2019Q2SpiritedVA - 27

More Signature Tips
To ensure the success of your signature cocktail and your event:
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Try the recipe beforehand and tweak as needed.
Hire a bartender who can not only prepare the drinks but can also help keep drinking from getting out of hand.
For a party, reception or other large gathering, consider mixing all or some of the ingredients ahead of time in
bulk batches.
Offer other beverages, too. The Poppes offered Prosecco to guests upon their arrival ("with a nod to my
consumption preferences," says Katie). The Stovers offered macro and local craft beers, wines and their
preferred spirits with basic mixers.
Don't forget to provide plenty of water and non-alcoholic beverages.
Save the recipe in a safe place for future use, like for a milestone anniversary party!
And finally, enjoy the accolades. For Katie and Michael Poppe, their signature drink was the reception's mostconsumed beverage - "by a long shot!" -AT

MANHATTAN
▷ 2 1/2 OZ. RYE WHISKEY
▷ 1 DASH BITTERS
▷ 3/4 OZ. SWEET
VERMOUTH
▷ ICE
▷ CHERRY
▷ ORANGE PEEL

Combine vermouth,
whiskey, bitters and ice in
a cocktail glass and

stir gently. In a separate
cocktail glass, fill with ice,
add a cherry and strain in
the whiskey mixture. Rub
the cut edge of an orange
peel over the rim of the
glass and twist over the
drink to release oils, but
do not drop in.

"We chose a signature drink
that represented both of us and
our favorite drinks we enjoy
preparing at home," the Stovers
recall. "We thought it would be
a fun way to connect with our
guests, and we also hoped to get
some people to branch out and
try something new."
They combined their two
favorite cocktails, the Manhattan
for Kristen and Rye Old
Fashioned for Lawson. The new
drink used Bulleit bourbon,
Martini & Rossi sweet vermouth,
Angostura bitters, orange peel
twist and brandied cherries,
stirred and served on the rocks.
The cherries added another
tailored twist.
"Lawson makes these amazing
brandy- and vermouth-soaked
dried cherries that work great
as a delicious, sweet and boozy
garnish that helps cut through
the burn of the bourbon," says
Kristen.
A Virginia-based magazine, V
Magazine for Women, created
a cocktail for an anniversary
reception using cranberry
juice (as a nod toward health),
pineapple juice (a symbol of

SPIRITED VIRGINIA | APRIL | MAY | JUNE 2019 27

2019Q2SpiritedVA

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