The Shower Diva: Where Fun Reigns!

Natalie Bovis-Nelsen, The Liquid Muse

Mixologist and inventor of Preggatinis™, Natalie Bovis-Nelsen, shares her thoughts on picking signature beverages for your next shower.

Signature cocktails – or their non-alcoholic siblings, Preggatinis™ – give an upscale air to your parties and help you set the mood for your shower theme. Your guests will love the special touch you’ve put into the occasion. Plus, you get to try some delicious drinks during the planning stages!

Coordinate Your Cocktails with Your Theme

Think about the theme, colors, and tone of your shower and explore drinks that will complement your event. Try out a few drink recipes beforehand, preferably with some of the food you’ll be serving to be sure your choices enhance the flavors of your menu.

Your choice glassware is another opportunity to express your style, as does the drink’s garnish.  Whether an edible flower floating on the surface of a cocktail in a martini glass, a sugar rim on a champagne flute or a pink umbrella in a hurricane glass, a sassy presentation enhances the festive mood.

Go Easy on the Sugar

Aim for a refreshing drink rather than one that’s overly sweet.  Syrupy cocktails are unpleasant to drink because they are not balanced in flavor and texture.

Also, keep in mind that too much sugar–and drinks with a high alcohol content–don’t mix well with hot weather either. If you’re planning a barbeque or back yard function, citrus-based cocktails or coolers are good choices.

Consider Your Food Menu

If you’re only serving appetizers, focus on cocktails with a lower alcohol content. For example, try wine-based cocktails, such as sangria.

If you’re only having a dessert bar, stay away from overly sweet or chocolaty drinks. A refreshing, fruity choice balances out sweet treats nicely.

Plan for a Variety of Beverages

If you’re featuring an alcoholic beverage, be sure to have interesting non-alcoholic choices for guests who don’t drink liquor, women who are pregnant, or people who have a long drive home.  In my book “Preggatinis™,” I offer “de-virginize for dad” tips throughout so that the same nonalcoholic cocktail recipe can easily be transformed into one with liquor for non-preggie imbibers.

Most people are most comfortable with vodka drinks, for example, because those are within their comfort zone of familiarity.  However, for the adventurous in your crowd, brown spirit-based (whiskey, cognac) drinks can be fun, too.

Mixology Tips

Stay away from pre-bottled drink mixes. They’re full of artificial ingredients and colors, and you can make much tastier, and more healthful, versions at home using fresh juices and quality liquors. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to make your own cocktails with freshly squeezed lime and simple syrup (sugar water) than using margarita mix, for instance, and there’s no comparison in taste.

Hot Cocktail Trends

Right now anything with Asian or Latin inspired ingredients are very popular, but if you’re having a backyard fling, try my Watermelon Cooler.

Make Plenty

Quantity-wise, plan for each guest having two of your featured drinks.  However, as a host you also need to keep an eye out for anyone who has had too much alcohol – so this is where a nonalcoholic cocktail comes in very handy.  It’s the perfect alternative to offer a guest.  Also, make sure you have plenty of clean glasses (so you don’t get stuck doing dishes in the middle of your party) and more ice than you think you’ll need.

Shake Up Your Expectations

Don’t be afraid to get creative. Mixing cocktails is not all that different than cooking. When we try a food recipe, we often experiment with different spices and flavors. You can do the same thing with beverages. An easy way to get started is to try different flavors of juice. Experimenting is one of the pleasures of exploring mixology. Have fun with it!

About Natalie Bovis-Nelsen:
As editor of TheLiquidMuse.com, mixologist Natalie Bovis-Nelsen bridges the gap between the spirits industry and the everyday female consumer by writing; teaching cocktail classes; hosting videos; and providing consultation to alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverage companies. She designs signature cocktails for celebrity events (including baby showers) and shakes and stirs audiences on TV and radio shows. Natalie is a pioneer in bringing high-end mixology philosophies to nonalcoholic cocktails as seen in her book the “Preggatinis™: Mixology for the Mom-To-Be" which features 75+ recipes. Her next book, “The Bubbly Bride: Your Ultimate Wedding Cocktail Guide,” is due out Fall 2009.