Temperatures are dropping and wedding bells are ringing! Summer tends to be a more popular time of year for weddings, but living in Southern California, we get incredible weather for the majority of the year! In fact, a summer wedding may not be the best option for some couples since temperatures tend to run high. Spring, fall and especially the winter season are beginning to gain popularity, and couples have more options to be creative as they plan their big day. Making cocktails for Winter are great for that!
As we enter the winter season and the SoCal weather finally starts to cool off, we’re excited for the holiday celebrations we’ve got coming up. As we put together creative finishes on our upcoming menus, we want to share some inspiration to show how fun a winter wedding could be! We all know that weddings are exciting, but they’re always more fun with an open bar and some creative signature cocktails. When planning a winter celebration your signature cocktails should include the flavors of the season! A traditional mojito or whiskey drink is satisfying, but it’s so much more fun to select creative and playful signature cocktails for a winter wedding! Whether you choose to plan a local wedding with mild weather, or you opt for a destination wedding with a dreamy snowy landscape, there’s much to love about winter weddings, and here are a few incredible signature cocktails we’re sure guests will enjoy!
Our Incredible Signature Cocktails Include:
Mulled White Wine
Sangria is for spring and summer; mulled wine is for fall and winter! This mulled white wine mixture is brewed with fruit, spices, herbs and a kick of brandy – making it a seriously delicious signature cocktail that can easily be made in big batches! Here’s what you need:
- 2 tsp. black peppercorns
- 2 tsp. whole cloves
- 1 (750-ml) bottle of white zinfandel
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 small bunch sage
- 1 small bunch thyme
- 2 tbsp. juice from one lemon, and the rind
- 1 cup brandy
- 1 ripe pear, thinly sliced
To put this recipe together you will want to stir the ingredients together and simmer over low heat in a medium pan for ten minutes. Strain out the peppercorns and cloves and return the mixture to the saucepan to stir in the pear slices and simmer for another eight to ten minutes.
Irish Coffee
Is there anything better than hot coffee spiked with the nutty flavors of Irish whiskey? Serve this signature cocktail with desert to ensure your guests leave satisfied and happily buzzed (remind them to take a cab home if they’re drinking!). Here’s what you need for this delicious cocktail:
- Coffee
- 1 oz. Irish whiskey
- 1 tsp. brown sugar
- Whipped cream
- Cinnamon or chocolate powder for topping
To prepare, have the bartender brew hot coffee and pour it into mugs. Then simply add in the whiskey and brown sugar and decorate with a dollop of whipped cream and choice of powdered topping!
Raspberry Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail
Champagne is a MUST at every wedding, and this fun cocktail is a sweet and festive way to add a twist to the traditional beverage. Here’s what you need:
- Pomegranate juice
- Raspberry sorbet
- Chilled champagne
- Pomegranate seeds
This deliciously dangerous cocktail is best served in frosty glasses, so tell your bartender to plan ahead! To put this together add 2 tablespoons of pomegranate juice to the bottom of the glass, add a few small scoops of raspberry sorbet and top with pomegranate seeds. Top each glass with chilled champagne and enjoy!
Rosemary Bourbon Fizz
This sparkling cocktail is refreshing and delicious! All you need is some rosemary, lemons, sugar, ginger ale and your favorite bourbon. To bring it all together use a twig of rosemary, a small squeeze of lemon and one teaspoon of sugar and muddle it well in a cocktail shaker. Once it’s done, add ice cubes and one ounce of bourbon and shake it up really well. Pour the mixture into old fashioned glasses prepared with extra ice and top it off with ginger ale. Garnish the cocktail with a sprig of rosemary and a lemon twist and say cheers!
As you can probably see – the options can be truly endless when picking out a signature cocktail for your winter wedding. Whether the beverage is hot or cold, sweet or sour, flat or fizzy – it’s sure to be a hit and will have your guests dancing all night long! If you’re looking for more menu inspiration check out our catering services for various options. We would also be happy to help you pick out the perfect southern California wedding venue for your big day. Contact us to learn more about our services or to request a quote – we look forward to helping you plan your big event!
