The drinks station is the starting point for the design of a casino themed event. It sets the tone for the rest of the event and provides the first element of entertainment. A well designed drinks station utilizes the principles of a good back bar in a small and simple setup. A successful drinks station sets the scene for the rest of the event by providing the first set of drinks for the evening. For the rest of the event, you provide the games, and guests supply the rest.
An online casino Ontario residents use can be a good resource for guests wanting to refresh their memory on the rules of blackjack, poker, or roulette before the event. These familiar games leave the host free to focus on the table and the drinks.
However, don't let the rules distract you. For the card games at the end of the evening, it is important that you devote your time to create an attractive drinks station at the start of the event. You'd be surprised at how easy it is to set up a great drinks station.
A well stocked bar has a core of five essential spirits. Beyond that, an endless shelf of bottles doesn't improve the bar. With bourbon, gin, vodka, white rum and blanco tequila as bases, modifiers are covered with a bit of vermouth (sweet and dry) and an orange liqueur (Cointreau) and some bitters (Angostura). Keep some perishables on hand. Keeping limes and lemons fresh and simple syrup in the house is easy, and a quality bag of ice goes further than most people realize.
A similar compactness is found in the tools. A shaker, jigger, and strainer (along with a bar spoon) cover the tools of the trade. It's easier to keep things tidy with a cobbler (or bartender's) shaker the first few times you tend bar, but it's better to keep a Boston shaker (a metal tin and a glass) in the long run.
The glass used in cocktail making can set the tone. Spirit forward cocktails benefit from being served in a rocks glass (and large ice). A coupe glass is great for cocktails with a strong aroma. A highball glass can help keep cocktails fizzy. For the long night, these three glasses (and a flute for bubbly) are enough.
Ice may be the most overlooked element in a good cocktail. Large ice cubes or large spheres may reduce dilution and keep your drink cold longer. Crushed ice is suited to different styles of drinks. Large format ice cubes can be made by freezing water in a silicone mold the day before.
The Sour family is very easy to remember. The ratio is two parts spirit, three-quarter part citrus, and three-quarter part sweet. Each sour cocktail has a different spirit so when you memorize one, you memorize them all!
To make a classic daiquiri combine 2 oz of white rum, 3/4 oz of fresh lime juice, and 3/4 oz of simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake for 10-15 seconds, then strain into a chilled coupe. For a variation, replace half of the simple syrup with mango purée.
The recipe for a classic margarita is 2 oz of blanco tequila, 1 oz of fresh lime juice, and 3/4 oz of Cointreau. Rim your rocks glass with a lime wedge and dip the rim into salt. Add a few ice cubes to the shaker with the other ingredients and give it a good shake. Strain into the prepared rocks glass and enjoy!
For something with a little more bite, try the Negroni. It's made with 1 ounce each of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, stirred over ice and strained into a rocks glass with a large ice cube. For extra flavour and aroma, express an orange peel over the drink and enjoy the change in flavours.
Daiquiris can also be made in bulk. Just combine the rum, lime juice and simple syrup. Refrigerate until chilled and add about 1 ounce of water per cocktail to account for dilution. The batch can be stored for a few hours. When ready to serve, pour the mix over ice.
All three of these drinks deserve the same respect as the alcoholic drinks on your menu.
Citrus Shrub Sour: In a shaker, add 2 oz of apple cider vinegar shrub (made by shaking equal parts apple cider vinegar, water and honey until the honey dissolves), 3/4 oz lemon juice, 3/4 oz simple syrup, and a short dash of Angostura bitters. Shake and strain into a coupe. Garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel.
Ginger Mule Royale. In a highball glass, add ice and top with 4 ounces of good quality ginger beer. Add 3/4 ounce of fresh lime juice and 1/2 ounce of elderflower cordial. Stir gently and add fresh mint as a garnish. Mint can be lightly crushed by pressing it between your palms beforehand.
Smoked Rosemary Lemonade. In a rocks glass, add ice. Add 2 ounces of fresh lemon juice, 1 ounce rosemary simple syrup (made by heating equal parts water and sugar with rosemary for five minutes, then straining), then top with 3 ounces of sparkling water. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and quickly pass a small flame over the herb for a smoked effect.
The base for the Ginger Mule Royale can be made ahead of time for a party of 8 by combining the lime juice and elderflower cordial. Let party guests top their drink with ginger beer. This will help retain the carbonation of the drink.
The level of effort a host puts in when preparing for casino night is evident in the decorations. A run of green cloth down the center of the table, some card suit shapes cut from black paper, and a few church candles can make a bigger impact than a box of store bought decorations. A bowl of cocktail snacks is always appreciated between drinks and gives guests something to do while they wait for the next round to be prepared.
Anticipate your guests" needs. Having pre-mixed drinks on a tray as guests enter makes for an impressive host and sets the tone for the party. The mingling aspect of a cocktail party should also be kept in mind as guests expect a drink in their hands. A cocktail made with fresh ingredients is a great alternative to the standard bar drink.
Blackjack is a simple card game and the simplest of the card games played at casino nights. One standard deck of cards is enough. Rotating the dealer role keeps everyone engaged. Keeping the stakes low allows the game to stay social. Poker chips can be bought and used for the game. A standard set of 300 chips is enough for a group of six.
Texas Hold'em rewards strategic thought and discussion between plays, with betting rounds and shared community cards. A felt table runner helps complete the look. Including dealer buttons and cut cards with mid-range chips helps organize the play without the need for a formalized tournament structure.
A portable roulette set with a wheel and a felt layout works well on a dining table. The slow periods in a game of roulette help facilitate social interactions and allow for stimulating discussions among guests who may not feel at ease playing more strategic games like Texas Hold'em.
In the end, the experience of playing together matters more than the material prize. Keep stakes low and the energy social.
Pick foods for a casino night. Food shouldn't take the focus away from the game. Choose bite-sized foods that won't require guests to clear the table between hands.
A charcuterie board of sliced meats and cheeses sets the tone for the event. Consider adding Brie, olives, and crackers to your board. You can serve fancier appetizers like crab cakes or smoked salmon. You could also serve lamb meatballs or pulled pork sliders later in the evening.
For a small group of 8, you may want to plan on 120-150 grams of charcuterie per person and 8-10 pieces of appetizers per person total for the night. You may also want to include one warm dish, with 2-3 pieces per person.
You may want to include a few other dishes to complement your charcuterie. A charcuterie board may not last throughout the event. With your charcuterie planning and other dishes, you may want to plan to have enough food to be generous with your guests and not have to worry about rationing the food throughout the event.
Planning out the elements of a casino night is important to make sure things run smoothly. Having the drinks prepared before the doorbell rings is important. Before the first hand is dealt, tables need to be set and chips counted. The drinks table setup creates a cocktail hour and offers guests an opportunity to sample the drinks and mingle. The card games come later and have their own set of rules.
Most important to the success of the party is the attention to detail in the drinks offered to the guests. Whether it's an old standby or a new creation, guests appreciate an effort to make a good drink. The Negroni, a Citrus Shrub Sour, or a Ginger Mule Royale all offer the host an opportunity to serve a drink that feels complete rather than a weak apology for what is missing.