For a long time, weekday cocktail parties have produced mixed feelings for the host. While they are the perfect opportunity to socialise and relax in the middle of a busy week, they can also be quite chaotic and taxing to plan. What makes hosting weekday cocktail parties smoother is a drinks roster that spells elegance, simplicity and flavour, without a long ingredient list and too many complicated garnishes. This is where the minimalist cocktail approach pops in – a mixology phenomenon that focuses more on flavour balance and premium quality instead of complex mixing and large serves.
What Are Minimalist Cocktails?
A reinvention of simple drinks which is making hosts and guests turn their heads around in wonder, minimalist cocktails are all about making casual entertaining a fun and relaxed affair. When time and effort are both limited on the weekday, it is minimalist cocktails which come in handy. Low-prep and quick to make, minimalist cocktails make hosting feel stylish and intentional.
Put simply, minimalist cocktails are those drinks which can be blended using just about three to four ingredients. They often put a single spirit in focus, supported by simple mixer additions and flavour accents. Complicated syrups and infusions give way to good quality spirits and fresh ingredients. Typically, minimalist cocktails showcase clean and balanced flavours, minimal garnishes, simple glassware and easy preparation.
Some flavour combinations include whisky and soda with a lemon twist or vodka and citrus topped off with soda water. Minimalist cocktails highlight the flavour notes of every ingredient added to the drink, without letting one overpower the other.
Minimalist Cocktails For Weekday Parties
Endlessly stylish and customisable according to whatever ingredients are available in your home bar or pantry, minimalist cocktails can be a gamechanger at weekday parties.
Less Time And Effort: After spending a long working day in the office, coming home to elaborate cocktail making and party planning can feel exhausting. Minimalist cocktails require very little prep and most drinks can be assembled right at the bar within a matter of minutes.
Shorter Shopping Lists: Since minimalist cocktails require very few ingredients, they are also quite budget-friendly. The home host can procure readily available fresh produce like oranges, limes, mint, rosemary and other assorted herbs as well as a couple of bottles of spirits like a good quality whisky or gin and mixers such as soda or ginger ale. With these few ingredients, it will be possible to mix 4-5 drinks with ease.
Beginner-Friendly Mixology: For the novice home host still getting the hang of blending cocktails, minimalist drinks can be good practice. Drinks like the cuba libre, negroni or boulevardier require very basic mixing techniques. So cocktails can be made without too many professional tools or complicated measurements.
Elegant Yet Low-Effort: Minimalist cocktails often look elegant because of their sheer simplicity. A clear drink served neatly in a simple glass exudes sheer style. It looks just as complex as any other layered mix. Clean presentation with simple garnishes like a lime wedge, dehydrated citruses, edible flowers or herb sprigs can elevate the overall cocktail experience.
Perfect For Small Gatherings: Relaxed conversations and intimate gatherings around a coffee table are spaces where minimalist cocktails shine brightest. They are meant especially for those midweek catch-ups, game nights and casual hangout sessions which seldom necessitate elaborate hosting. In fact, minimalist cocktails are perfect for blending during the evening without interrupting the flow of the conversation.
Simple Ideas To Try
Of the different minimalist cocktails perfect for casual evenings, some are well-suited to last-minute parties, beginner-friendly blending and fewer ingredient requirements.
– Whisky and soda topped off with a lemon peel is effortlessly stylish.
– Vodka, orange juice and ice come together in a bright and playful blend on game night.
– Mix rum and soda and finish it off with a lime wedge as an elegant tropical blend.
– Think tequila and grapefruit soda as another citrusy, peppery and bright option.
– Gin and tonic garnished with expressed citrus remains enduringly minimal and tasteful.