Cocktail Party Check List

1. Guests
2. Alcohol
3. Food
4. Music

The guest list is something that should be quite easy. I personally perfer smaller get togethers and generally limit it to around fifteen to twenty people. I keep a set group of core names that are always invited.

The alcohol is something else to be rather easy. If you keep your core people coming back then you're all ready halfway home with most likely a wide variety at your fingertips. I generally, after learning what my core people drink, keep on hand the following:

Spirit No. of bottles
Captain Morgan Spiced Rum 2
Bacardi Superior (white rum) 1
Pravda (vodka) 2
Creme de Cocao 1
White Creme de Cocao 1
Creme de Menthe 1
White Creme de Menthe 1
Cointreau 1
Grenadine 1
Blue Curacao 1
Bailey's Irish Cream 1
Amaretto 1
Jameson 2
Kaluah 2
Grand Marnier 1
Malibu 2
Southern Comfort 3
Peachtree 2
Lambrusco 2
Chianti 2
Merlot 2
White Zinfadel 2

Mixers I keep on hand are Pepsi, sours, tonic water, club soda, lemon juice, lime juice, pineapple juice, orange juice, Sprite, Red Bull, cream, and milk. Ice is never a problem as I have one freezer dedicated to making ice.

Food is rather simple as well. This is where most people, I believe, go overboard. After all you don't want everyone hanging around until three or four in the morning; so keep it simple. Shelled, salted peanuts, and lots of them. Place them strategically around the party area in large bowls. I have also been known to put out some mini marshmallows from time to time. Mainly to satisfy my own sweet tooth. Keep the food simple though. There's an underlying beauty to simplicity that most people overlook. Besides, people attend the function to interact with others, not to add a few pounds.

As far as music goes I offer a sound system and light show that is run by computer. Anyone at any point can approach the computer and insert the song they would like to hear into the play list.

Learn more about this author, Cedric Campbell.
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