A seasoned host on how a simple cocktail can elevate a dinner party
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MELBOURNE MARTINI
WORDS BY EMILY HOLGATE
And how to incorporate them into your dinner party regime, without the effort and mess.
There’s nothing quite like a good cocktail to take any dinner to the next level. Whether that’s out at a restaurant or with friends at home, serving cocktails adds an element of sophistication to even the most simple dinners. But if you’re the one hosting the dinner party, you might begin to realise why busy bartenders are inclined to roll their eyes before begrudgingly making your wonderfoam-liquid nitrogen-fairy floss-infused cocktail at the bar.
As a former bartender myself, the process of measuring, shaking, stirring, preparing garnishes and making a cocktail look, well, pretty, is both time-consuming and messy. When undertaking the same process (unpaid) at home, it can become more of a hassle than it’s worth.
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Finding enough cocktail vessels for 10 friends is a mission in itself, let alone the fact that your average cocktail shaker only makes two drinks at a time. Last year, my friends and I were inspired by the TikTok trend of a cocktail competition party, where each person makes and serves a different type of cocktail for the group.
It was fun for sure, until I woke up the next morning to the sticky bomb site of my kitchen, remembering with a sore head the “hilarious” moment the top of the shaker flew off, giving my rental floor and cupboards a blackberry sour shower. For later occasions when I hosted, I opted for a more simple approach: spirits and mixers.
Honestly, though, it’s not the same. Cocktails are fun, classy and of course, tasty. Which is why I’ve sought a way to incorporate them into my dinner party regime, without the effort and mess. Enter Melbourne Martini, the Melbourne-based company taking the hard work out of cocktail-making with their single-serve beverages (which also come in cute, reusable jars).
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A fresh rebrand has seen the addition of new, stylish packaging and a swathe of funky cocktails, including classic espresso martinis, a salted caramel riff and even amaretto sours and margaritas. The best part? All you need to do is shake the jar, pop the lid and pour into your favourite glass. There are even 700ml bottles available, perfect for dinner parties.
So, do cocktails, even simple ones, really make a difference to your soirée? You might be thinking it’s cheaper, and perhaps easier, to buy a bottle of wine and call it a day. But there are many other benefits to serving cocktails.
Co-founder of Golden Groves olive oil, Kat Velos, tells me she loves serving cocktails to elevate not only the aesthetic of the table, but also to set the mood and ease people into social interactions.
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“Having a more elevated, unique cocktail creates a talking point. And you encourage people to be adventurous,” she says. “I guess it does take a bit longer [to prepare], but that’s the fun part. You get to shimmy along the line and say hello to everyone while you’re pouring, and you can always get people to help you fetch ice and garnishes.”
For Kat, her go-to simple cocktail is an olive oil martini, which she says is essentially a twist on a dirty martini but with a drop of extra virgin olive oil. “It’s fairly straightforward, and brings this special sort of edge without being too much work,” she says.
She also loves serving negronis or a “good margarita”, both of which can be purchased from Melbourne Martini if you’re keen to relieve yourself of mixologist duties.
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Also a veritable dinner party expert, Maya Sourial is one half of pasta, home cooking and event page, Food By Maya & Chels. She says that in her opinion, the best dinner party hosts are the ones who serve the best cocktails.
“Starting any dinner party with something bubbly, fizzy or sweet will relax your guests on arrival and evoke lots of laughter – and lots of laughter is an important component of any party,” Maya tells me. “[Cocktails] are a conversation-starter, a crowd-pleaser and probably the most important detail in earning you super host status while also making your guests feel valued from the second they arrive at your place.
Maya has hosted a number of dinner parties with her sister Chelsea, and says their guests always love a seasonal garnish or flavour.
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“The margarita is having a real moment,” she says. “A margarita can accompany guests throughout the entire night.”
With this in mind, a four-pack of Tommy’s Tequila margaritas from Melbourne Martini costs just $34.99, or you can nab an entire case for $170. Dinner party drinks? Sorted.
Find Melbourne Martini at all good liquor stores and melbournemartini.com.au, or browse the brand here.
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