I was recently at a nice summer barbecue, and of the, oh 10 people there, there were two couples getting married within the next two weeks! We’re certainly in the middle of wedding season, which means that not only a lot of lives are changing, but also a lot of folks will be bringing new people into their families. And if you want to make a great impression, I suggest serving up a fun and tasty drink for your new in-laws. The below four beverages will help set things off on the right cocktail footing (oh, these also all make dandy signature drinks at weddings, too).
1. Listen to Your Elders
Serving this effervescent beauty shows not only that you have good taste, but also that you’re not a know-it-all. It was created by my knowledgeable pal Rebecca, and I like it so much that the recipe was printed in Good Spirits. Oh, one hint: If you can find edible flowers (don’t just grab whatever’s pretty in the backyard though, as it might make a poor impression as well as a stomach ache), they make a nice garnish here.
Cracked ice
1-1/2 ounce Hendricks gin
1/2 ounce Elderflower syrup
Chilled Champagne
1. Fill a cocktail shaker or mixing glass halfway full with cracked ice. Add the gin and the syrup. Stir well.
2. Strain the mix into a cocktail glass. Top with chilled Champagne.
2. Blushing Bride
Being romantic and even a touch affectionate with your spouse-to-be around the in-laws is not such a bad thing. A little blushing moment is okay. But keeping it to just that and no more when the in-laws to be are around is how you should operate in this pre-and-just-after-the-wedding situation (and probably always). This drink from Dark Spirits helps underscore your sense of propriety, which is a sense in-laws appreciate. Photo from Dark Spirits, and copyright 2012 Harvard Common Press and Melissa Punch.
6 fresh raspberries
3 lime wedges
Ice cubes
2 ounces Cognac
1 ounce vodka
1/2 ounce Simple Syrup
1. Put the raspberries and 2 of the lime wedges into a cocktail shaker. Using a muddler or wooden spoon muddle well
2. Fill the cocktail shaker halfway full with ice cubes. Add the Cognac, vodka, and simple syrup. Shake in a celebratory manner.
3. Strain the mix into a cocktail glass through a fine strainer. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge.
3. Your Favorite Aunt
Don’t forget, entertaining the in-laws is all about developing those family bonds that will be a part of your life forever after the nuptials are nuptialed. Serving a drink (in this case another one from Good Spirits) that demonstrates how you revere family and family ties is sure to get you a check in the “good choice” box.
Ice cubes
1 ounce gin
1 ounce brandy
1 ounce sweet vermouth
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 ounce Simple Syrup
Cherry for garnish
1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway full with ice cubes. Add the gin, brandy, vermouth, juice, and simple syrup. Shake well, thinking fondly of every relative in the room.
2. Strain into a large cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.
4. Godfather
There are all kinds of families one can marry into–and all are interesting with their own personalities (yep, even families have them). If you happened to be marrying in to one with a very strong patriarch, a patriarch who may at one point make you an offer you cannot refuse, well, then you should recognize this, and make this drink on the very first meeting.
Ice cubes
2-1/2 ounces bourbon (stay local with Woodinville Whiskey Co. bourbon)
1 ounce amaretto
1. Fill an old fashioned or similarly-sized glass three-quarters full with ice cubes. Add the bourbon, by itself (it deserves the respect).
2. Add the amaretto. Stir three times.
This article originally appeared on seattlemag.com