1. Angel’s Delight: Angel’s delight is a beautiful pink, creamy drink that is absolutely delicious. It can also be used a slight dessert if you’d like to give your guests an alcoholic indulgence.

2. Candy Cane: The candy cane cocktail is a mixture of flavours and colours. It’s a delicate mix of chocolate, berry and mint. Once the actual cocktail is created you also add in peppermint candy that has been finely crushed. This gives the cocktail an even sweeter flavour.

3. Christmas Jones: This cocktail is slightly more hard than the other alternative. It has a very fruity flavour with a blend of pineapple, strawberries and a very big splash of vodka. Once the following has been mixed together you can add a nice splash of lime soda. Garnish with mint.

4. Eggnog: A Christmas party isn’t a Christmas party without a traditional cocktail that has been loved for decades. There are plenty of variations of eggnog and you just need to find the perfect cocktail combination for you and your guests.

5. English Christmas Punch: The reason this cocktail has a punch in it is because it immediately warms you up – quite a kicker for the cold holiday season. It has a hefty selection of red wine and rum. Basically: yum in a punch bottle.

6. Grinch: The Grinch is based off the famous Dr. Seuss novels. You use a melon-based liqueur and it’s absolutely delicious to brighten up your Christmas day. Garnish it with red decorations to complete the character of the drink.

7. Holiday Hopper: This cocktail has an unusual combination of tastes. It combines mint, melon and chocolate to create a delectable taste that will certainly delight. It also can combine with your decorations as it’s a beautiful light green – the same as a Christmas tree.

8. Merry Christmas: Gin and cranberries make this cocktail the ultimate Christmas drink. Simple with the ingredients but an intense flavour that is very light on the stomach and the palette. You can also find “mocktail” recipes if you want to make a non-alcoholic alternative.

9. La Vie En Rouge: Celebrate the party with this crimson drink. Orange liquer, rosemary and cranberry juice gives it a very unusual texture and flavour. Serve it at the dinner party to give your guests as something delectable to enjoy with their meal with.

10.Zen Dream: You use a combination of fruits and green tea liqueur. It’s a very soothing cocktail that can calm even the most troubled mind. Make sure you pick a couple of cocktails to make sure your Christmas party is as eventful as possible. These drinks will positively make your guests get into the Christmas cheer.

Bolade is an experienced party organiser and runs her own online store selling kids birthday supplies, baby shower supplies and other party items.

To learn more about arranging great parties and entertaining, visit her online store by clicking on one fo the links above for more information.

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In sensible drinking terms you should allow around a half to three quarters of a bottle per guest. If you are unsure as to the preference in color of your guest’s wine, it’s usually safe to order a ratio of 50/50 white to red.

Treat Rose as white as well, so for 30 guests, you might look at ordering eight to ten red, four to five white and four to five rose.

Remember to accommodate the drivers as well and ensure you have plenty of soft drinks for those unable to participate in the drinking as they drew the short straw and are designated driver for the evening. It is also a good idea to match every glass of wine with a glass of water. This is a great tip to make sure no one over does things. It may also be a good idea to think about low alcohol or alcohol free wines to give a little more variety. These are generally found under the ‘Low ABV’ label.

If planning for Christmas and wish to attempt a traditional lunchtime gathering with mince pies and a glass of sherry, then you should allow for 12 glasses from one bottle. Remember the different varieties of sherry and be suitably prepared, including sweet and dry types. Think about buying in or making some mulled wine to warmly greet your guests in from the cold. For this you’ll probably get six to eight glasses of homemade mulled wine per bottle of wine used, as water is generally added to the recipe.

If you decide to get creative and offer cocktails at a party, make sure you not only know how to make them but also have all the correct ingredients. It’s a good idea to stick to only one or two simple cocktail recipes. To keep ingredients down, there are many cocktails that can be made using sparkling wine. These include, a ‘Bellini’ – Sparkling wine and fresh peach puree, ‘Pink Mimosa’ – Sparkling wine and pink grapefruit juice, ‘Black Velvet’ – Half Guinness and half sparkling wine, ‘Pink Fizz’ – half raspberry puree and sparkling wine, ‘Nelsons Blood’ – Sparkling wine with a dash of tawny port, and ‘Bucks Fizz’ – one third orange juice and top up with sparkling wine.

Above all remember to enjoy the party, a great party can be had by all without having to over indulge – this just means you have to explain yourself a lot the following day!!

To discover more about wine, please visit the Beginners Wine Guide

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Here’s a look at the hottest 10 cocktail bars around the world.

1. Bemelmans Bar, New York. Exuding an old-world elegance and charm, Bemelmans, the exquisitely done up bar at Carlyle Hotel, has been a Manhattan icon for more than five decades now. This popular watering hole has been attracting patrons from all walks of life like a magnet – socialites, politicians, movie stars and the movers and shakers in politics and Hollywood. Great drinks, great food and attentive service, coupled with the iconic 24-carat gold leaf-covered ceiling, make this one of the best lounge bars in the city and among the top bars in the world.

2. The Connaught Bar, London. One of London’s most popular and iconic bars, the cocktails on the menu are a dramatic mix of tradition and innovation. Nothing less than exclusive vintages and limited edition champagnes, spirits and liqueurs are used, while the bartending staff is famed to be among the best in the UK.

3. Le Lion, Hamburg. Hailed as one of the best cocktail bars in Germany, the Le Lion boasts of tastefully done up interiors and flawlessly prepared drinks. Knowledgeable bartenders who create every cocktail with meticulous attention add to the overall experience.

4. Closerie des Lilas, Paris. Easily the cream of the crop in Paris, this Parisian bar dates back to 1847. This 160-year old bar and restaurant is something of a Parisian institution and has been immortalised in two works of Ernest Hemmingway as well. In its heydays, this bar was the favourite haunt of the literary and artistic community. Rich in history, many celebrities have walked through its portals to spend many a magical evening within its interiors. Classic French cuisine and exquisite wines and cocktails – this is a must-visit on any trip to Paris.

5. Manga Rosa, Lisbon. Located away from the central hustle and bustle of main Lisbon city, the Manga Rosa is a mesmerising juxtaposition of the industrial and the opulent. Real exposed pipes and ventilation shafts loom overhead and on the sides even as glittering chandeliers and extravagant decor complete the picture. It is a big hit with the young crowd who throng the bar as much for its unique ambience as for its great cocktails.

6. P J Clarke’s, New York. A venerable New York institution in itself, this 125-year old bar has a rich and colourful history. It is as famous for its old world ambience as it is for its typically robust American food and drinks. This much-loved saloon bar possesses historic charm, a juke box and many a memorabilia of an era gone by.

7. Dry Martini Bar, Barcelona. Perhaps one of the few bars in the world dedicated to that iconic cocktail, the martini, the Dry Martini Bar is located right in the centre of Barcelona. The theme of martini dominates the decor everywhere in this classic cocktail bar, while the menu groans under the weight of more than hundred forms of this popular cocktail. There are also leather banquettes, and wooden cabinets that proudly display centuries-old bottles.

8. Pusser’s New York Bar, Munich. The bar derives its name from the famous original Navy rum – Pusser’s Rum. Located on a quiet side street in Munich, this bar flaunts a nautical theme, British naval paraphernalia from the 18th and 19th centuries – naval flags, old advertisements and historical photos – are on prominent display everywhere. It is also one of the last few piano bars in Munich and specialises in Caribbean-inspired and rum-based cocktails.

9. Bar K, Osaka. Just a few kilometres outside Kyoto, Bar K in Osaka, may have all the trappings of a classic American bar, but its whiskeys are intensely Japanese. Exuding a quiet elegance, the bar is extremely well-stocked with Scotch and Japanese whiskeys and the cocktails are a connoisseur’s delight. The knowledgeable bartenders display great precision and style in mixing the drinks – a sight to behold in itself.

10. Saphire Bar, Berlin. This is one of Berlin’s best whiskey bars which features a staggering variety of cocktails as well. Elegant decor with white leather sofas invite its patrons to sip the bar’s signature whiskeys and cocktails and enjoy a memorable evening.

Currently working in the UK gift industry for a leading online ladies’ gift retailer, Daya Mukherjee is an experienced journalist and creative writer. Her forte is relationships and romance, gift giving and entertaining. Daya showcases the hottest selling Lolita glassware that adds the glam quotient to any party. For the wine aficionado, Daya helps you choose the perfect gift wine glass from the latest Lolita range.

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The martini does not call for ice and the deep V-shape is precisely meant for such cocktails that need to be served chilled but without the presence of ice in the glass. So, it is the glass that has to be frosted or chilled to perfection. And the long stem ensures that the warmth of the hand does not play spoilsport with the contents of the glass.

Martini glasses were called by the more generic ‘cocktail glasses’ till the martini was created. And after that there were two distinctive categories of glasses: the cocktail glass and the martini glass.

How was the martini created? One story goes that in 1862 in San Francisco, Jerry Thomas, a bartender at the city’s well-known Occidental hotel, was asked to whip up an original drink. The person who made that request was on his way to Martinez, where the gold rush had begun. Thus challenged, Jerry Thomas came up with an impromptu new recipe there itself and thus was born the ‘Martinez Special’ which later gave way to the now iconic martini’.

The modern martini glass has come a long way from its original plain glass form. Today’s martini glasses are colourful, sport funky designs and are more than just a cocktail receptacle. They are style statements, to be flaunted at parties and dos and proudly displayed in the glass cabinet.

The US brand Designs by Lolita has created an entire range devoted only to the martini. Each glass is individually hand-painted in Lolita’s trademark, quirky manner, with some wacky words thrown in for greater impact. But, the icing on the cake has to be the fantastic cocktail recipe at the bottom of each cocktail glass. What’s even more appealing is that each martini glass addresses a typical female mood or dilemma, making it that much more personal.

But, just why did this particular cocktail glass have a wide mouth unlike its counterparts? Again, controversies surround this. According to one story, the particular shape was an invention during the Prohibition era. The wide brim served to quickly dispel any illegal alcohol there was in the event of a surprise raid. Yet another theory suggests that the wide brim produced surface tension that would effectively release the gin’s bouquet.

Whatever may be the reason, the martini managed to create its own place among the many cocktails even as its distinctive glass shape achieved a stardom and iconic status of its own.

An experienced former journalist, Daya brings her considerable creative writing experience to the UK gift industry. Her forte is wedding anniversaries, the tricky etiquettes involved in relationships and romance, gift giving and entertaining. Daya introduces you to the latest range of the hot-selling Lolita glass that has taken the UK by storm. She also helps you pick your favourite Lolita martini glass to impress your guests

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Shot glasses are normally really small glasses made of thick glass and it is used to hold around an ounce of concentrated liquor, tequila or vodka. It can also be used for mixing drinks behind the bar. The reason why shot glasses are made of thick glasses is so that it can withstand the slamming of the glass on the table which usually happens after a person consumes the alcohol in a single gulp. If the bartender serves shots in a champagne or wine glass, and the glass is slammed on the table, it is very likely that the glass will shatter into pieces. Champagne or wine glasses are not built to be slammed on bar counters.

Martini glasses, also known as cocktail glasses, have a stem on a flat base and a flat bowl with a wide brim on top. The reason why martini glasses are built that way is so that the glass can be held from the stem. Drinks served in these glasses do not use ice. So, holding the glass from the stem will not allow the drink’s temperature to be affected by the person’s body heat.

A bar should not even call themselves bars if they do not have beer mugs. Beer mugs are just as essential as red wine and white wine glasses. There are numerous types and each type affects the drink. Some beer bugs gives the beer a better foam head, some enhances the aroma, while others enhances the aromatic volatiles of the beer.

To experience the fine art of drinking wine, only wine glasses can be used. There are even different types of wine glasses for white wine and red wine. Wine glasses consists of three parts, the bowl, stem and foot. Just like the martini glass, the stem is designed to ensure the wine’s temperature is not affected by heat from our hands. It is also to avoid finger prints on the bowl, this way wine enthusiasts can see the colour of the wine clearly.

Lastly, every bar is surely to have the most commonly used glass, the old fashioned glass, also known as rocks glass or lowball glass. Lowball glasses are used for drinks like liquor, whiskey or any other drinks which are usually served with ice. The reason why lowball glasses are the most common to be found in bars is because it can also be used for non-alcoholic drink and it holds larger amount of liquid compared to the others.

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Cocktail machines are supplied together with a non-alcoholic fruit or cocktail flavored mixture, which is added into the machine. You can also add any type of alcohol that you wish. The machine then freezes the mixture, and dispenses cold, perfectly blended cocktails for your guests. This means that there is no need to mix drinks during the event, and that there are no bottles of cocktail shakers to be cleaned up at the end of the night.

Your guests can even serve themselves from the cocktail machines, although if you prefer, it is possible to set up the machines in a separate area accessible only to the serving staff, or behind a bar. If you are not going to be hiring a bartender or waiting staff, however, using a cocktail machine can make ensuring everyone has all the drinks they want much easier.

When you hire the machine, you will get to choose the flavors of drinks that you want to serve. Some cocktail machines can serve two or three different flavors, but you can also hire multiple machines if necessary. Non-alcoholic options can be provided, simply by choosing not to add any alcohol into the machine.

You will need to work out how many drinks you will need to have available at the event. This will depend on how many people are attending and how much you expect them to drink. Cocktail machines usually serve between 100 and 200 drinks, although you can also purchase additional bags of flavored cocktail mixtures in order to refill the machines if necessary. Many companies will allow you to return any unused packages after the event, so you may not have to pay for the refills if you do not need them. It is a good idea to check whether this will be possible, as you can then ensure you have more than enough, just in case your guests happen to be particularly thirsty.

Make sure you consider any other drinks you are serving, in addition to the cocktails from the machines, when you are calculating how many servings you are going to need. You should also try to guess which flavors are likely to be the most popular, as you will want to make sure you have more servings of this flavor if possible, otherwise one of your cocktails will run out too quickly.

You will also need to make sure you factor in the length of your party, and the weather. People will drink more at an all-day event in the middle of summer than during an evening party in winter.

You will probably be provided with plastic glasses and straws by the company from which you hire the cocktail machine. They should give you the same number of glasses as you have bought servings of cocktails. If you think you may need more than this, or if you want to hire glasses, you will have to organize this separately.

If you live near the location in which the company is based, you may be able to arrange for the cocktail machine to be delivered and picked up from your home or the venue of the event. This can be very helpful when you are busy organizing a party, so you should try to take advantage of this service if possible.

If you are interested in cocktail machine hire options in Melbourne, then consider also the option of a daiquiri machine hire possibilities.

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