Cocktails Cafe is thrilled to announce we’ve acquired VF Cocktail Hour Live! The only thing we enjoy more than tasty cocktails is a good cocktail party, so this acquisition was a no-brainer. We can’t wait to share all our cocktail party tips, tricks, and recommendations with VF readers so you can plan your very own cocktail hour.
Vanity Fair Cocktail Hour Live
Vanity Fair Cocktail Hour Live was a 3-night charitable event series put on by Vanity Fair. Big-name Hollywood stars joined the cocktail hour each night for discussions, performances, trivia, and more. The event was hosted by Vanity Fair editor and chief Radhika Jones, and funds were used to support the Hollywood community and the City of Los Angeles with Covid-19 efforts.
Each day of the event included different celebrities in the cocktail hour. Serena Williams, Michael B. Jordan, Amanda Seyfried, Julianna Moore, Kelly Rowland, and Paris Hilton were among the stars that participated in the VF event. The first night included a performance by Jon Batiste. Night two featured a game of Never Have I Ever with Emma Corwin, Kelly Sawyer, and Cecily Strong. Night 3 was a game night trivia challenge and panel discussion.
Not only did the cocktail hour support charitable causes, but it also gave viewers some much-needed entertainment during Covid-19.
VF Cocktail Hour Live Sponsors
The Vanity Fair Cocktail Hour Live event was sponsored by Lancome and three liquor companies. It just so happens that those three cocktail companies make some of our favorite products for making delicious cocktails too!
Grey Goose is one of the best non-Russian vodkas. It’s made in France, and we think it’s one of the best vodkas for martinis! It had a long finish with subtle almond notes that beautifully complement the flavors of any martini, but we especially love it for lemon drop martinis.
Cointreau was another sponsor for the event. Cointreau makes our favorite orange liqueur for margaritas. It’s light and bright and brings a strong orange flavor without being too sweet. Margaritas aside, we always keep our home bar stocked with Cointreau because it’s versatile for several different cocktails and shots with triple sec.
The final company that sponsored the vent was Don Julio. Don Julio is a top-shelf tequila brand that puts the spirit of Mexico in every delicious bottle. The conversation of Gold vs Silver tequila all comes down to personal preference, but real tequila lovers can appreciate every version of the spirit.
Don Julio Anejo is aged for 15 months, and the oaky flavor with notes of honey makes it one of the best tequilas for margaritas, even if it does have a steep price point. We tend to reach for blanco tequila for margaritas most of the time, and Don Julio is an excellent choice for that too!
Cocktail Parties
Here at Cocktails Cafe, we share Vanity Fair’s love for a great cocktail party and want to share that love with you. If you’re scratching your head wondering, “What is a cocktail party?” you’re in the right place!
A cocktail party is exactly what it sounds like; a party where cocktails are served. Cocktail parties can be as formal or informal as you like as long as it’s fun! Knowing what cocktails to serve is one of our top recommendations for a successful cocktail party. The best drinks for a cocktail party are drinks that taste good, look beautiful in the glass, and are easy to prepare.
Big-batch cocktails that can be made ahead of time are always a good option, but plenty of single-serving cocktail recipes can be made quickly for your guests too. Crowd-pleasing flavors made with higher-end spirits are sure to be the most popular cocktails at your party.
The first time we were invited to a cocktail party, one of the biggest unknowns was what to bring for the event. If you’re wondering what to bring to a cocktail party, a nice bottle of wine or fresh flowers is always a safe choice.
How To Host A Cocktail Party
Learning how to host a cocktail party is easier than you think! You don’t have to be an experienced host or event organizer to pull off an amazing cocktail party. The first step to a great party is learning how to write a cocktail party invitation.
The invitation should include relevant event details like the date, location, and time. Adding a cocktail party theme is a fun way to get guests excited and encourage a certain type of attire. For instance, we love the concept of a Great Gatsby theme where guests come in their best roaring 20’s inspired outfits. The internet is full of cocktail party theme ideas, so you don’t have to be creative to pick a good theme.
Once you’ve chosen a theme, you can incorporate that theme into your invitation design too! When it comes to determining what time a cocktail party should start and how long it should last, there is no right or wrong answer. Most cocktail parties start around 6 or 8 PM, but there’s nothing wrong with some daytime cocktails either!
If we’ve learned one thing from throwing our cocktail parties, having an end time is vital. By putting an end time on the invite, guests can make plans for after the party without feeling rude. As an added bonus, you won’t be stuck trying to usher out a guest who’s overstaying their welcome. Most cocktail parties last 2 to 3 hours. This gives guests enough time to try the cocktails and appetizers, socialize, and have fun without getting too intoxicated.
Choosing Food & Drinks for A Cocktail Party
Choosing cocktail party food and how many appetizers per person for a cocktail party is easier once you’ve chosen a theme. Keeping the cocktail party food on theme is not required, but it is a surefire way to impress your guests. As a general rule of thumb, we plan 12 appetizers per person RSVP’d for the party. Cocktail party apps have notoriously small servings, so 12 per person isn’t as much as it sounds like.
Another thing to consider is how many types of appetizers to serve for a cocktail party. We like to have at least 4 types of appetizers for guests to choose from, but you can have as many as you like. Appetizers can be prepared in your own kitchen before the party, or you can hire a caterer and save yourself the hassle.
Once you’ve nailed down what food you’ll be serving, it’s time to dig into the fun part – cocktails! Cocktails for a cocktail party should have as much visual appeal as they do great flavor. Serving different types of cocktails that go in different glasses will make the party feel more luxurious and well-planned.
Finding fun and unique wine glasses, large fishbowl glasses, and even Halloween-themed cocktail glasses is an extra step that’s not required, but it certainly adds to cocktail party decor in a functional way.
Don’t shy away from big-batch cocktails, either! Guests having the ability to refill their glass as needed versus you hand-crafting every drink is a game changer. You’ll have more time to socialize and spend much less time stressing behind the bar.
Cocktail Party Entertainment
Most of the time during a cocktail party is spent socializing, but you should have other entertainment planned too. This will prevent any awkward silences and boredom for your guests. Cocktail party games for adults can range from simple card games to trivia, karaoke, ladder golf, shot roulette, and more. Once again, think back to your party theme!
If you opt for a decade’s party (70’s, 80’s, ’90s), try finding a vintage game from that time period that will give your party some fun nostalgia! A murder-mystery theme can be interactive with a game that allows guests to be a detective, like To Catch A Killer.
In addition to fun party games, we always have a playlist queued up before the party begins. If you don’t want to spend time making your own playlist, there are pre-made playlists from other users on Spotify and Apple Music to match your desired party vibe.
Budgeting for Your Cocktail Party
Not every cocktail party needs to break the bank. Don’t get us wrong, it’s great to have a luxurious party from time to time, but it’s not always realistic. The good news is you can throw a cocktail party on a budget! If you’re working with limited funds, keep your guest list small. This means fewer people to make food and drinks for, which lowers the total cost.
You can also opt for mid-shelf liquor for cocktails if top-shelf is out of your price range. While we love premium liquor brands, we know you can make delicious cocktails at a fraction of the cost by choosing a more affordable liquor brand.
Cocktails Cafe is so excited to keep sharing cocktail party tips, recipes, and inspiration with more readers after acquiring VF Cocktail Hour Live! Every step of planning your dream cocktail party just got a whole lot easier.
