Okay, here is a blog post about making an alcoholic beverages menu:
So, I decided it was time to put together a proper drinks menu for my home bar. I have got a decent collection of spirits and liqueurs, but I wanted something to showcase what I could whip up for guests, or even just for myself when I feel like a fancy cocktail.
First, I started by taking inventory of everything I had. I wrote down all the gins, whiskies, rums, vodkas, and other bits and bobs like vermouth, bitters, and that random bottle of blue curaçao I bought on a whim.
Next, I looked up some classic cocktail recipes that I knew I could make with what I had on hand. Think Martinis, Old Fashioneds, Margaritas, that sort of thing. I also jotted down a few that I have always wanted to try, like a Ramos Gin Fizz. Sounds complicated, but I figured, why not give it a shot?
- Margaritas
- Martinis
- Old Fashioneds
- Ramos Gin Fizz
Then came the fun part – tasting! I spent a couple of evenings experimenting with different combinations, trying to come up with a few signature drinks of my own. I mixed a gin-based cocktail with lime juice, sugar syrup, and a splash of that orange flower water I found hiding in the back of the cupboard. Not bad, not bad at all.
Once I had a good list of drinks, I thought about how to organize the menu. I decided to group them by spirit, so all the gin-based cocktails are together, then the whisky ones, and so on. Makes sense, right?
For the design, I kept it pretty simple. I just typed up the names of the drinks and a brief description of the ingredients in a nice, readable font. I toyed with the idea of adding little illustrations or something, but in the end, I decided less was more.
I printed out a few copies and stuck them in some cheap plastic menu holders I found online. They are not fancy, but they do the job. I propped them up on the bar, and voila! My very own cocktail menu.
Now, when friends come over, they can peruse the menu and pick something that tickles their fancy. And if they are feeling adventurous, they can ask me to surprise them with one of my own concoctions. It’s been a lot of fun, and honestly, my home bar feels a little bit more legit now.
What I learned
It takes a lot of preparing. Although I got much ingredients, some of the beverages I cannot make because I don’t have enough ingredients. But I will get some next time, like orange flower water, which is needed to make Ramos Gin Fizz. Besides, I realized that I need to purchase more beer taps and tequilas for the customers.
Overall, it is a great experience to make my own alcoholic beverages menu.
