Customizable Jello Shots

Few drinks say ‘party’ better than jello shots. Correctly made jello shots offer a fun way to get the party started. The key is to make the jello shots with high-quality vodka and to avoid using grain alcohol like Everclear. 

For extra flavor, try using flavored vodka. Combining vanilla vodka with peach jello creates peach cobbler flavored shots, while mixing lime vodka with cherry jello will give you shots that taste like cherry limeade. These options help mask the boozy taste and enhance the fruity tasting notes.

To make jello shots:

1. Put two cups of water in a saucepan
2. Add four packets of flavored gelatin to the water
3. Allow the mixture to stand for two minutes
4. Heat on low until the gelatin powder dissolves
5. Remove from heat and add two cups of room-temperature vodka 
6. Pour mixture into molds, shot glass, or small cups
7. Allow to set in the fridge
   

Choose flavored gelatin in the colors of his favorite sports team and make two batches. For example, if he is a diehard Chiefs fan, choose a red cherry and yellow lemon-flavored gelatin and a citrus-flavored vodka to match. 

You can pour one flavor into half the shot glasses or molds and the other flavor into the remaining glasses. If you want to create a layered effect with the colors, allow one to cool and set first, then add the other once it’s reached room temperature.

Memorable Margaritas

Margaritas are a sweet, salty, boozy treat that work perfectly for a bachelor party drink. They are a favorite in warm places, on the beach, and on hot summer days.

At its most basic, a margarita is tequila, orange liquor, and lime juice served in a glass with a salted rim. Margaritas are most commonly served blended, but you can serve them neat or on ice. 

You can alter the following basic margarita recipe to create a variety of delicious flavors. Simply grab a blender and add:

• ½ cup of frozen fruit (choose any the groom likes)
• 2 shots of tequila
• ⅔ of a shot of orange liqueur like Cointreau or triple sec 
• ¼ cup of simple sugar
• 1 cup of ice

Blend the mixture until it reaches a smoothie-like consistency. If you can, blend the drinks fresh at the party. You can also make them ahead of time, but remember the drinks will begin to melt if left out, so keep the drinks in the fridge or freezer until the party starts. 

This recipe works with several kinds of fruits for various tastes. The margarita is the perfect, refreshing treat to serve at a bachelor’s party.

Signature Cocktails That Highlight the Man of the Hour

One of the latest trends at weddings is a signature cocktail. Creating a signature cocktail involves combining the tastes and preferences of the newlyweds into one drink or selecting spirits that represent a notable characteristic of the couple. This trend is not just for weddings and can be the perfect approach for a bachelor’s party. 

The best way to approach this is to think about the groom. Does he have a type of liquor or drink he always prefers? Maybe he’s a whiskey man in the evenings and a coffee addict during the day. Perhaps he loves chocolate and candy and a nice gin and tonic in the summers. 

If he is well known for his tastes and drinking habits, both alcohol and non-alcoholic, you can make a cocktail that includes spirits he enjoys. 

You could also think about his personality and try to match it with a custom cocktail. If the groom is from Kentucky or Tennessee, you could make a whiskey or bourbon-based cocktail. Perhaps he is an avid St. Louis Cardinals or Milwaukee Brewers fan and would love a cocktail based on Budweiser or Miller beer. 

You could try to make this yourself, but short of a lot of trial and error, the nonprofessional mixologist will struggle to create something that isn’t rough on the taste buds. Talk to a bartender, preferably at a classy establishment, to see what they can concoct for your buddy.

If your groom is a regular at a bar, the bartender there would be your best bet, as they might already have something in mind. 

Stock a Bar for Your Inner Mixologist

Finding the right drinks for a party can be challenging. Long gone are the days when a keg of cheap beer and some bottom-shelf handles would be all you need. Nowadays, people have more refined tastes, so you’ll need to stock the bar with a wider variety of high-quality liquors. 

Instead of finding one drink that will be a hit with everyone, a solid plan is to stock a bar with several types of liquor so guests can mix drinks on their own

 

To stock a complete home bar, you will need:

• Basic liquors: Vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, tequila, brandy, bailey’s irish cream, Irish whiskey, rye whiskey, light rum, malibu coconut rum
• Liquors for flavor: Vermouth, orange liquor, Amaretto, coffee and cream liquor
• For more flavor: Crème de Cacao, Crème de menthe, Chambord, Drambuie, Benedictine, Frangelico
• For a splash: Bitters, Grenadine, simple syrup, Demerara Syrup, sour mix, hot sauce
• Mixers: Soda water, tonic, ginger ale, colas, lemon-lime soda, fruit juice, tomato juice, lime juice, lemon juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice
• Fruit garnishes: Lime, lemon, orange, olives

You will also need all the glasses, tumblers, shakers, bar spoons, and any other equipment you think your guest might want to mix their cocktails. 

Leave the bar open and let the guests go wild. This is the simplest and easiest way to suit every taste and ensure that even the pickiest drinker can find a cocktail they enjoy. You can also post a few basic cocktail recipes on a poster or recipe cards for guests to reference. 

Custom-Made Koozies are a Great Keepsake

Party favors at a bachelor’s party will always be a hit, and many options range from the risqué to G-rated. A classic beer koozie is a perfect bachelor party gift, and a customized beer koozie can be a great way to remember a fun night. 

Many novelty companies will allow you to make custom koozies for the occasion. It could be as simple as some text on a classic koozie, pictures on football jersey-shaped koozies with lots of text, or the names of everyone at the party. 

These koozies aren’t expensive and will be used for years by the party attendees, a great way to keep the memory alive and the party spirit going.

Have Fun Drink Decorations

Bachelor parties are often stereotyped as a bunch of guys at a sketchy bar doing shots. However, modern bachelor parties stray from this type of event and are more informal, relaxed, and tailored to the likes of the future groom.

Just because it’s not quite as crazy, it is still a party, and parties should have decorations. It doesn’t need to be fancy, but grab essentials like straws for cold cocktails, umbrellas for tropical drinks, and coasters for beers to make the party feel much more put together and unique than just another weekend night out. It’s often the little things that can make all the difference.

Here’s to the Groom

Every groom deserves the perfect bachelor party. The key to a memorable bachelor party is devoting the night to the groom and tailoring the party to his tastes and style. Make a custom cocktail, put up some decorations, and raise a glass to the groom-to-be!