Everybody thinks they can make an amazing cocktail. It seems easy: a dash of vodka, a shiny cocktail shaker, some lemon zest.
But it doesn’t take much for it to go sour. After all, you can’t fish the triple sec out of a margarita if you go too far. That’s why professional bartenders are in such high demand, and we clocked a 120% increase in spirits-focused events last year.
At Eventbrite, we support innovative event organisers worldwide to plan and run cocktail parties that guests never want to leave. You have a unique chance to connect thirsty partygoers with those master mixologists — and we want to help you create the ultimate cocktail bash.
In this guide, we’ll explain why organising a cocktail party is a great business move and share some winning ideas to create one-of-a-kind party entertainment.
COCKTAIL PARTY IDEAS
Ideas to streamline your cocktail party setup
Cocktail party themes your guests will love
Cocktail party entertainment ideas to get guests up and moving
Ideas to streamline your cocktail party setup
If you’re going to create a cocktail party that truly wows, you’ve got to put a lot of thought into the basics.
To help you get started, we’ve rounded up a few top tips that will get your party bubbling.
1. Build your cocktails menu around your event theme
Create cocktails around an event theme to offer guests drinks they won’t find anywhere else.
That’s what Fortnum & Mason did for their Christmas Cocktails with the Campari Group event. This festive mixology event centred its cocktail menu around Christmas drinks, showing attendees that Campari can do more than Aperol Spritz!
2. Create a pairing menu that unites drinks with snacks
Work closely with your catering team to pair dishes or snacks with your cocktails. This gives you a chance to collaborate with local chefs and create an unworldly menu.
Fortnum & Mason hosted another event, Mother’s Day Tasting with Fortnum’s Wines & Spirits Team, where they enjoyed outstanding food pairings between their selection of wines and savoury snacks, perfect for mother’s day.
3. Use event marketing tools to target the right people
Cocktail events aren’t everybody’s cup of tea. With the right marketing tools, you can ensure you promote your party to the right people, increasing your chances of selling tickets.
For example, with Eventbrite Marketing Tools, you can target people on social based on their interests, demographics, and browsing behaviour and show them personalised ads to boost ticket sales.
4. Design your event format and layout to get people mingling
To create a smooth experience for your party guests, you’ve got to design your event layout the right way.
Using a platform like Eventbrite, you can create custom table arrangements. These arrangements make the venue look more inviting to guests, creating a comfortable atmosphere and nudging them to talk to each other.
5. Plan your staff and supplies carefully
For your cocktail party to go right, you need to work your way through your event planning checklist so you don’t forget the important stuff.
That means providing enough clean glasses and cocktail napkins, ordering the alcohol supplies (and cocktail flourishes), and briefing your staff so they know what they’re doing!
One way to ensure you and your staff scale your operations correctly is to use a ticketing partner. With Eventbrite, you’ve always got accurate, real-time sales and check-in numbers, so you can adapt your supplies and staffing accordingly.
6. Include fun cocktail party activities
Engage your guests with interactive activities that complement your cocktail theme.
A mixology contest or a cocktail-making workshop. These activities not only add an element of entertainment but also encourage guests to mingle and enjoy the unique spirit of your event. It’s a great way to make your cocktail party memorable and talk about it long after the last glass is clinked.
Cocktail party themes your guests will love
Themes are a great way to set apart your event, but we know it can be tricky to come up with a fun theme. That’s why we’ve handpicked our favourites to inspire you:
7. Mixology masterclass
Difficulty: 🍸
Staff requirement: 🍹🍹
Cost: 🥃🥃
Hosting a mixology masterclass is a great way to get your guests interacting and teach them something new.
You can even align your masterclass with a seasonal theme like event organiser Ghandis – The Trailer Drinks Company did for their Halloween Pottery Painting & Cocktail Night.
💡Pro tip: People love supporting local vendors, so partner with local distilleries for a masterclass on local spirits and fresh ingredients. You can also provide discounts or handouts for purchasing these ingredients.
8. Sip and paint party
Difficulty: 🍸🍸
Staff requirement: 🍹
Cost: 🥃
“Sip and paint” parties are a fantastic way to let guests exercise a bit of creativity while enjoying some world-class drinks.
Eventbrite organiser Sip N’ Stroke adds a fun, party element by playing RnB music and encourages dancing to let their attendees’ creative juices flow.
💡Pro tip: Make sure you tag participating artists’ profiles to maximise your reach and build a sense of excitement around your event.
9. Black-tie elegant cocktail party
Difficulty: 🍸🍸
Staff requirement: 🍹🍹🍹
Cost: 🥃🥃
The black-tie dress code is perfect for an elegant cocktail party of any size. You can accompany your cocktail menu with fancy hors d’oeuvres — and the missing ingredient is musical entertainment.
💡Pro tip: Want to make your cocktail guests feel like VIPs? Create reserved seating using Eventbrite. You can then build your catering service around your seating arrangements to provide table service.
10. Yoga and cocktails party
Difficulty: 🍸
Staff requirement: 🍹🍹
Cost: 🥃
This is a fun and quirky cocktail party that your guests will be talking about for years to come.
Just look at event organiser HM Creative & Co and their Yoga and Cocktail Making Night – Workshop. Two-and-a-half hours of rejuvenating yoga, delicious appetisers, and craft cocktails? Sign us up.
💡Pro tip: If you’re planning something unusual like a cocktail yoga party, post behind-the-scenes content on social media ahead of time to give followers a taste of what to expect.
11. Singles cocktail party
Difficulty: 🍸🍸
Staff requirement: 🍹🍹
Cost: 🥃🥃
Cocktails are the perfect way to get singles mingling.
That’s what event organiser Secrets I Tell My Stylist did for her recent Dating Cocktail Party: The Ultimate Singles Event. Create a unique drink list, set your event space up with lots of intimate spaces, and watch sparks fly. You can also double your singles cocktail party with a seasonal theme.
💡Pro tip: Cocktails loosen people up, but entertainment and interactive party games can help break the ice. If you’re looking for some interactive ideas for cocktail parties, we’ve got you covered.
12. Interactive cocktail experience
Difficulty: 🍸🍸🍸
Staff requirement: 🍹🍹🍹
Cost: 🥃🥃
Want to do something decidedly different at your cocktail party? You can create an interactive experience. For example, you can create a jailbreak experience where guests have to solve puzzles to break free (and enjoy some cocktails along the way).
💡Pro tip: Utilise a ticketing partner like Eventbrite, which you can integrate with your Mailchimp account to create slick, automated emails to your guests.
13. Roaring Twenties speakeasy
Difficulty: 🍸
Staff requirement: 🍹🍹
Cost: 🥃
Transport your party guests back to the Roaring Twenties- and get the drinks flowing as Boringdon Hall Hotel did in their Murder Mystery ‘The Speakeasy’ event, serving attendees delicious cocktails as they solve a murder.
This themed cocktail party is ideal for rustic or heritage venues, and it’s easy to pair with a live band for added flair.
💡Pro tip: To create a fully immersive experience, craft a cocktail experience that matches your 1920s theme. Think old fashioneds, G&Ts, and lots of bourbon.
14. Charity gala cocktail event
Difficulty: 🍸🍸🍸
Staff requirement: 🍹🍹🍹
Cost: 🥃🥃🥃
Cocktail parties are a brilliant way to get people to support a good cause.
That’s exactly what Vet2Cat did for their Cat Cocktail Party event. You could even use your charity cocktail event to piggyback existing holiday themes or seasonal events.
💡Pro tip: Planning a charity gala? Focus on having quality event staff. Ensure you have enough team members to run the show and everybody on your event team is well-trained.
15. Tropical cocktail party
Difficulty: 🍸
Staff requirement: 🍹🍹
Cost: 🥃
Some of the most popular cocktails centre on tropical flavours, so why not plan your whole event around tropical cocktails?
This theme is ideal for outdoor venues and cool summer party nights.
💡Pro tip: A tropical drink menu is a must for this theme, but don’t forget some quirky entertainment to create an ambience. Think limbo or hula contest, fire eaters, and steel drums.
16. Cocktails and drag
Difficulty: 🍸🍸
Staff requirement: 🍹🍹🍹
Cost: 🥃🥃
You can’t go wrong with a bit of drag when planning a cocktail party.
For best practices, check out FunnyBoyz UK and their Extravagant Drag Queen Cocktail MasterClass. This includes a stellar comfort food line-up, holiday cocktails, and entertainment from a true drag star.
💡Pro tip: Even if you don’t have a stage, create a performance area in your venue so your drag artists are centrally placed. You can plot your tables and drinks service around them so that all eyes are on the main act.
17. Cocktail championships
Difficulty: 🍸🍸
Staff requirement: 🍹🍹
Cost: 🥃
Give your guests a chance to have their voices heard by hosting a signature cocktail competition.
Invite local mixologists to create their own signature drink, then let guests vote for their favourite option for the ultimate tasting experience.
💡Pro tip: Don’t want to litter your venue with ballot papers and pens? Use a freemium app like SurveyMonkey so your guests can vote for the most delicious drinks using smartphones.
Cocktail party entertainment ideas to get guests up and moving
Themes are a brilliant way to engage with your cocktail party guests. But there are also other worthwhile tactics to inject festive spirit into your cocktail party.
Here are a few of our favourites.
18. Hire a big band
Difficulty: 🍸🍸
Staff requirement: 🍹
Cost: 🥃🥃🥃
A big band is the perfect accompaniment for a formal cocktail party. For example, look at the Wargrave Festival’s The BBO Big Band Show.
With a huge brass band, festive tunes, and plenty of cocktails, this is the perfect way to get guests on the dance floor.
💡Pro tip: A dedicated entertainment agency takes the pain out of hiring professional entertainment for an event. A good agency will be experienced in supplying entertainment for all kinds of events and can be a trusted adviser throughout your event planning process.
19. Use actors to create an immersive experience
Difficulty: 🍸🍸
Staff requirement: 🍹
Cost: 🥃🥃🥃
By collaborating with a theatre troupe, you can build a play around your event and even involve guests in the entertainment.
💡Pro tip: Try contacting a local or regional talent agency as a first port of call. They’ll pair you with suitable entertainers to save you time and energy.
20. Serve drinks using an ice bar
Difficulty: 🍸🍸🍸
Staff requirement: 🍹
Cost: 🥃🥃🥃
An ice bar is the perfect centrepiece for any cocktail party. It’s unusual, entertaining, and a visually stunning centrepiece.
Elevate your event by taking your ice bar outside and pairing it with local food trucks.
💡Pro tip: Build your cocktail menu around the ice bar theme so your mixed drinks naturally complement your showstopper. Spoiler: everything will end up “on the rocks.”
21. Pair your cocktails with side-splitting comedians
Difficulty: 🍸
Staff requirement: 🍹🍹
Cost: 🥃🥃
If you’re looking for a great way to loosen up party guests, rope in a few comedians to do a stand-up performance during your cocktail event.
That’s exactly what The LAB Cocktail Bar Cambridge has on the bill for their Comedy at The LAB event.
Handcrafted cocktails and a full-blown comedy show? Sign us up.
💡Pro tip: A comedy cocktail event is a perfect opportunity for your bar staff to create some whacky signature cocktails to fit in with your fun theme and get people laughing. Top them off with pun-tastic names, and don’t forget to have alcohol-free alternatives!
22. Collaborate with a local club to create a fusion event
Difficulty: 🍸🍸
Staff requirement: 🍹🍹
Cost: 🥃
Want to create a cocktail party with a difference? Collaborate with a local interest or community group to organise a unique fusion event.
💡Pro tip: Want to link up with local groups to talk about potential collaborative parties? Connect with event organisers by searching on Eventbrite. You can find all types of events, find out how to contact them, or even attend their events to see if your vibes match.
Shake up your cocktail party ideas
Cocktail parties are in high demand right now, and there are loads of unique event ideas for you to create a memorable night for your guests (at least the ones who drink responsibly).To make your cocktail party planning smooth and sell more tickets, team up with a partner like Eventbrite that can help you market your event to the right people, manage your ticketing, and integrate with a range of apps to engage with potential attendees.
