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Fundraising Favorites
Cashing in on the cash bar

Q: My volleyball team is having a fundraiser this month. We'll be serving beer and mixed drinks. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations for our bartenders? We have a book for them to look up drinks so they can get the mixtures right and they are practicing different things all of the time. Just wondering if there were certain drinks people generally ask for more than others?

-- Tracie Bauman

A: Sounds like you are going to have an exciting fundraiser. The best thing to do is create a menu for your guests. This will reduce bartender stress and provide people with a guide. Plus it will get the drinks out faster, allowing you to raise more money.

Menu: Develop the menu by first choosing several different cocktail bases or mixes. Some of these can be alcohol-free and marketed to designated drivers. I have provided some mix recipes below. Choose at least one citrus, one fruit and one chocolate recipe. Generally, the Margarita will be the most-requested drink, followed closely by the Daiquiri. Men are more likely to prefer a vodka-based citrus beverage or liquor straight up.

Spirit: Once you have selected your mixes, you can look into the spirits. Let's go with vodka, tequila and dark rum since they can be blended with just about anything. Tequila and rum are the base spirit in many tropical drinks including the Margarita and Daiquiri. Vodka is also a favorite mixer and the base for another popular drink, the screwdriver.

Blending: Bartenders combine 1 1/2 oz liquor per 3 to 5 oz of mixer. Keep a blender handy to make crushed ice and a separate container for cube ice. To make frozen, in shaker combine spirit, mixer and 1/2 to 1 cup crushed ice. Shake and pour into glass. For straight up and on the rocks, combine with ice cubes in shaker, strain into glass with or without ice.

Garnish: If you want to get fancy, find some maraschino cherries and cut up some lime, orange and lemon wheels. Margaritas are often served with a kosher salt rim. Daiquiris may be served with a sugar rim. Have the bartender ask preference. To garnish, rub rim of glass with lemon or lime and dip gently into plate with sugar or kosher salt.

Now back to that menu.

The menu would list nonalcoholic beverages, then vodka drivers, rum daiquiris and tequila margaritas, each served straight up, frozen or on the rocks.

Shopping: How much will you need? Each 750 ml bottle of spirit will serve about 16 cocktails. Every liter of mix will yield 7 five-ounce servings or 11 three-ounce servings. If you prefer, every gallon yields 25 five-ounce servings and 42 three-ounce servings. I have provided the mix recipes in parts so you can make them proportionately per liter or gallon.

Bulk Mix Recipes: Some tangy citrus recipes are Lemon Lime, Breeze and Sunrise. These work especially well with vodka and tequila. Sweet fruity mixes work best with rum. Try our Passion, Berry or Pina Colada combinations. Chocolate bases are great hot or cold, but not recommended with tequila. Chocoholic, Mint Chip and Mocha Mud are favorites.

Make and refrigerate these mixes ahead of time, anywhere from a day to an hour or so before, to reduce mess. Nothing is worse than a sticky bar stand!

Cheers!
Miss Cocktail