5. Let Guests Mix Their Favorites
First, Some Ice Advice
It’s summer. It’s hot. Make sure you have at least one bag, or two trays, of ice for every five guests per hour. And the bigger the ice cubes the better, since they’ll melt more slowly.
Break Out the Basics
Stock the bar with a classic, impossible-to-hate gin, vodka, whiskey, and liqueur, along with nonalcoholic options, like sparkling water and soda.
Focus on Easy Cocktails
A whiskey sour is pretty damn tough to screw up, and just about impossible to dislike. Combine a shot of whiskey, like Dewar’s, and a splash of lemon juice with simple syrup and ice. Shake, strain into a glass, and add a lemon slice. Simple, right?
Serve a Knockout Punch
Add 2 cups of Pimm’s to a bowl along with 1 cup cucumber simple syrup. (Let 2 cups water, 1 cup sugar, and sliced cucumber steep overnight in an airtight container; strain.) Add 1⁄4 cup Fernet-Branca and a bottle of sparkling wine. Garnish with a few sprigs mint and sliced lemons and oranges. Pour over ice. Voilà.
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