We have the great pleasure of introducing a very special guest contributor. Embodying the perfect mix of class, savvy & sass, Auntie Carrie's Speakeasy offers a spot-on perspective about entertaining. Read on to enjoy her take on the quintessential 1960s "Mad Men" themed party.
Unless you are like Auntie and I, who run our own Speak
Easy, (no address given. So please don’t ask), the theme of 1920s is so done.
But what’s sexy right now? An equally inebriating decade: the 1960s. Throwing a
1960s Mad Men themed party will make you the talk of the town. This is how
Auntie Carrie’s Speak Easy would do it: Of course, our simple
“How to a Throw Party” rules apply.
1. The Classic Cocktail: Familiarize yourself with the drinks of
the times. Unless you have a head for bartending, just learn how to make three
Classics (proportions courtesy of
Drinks Mixer. We would suggest a Martini,
Tom Collins and a Manhattan.
The Mad Men Site has a wonderful collection of
drinks from the period. However, I take issue with their listing vodka as the
primary ingredient in the Martini. Do have vodka as an option but do be
prepared to make a classic Martini. Also, make sure to have a healthy supply of
scotch, champagne, garnishes (cherries, lemons, straws, umbrellas, plastic
monkeys) and a top notch looking bar.
Martini
75ml (or approx 2+ 1/2 oz) Gin
15ml (or approx 1/4 oz) Dry Vermouth
1 green olive OR a twist of lemon peel
Tom Collins
2 oz gin
1 oz lemon juice
1 tsp superfine sugar
3 oz club soda
1 maraschino cherry
1 slice orange
Manhattan
3/4 oz sweet vermouth
2 1/2 oz bourbon whiskey
1 dash Angostura® bitters
1 maraschino cherry
1 twist orange peel
2. Party Punch.We believe every party should have a signature drink.
Sometimes your friends have no idea what they want. Why waste time deciding
when they should be drinking? We suggest a Brandy Punch:
