How to Choose a Clever Cocktail Name
When hosting a cocktail hour, it is great to have a signature drink on hand. It gives guests an easy go-to and can help you watch your budget. But naming that concoction can be as much fun as serving it. When choosing a name there are a few things to consider.
Start with your childhood pet’s name and the street you grew up on… Oh wait. That is your stripper name. For cocktail naming there are other things you can choose from.
Seasonal Reference
Grabbing a reference to the time of year, a current season, or a recent or upcoming holiday is a great option. Offering guests a Christmas Martini, a Summer Sunset, or a Daylight Savings Slurry kick off the cocktail night with ease. These options are endless and simple to use.
Descriptive Name
Referencing ingredients, flavors, or the color can help tell guests know what to expect from the drink. A Citrus Sip, a Tipsy Tequila, or a Peach Whiskey Tea will tell the guest something about what they are about to consume.
Hint to Funny Story
My husband tells a great story about a run in with a bear. We have served a Black Bear Brew which led to the telling of the story many times that night.
As a child, my family would rent a houseboat called “Feels Good” on Lake Powell annually. When my family gets together now, I have to serve a Feels Good cocktail.
Pop Culture
Making a connection to a favorite book character, a recent movie or news story are also possibilities. The Top Gun Guzzle or the Utah Jazz Woozy are drinks that would add to a celebratory evening.
Puns and Themes
Playing off puns, riffing off traditional cocktail names, and using alliteration or rhymes can also add whimsy to a drink name. The Drink Floyd or a Beach Bum are great examples. If your party has a theme, start there. Pride party? I’ll take a Queer Cranberry Fizz.
Name cocktails can be fun. Make the name easy to say and easy to remember. Offering guests a description of the drink with its ingredients is an important step so guests know what they are drinking. There is so much fun in hosting a cocktail hour. Have fun creating the cocktails and take the time to give it the perfect name.
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