Cocktails On A Budget? Here’s How To Craft Drinks Without Burning A Hole In Your Wallet
Planning a cocktail party but want to stick to a budget? You would need cocktail alternatives that are not only interesting enough, but which can be concocted under Rs. 200, including spirit, mixers and garnishes galore. These can be rather stellar mixes, well-balanced and flavourful yet prepared without burning a hole through your wallet. What’s more, you can also bring a certain bar-style sophistication into these cocktails, all the while coming under budget. What you would need are just some creative cocktail hacks and some clever swaps to make your home bar creativity shine. Here’s how to go about it:
Build A Spirit Base Under Budget
Rather than opting for a top shelf spirit bottle, go for excellent quality spirits which nonetheless can be sourced at a price that falls within your budget. Choose from a host of mid-range spirits such as locally made gins, vodkas and rums which can become clean and versatile bases for mixing numerous cocktails.
A 750 ml bottle of Captain Morgan Dark Rum can be an interesting alternative which can be purchased in the range of Rs. 700 to Rs. 1000, considering local tariffs and regulations. Each cocktail served using 30 ml of the liquor thus concocted using the dark rum would ensure that the drinks presented at the cocktail party all come under budget.
Budget-Friendly Fresh And Bottled Mixers
While mixing certain bar quality cocktails under budget, one of the best alternatives is to use freshly squeezed lime juice and homemade syrup infusions that cut down on the amount you would have to otherwise dedicate to purchasing these flavour accents. Moreover, freshly squeezed juices also add character and depth to cocktails, lending them complex tasting notes.
As for mixers, use a fruit blender if you have one in your kitchen to craft fresh watermelon, pineapple, orange or apple juices which can be added to lots of drinks like a cinnamon-apple whisky smash or a classic screwdriver made using vodka and fresh orange juice. Another budget cocktail that can be prepared using simple ingredients is a desi mule containing vodka, fresh ginger syrup and lime juice, coupled with soda. Go for budget-friendly soda cans which fall under Rs. 50 to Rs. 75, to ensure you add a good quality fizzy mixer into your cocktail without splurging too much. And buy only as many cans as you would need for the party, to avoid excesses.
Use Pantry Ingredients
In the fall weather, lots of handy pantry ingredients can be used to make aromatic and flavourful cocktails, well-suited to the season. With this, it is possible to mix drinks that carry a seasonal, autumnal quality, all the while coming under budget because you would use ingredients that are already available in your kitchen to blend the drinks.
Think black tea leaves which can be used to freshly brew a hot pot of the aromatic beverage. This black tea can then be added to variations like rum or whisky-based hot toddies or cinnamon and cardamom infused warm cocktails brewed especially in this season. With a liquor base also in the mid-range category such that every 30 ml serve amounts to Rs. 75 to Rs. 80, such a cocktail can fall well within your budget when pantry ingredients double as flavourful, fragrant, aesthetic mixers.
Also Read: How to Pick Mixers That Don’t Push Your Spirit Budget
Simple Garnishes, Local Aesthetic
Do away with store bought garnishes like dried flower petals or edible glitter or candied citruses. Instead, go local and choose from a host of fruits and herbs which can be sourced from your local market, to adorn cocktails on a budget. This can be fresh herbs like mint or tulsi which lend drinks some aromatic and slightly savoury finishes, or it can include citrus peels for fresh and acidic touches.
Aesthetics are something that can be curated according to your own artistic preferences, more than spending too much on costly garnishes. For instance, orange peels can either be placed as a swirl on top of a simple whisky highball or they can be skewered and placed on the highball glass or they can be expressed and dropped into the cocktail so their flavours release gradually. An artistic sensibility is what would turn your cocktail into a top notch visual experience, making your budget-friendly drink look like bar quality luxury.
Key Takeaways:
– If you are planning a cocktail party on a budget, you would need just some creative cocktail hacks and clever swaps to make your home bar creativity shine.
– A 750 ml bottle of Captain Morgan Dark Rum can be an interesting liquor alternative, purchased in the range of Rs. 700 to Rs. 1000, considering local tariffs and regulations.
– Turn your cocktails into a stunning visual experience using artistic sensibilities that make budget-friendly drinks look like bar quality luxury.
FAQs:
– What kind of spirits should one choose while planning a cocktail party on a budget?
Do away with a top shelf spirit bottle and go for excellent quality spirits which nonetheless can be sourced at a price that falls within your budget. Choose from a host of mid-range spirits such as locally made gins, vodkas and rums at such a gathering.
– Which are some of the mixers that can be used to make budget-friendly cocktails?
Fresh fruit juices such as watermelons, pineapples, orange or apple juices can be among the mixers added to lots of drinks like a cinnamon-apple whisky smash or a classic screwdriver. A quality mid-range soda is also an option that can be used to make budget-friendly cocktails.
– In what way can pantry ingredients contribute to making budgeted cocktails?
Seasonal pantry ingredients carrying an autumnal quality will enable you to mix drinks well-suited to the weather outside. And all without splurging much because you would use ingredients already available in your kitchen, as resourceful contributions to budget cocktails.
All cocktails listed use 30 ml liquor measurements for single serves. Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
