Signature cocktails to bring a touch of artistry to your special day.

When it comes to saying 'I do,' it's not just about the vows; it's about toasting to a lifetime of love and laughter. While beer on tap and bottles of wine are always crowd-pleasers, introducing signature cocktails can elevate your celebration. Liam Peterson from Pocket Ace Bartending shares his expertise on how to personalise your experience that will leave your guests raising their glasses for more.

What are the most popular cocktails you’ve created, and why were they a hit?

Popular cocktails can become a hit for various reasons. Some of these may be accessibility of flavours, brand recognition, colour and presentation, or even the name – the list goes on. Take both the Guava Iguana and Mr Jerry Hurricane for example; both created by Pocket Ace Bartending for the Yeppoon cocktail bar, Mr Jerry. These cocktails are popular for different reasons. The Guava Iguana’s flavours consist of guava syrup and lychee liqueur, paired with vodka and balanced out with citrus. We also use a foamer for texture and rose petals as a garnish. This combination creates a very sweet, pink, and elegant cocktail that is an all-around crowd pleaser. With beautiful presentation, the Guava Iguana’s success is also due to the popularity of guava and lychee, alongside vodka being the most popular spirit currently.

The Mr Jerry Hurricane gets its popularity for slightly different reasons. The first being brand recognition. This tropical cocktail includes Sailor Jerry’s spiced rum which is a widely recognised brand paired with familiar ingredients such as orange juice, pineapple juice, and ginger beer. A mild take on a classic cocktail, the Mr Jerry Hurricane is easy to enjoy, yet not too sweet. This is what makes it so versatile, and thus, a true hit among customers.

However, even with all these factors dictating the popularity of a cocktail, sometimes it can be unpredictable. For example, in 2022 the Negroni Sbagliato rose to fame after being mentioned in a celebrity interview. The Negroni Sbagliato is not a particularly accessible drink: it is bitter and dry - two flavours that are not in vogue right now and yet it exploded in popularity. That is to say, truly any cocktail can become popular given the right circumstances.

What are some of your preferred spirits?

We work a lot with Reef Distillers who are based in Yeppoon on the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Their selection of award winning spirits are crafted using copper stills and filtered though charcoal with all botanicals used either certified organic or spray free. They also work with local farmers to use fresh and seasonal produce. One of our favourite blends is the Fingerlime Botanical Vodka that is distilled and infused with fingerlimes from Salty Lime & Co.

How can you incorporate a wedding theme or couple’s preferences into the cocktails?

When it comes to wedding cocktails, the couple’s preferences come first. They will usually request at least one custom cocktail. Perhaps a cocktail they have had at a bar previously, or even a list of flavours and spirit/s for us to work with and create a cocktail experience truly unique to them. Sweet classics are also commonplace: the Espresso Martini is a must at most weddings. Sparkling wine cocktails are usually present too due to celebratory nature of bubbles.

Are there any seasonal ingredients or trends you’d recommend for wedding cocktails?

We love to play with seasonal ingredients, although at weddings this can be difficult due to the availability of ingredients or restrictions resulting from high volume ordering. This is something we usually stick to at cocktail bars and let the couple decide on what spirits and flavours they would like us to use. However, we do like to stick with ingredients that can be associated with themes of love and celebration. Symbols like roses and sparkling wine and more broadly, pink, red or white coloured garnishes and ingredients are always kept in mind.

Customisation

Can you suggest a cocktail for each of these categories: sweet, citrusy, and bold?

Sweet: Pornstar Martini

Sour: Daiquiri

Bold: Old Fashioned

How can we balance flavours to appeal to a wide range of guests?

Customization is at the forefront of what we do. We tend to go for the sweeter side of things as this is the most popular choice. However, we also have all the tools at our disposal to customize cocktails to be appealing to different guests. Whether they like it sweeter or more sour for example, we can easily change this upon request.

Presentation and Experience

How important is presentation, and what garnishes would you suggest to elevate the drinks?

Presentation is second only to taste, texture and temperature of a drink. Garnishes tend to match the theme of the event or cocktail. Cohesion is important. For example, a wedding cocktail may feature roses while a tiki cocktail will usually feature a tropical garnish such as an umbrella or perhaps one of the fruits that is present in the cocktail – pineapple leaves for a cocktail with pineapple juice. It is important to note that a garnish should add to a drink, not take away from it. It should also not affect functionality. Ultimately, cocktails are made for drinking and if a garnish gets in the way of you taking a sip, it may not be ideal for that cocktail.

Can you create cocktails with interactive elements (e.g., smoke, bubbles, or DIY garnishes)?

Interactive elements of cocktails can add an extra layer of enjoyment to a cocktail but require consideration based on the event or venue. At a large wedding for example, there is a lower level of interactive elements limited by volume as more complex elements require more time that is not available in such a setting. Half-salted rims and fairy floss garnishes are common at weddings due to their simplicity while still offering a level of interaction for guests. While at a bar, you may find more intricate elements such as smoke bubbles and dry ice. At our masterclasses we like to give guests full creative control on their cocktails. For example, how sweet or sour their creation is, and a garnish station for individuality and personal expression. All in all, interactive elements are always present but very situational.

Do you have ideas for naming the cocktails to make them unique to the couple?

Often couples may have their own ideas for naming cocktails which is the norm most of the time. On occasion they may also name one cocktail after the bride and another after the groom. It is very dependant on the couple and we love to use their ideas as much as possible to make their special day memorable and unique to them as possible.

Practical Considerations

What cocktails would you suggest for a high-volume setting like a wedding reception?

We love to use our favourite guava and lychee combo for high volume settings. We often pair this with soda or lemonade for refreshing fizzy take on that recipe. Prebatching is absolutely

essential for high volume events. An easy way to manage this is the use of high volume water carriers which allows us to batch upwards of 20 litres of cocktail; essentially ready to serve.

How do you recommend ensuring the cocktails remain consistent throughout the evening?

Management of stock is key in keeping drinks consistent throughout the night. We ensure our batched cocktail levels remain above par along with a steady flow of ice to cool drinks and any other additional mixers and garnishes are continuously stocked up. These factors allow us to make consistent, tasty and, aesthetic drinks with ease the whole night through.

Final Details

Are there specific glassware or serving styles that would complement the cocktails?

We usually choose glassware for two main reasons. One, to match the aesthetic or theme of the drink. For example, an elegant drink with a small volume would likely be served in a stemmed Nick & Nora glass. Two, the volume of the drink. For example, a tiki cocktail like The Zombie would be served in a high volume glass such as a Brandy Balloon or Hurricane Glass due to its high number of ingredients and volume.

Would you provide a recipe for the couple to take home as a keepsake?

We often create custom menus for our events which the couple, and anyone else who would like one as a keepsake, are more than welcome to take home. During the planning and discussion phase with the couple, we send through a final list of cocktails along with their ingredients and measurements as a form of memorabilia and even recreate part of their special day in the future.