dish or beverage, and at worst cause serious threats to the health of guests. Though the potential hazards loom large, it's actually quite easy to stay on top of temperature with just a little extra thought to preparation and planning.
Assuming you're taking our advice and starting the process the night before, storing your batch cocktails can be as easy as adjusting the temperature of your freezer at home. While colder temperatures are best for freezing foods, when putting your batch cocktails in the fridge overnight, consider adjusting the dial to somewhere between 10 and 14 degrees Fahrenheit for the best results. This can allow you to dilute without worrying that you'll end up with boozy popsicles (although that can be quite nice if that's what you're aiming for). Not every freezer will allow you to adjust the temperature, but if yours does, take advantage of the chilled excellence it can achieve.
15. Leaving fresh ingredients to soak
We've already covered why adding things like Champagne, ice, or citrus too early in the batch cocktail preparation process can be a bit hazardous for the overall taste profile, but that advice actually goes for any fresh ingredients you consider adding to your drink. Topping a batch cocktail off with something like club soda too early in the process can leave the drink tasting flat, but even worse would be to go to all the trouble of tracking down fresh mint or basil only to see them wilt or even brown by the time they're ready to serve. This is the kind of heartache you can dodge entirely by simply waiting to add it until the eleventh hour.
Likewise, for drinks that use egg whites to infuse that extra bit of zest, such as a gin fizz or sour, you're going to want to wait on adding them lest you lose the unique effect that makes them such a popular addition to cocktails. Leaving any of these things to soak with the rest of the ingredients can decline or even ruin the taste profile, so take our advice and set a timer that will remind you of the perfect moment to add the fresh ingredients.