Some of my most creative food ideas are woven around cocktails. Every wedding needs an excellent variety of beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic.  At the minimum, full-service cocktail bars should be readily available adequately stocked (not to mention staffed) and waiters should be ready with trays of sparkling water as guests arrive. Adding a signature cocktail or a specialty beverage bar is just the cherry on the bar service sundae. {Above, my Watermelon Margarita; Below, my homemade Grappa shots.}

The real key in making any cocktail rock is to use fresh-squeezed or pressed juices, be it from a lime, watermelon, or cranberry. Fresh juice makes the most amazing-tasting and vibrantly colorful drinks, embellished with alcohol or not.  However, it’s often the accessories that bring my drinks to a whole new level. Like a fabulously detailed serving tray lined with herbs, flowers and sugar or a precisely cut watermelon wedge as seen above on my Watermelon Margarita. For many events, the signature drink or specialty bar are inspired by the bridal couple themselves, their interests, a favorite drink they shared while traveling or from a restaurant they enjoy.

My forte with signature cocktail bars is to highlight the ingredients, turning them into a part of the overall decor presentation of the event.  As seen above, one of my absolutely favorite cocktail bar presentations for weddings is a Sgroppino Bar. A long-standing summer cocktail that hails from Venice, Italy, the Sgroppino is a cross between a champagne cocktail and a dessert.  That’s right, this sexy cocktail is made with French champagne or prosecco, an Italian white wine — generally a Dry or Extra Dry sparkling wine — normally made from Glera (“Prosecco”) grapes.  A Sgroppino has a frozen frothiness to it and is fantastic with a little Limoncello Liqueur drizzled over the top!  I like to whisk large batches of Sgroppinos in a large iced copper bowl right in front of wedding guests, the action (and result!) always draws a crowd.  Below, my delicious Mint Martinis are the kind of beverage that when served to guests as the arrive at a wedding on a hot summer day, leaves them refreshed and ready to enjoy the celebration!  Salut! Peter Callahan of Peter Callahan Catering