From Poker Nights to the Halloween Party: 4 Autumn Cocktails for Cozy Gatherings

This post was written in collaboration with Acceleron Media

Sometimes, life can get lonely. Drowning in work, other responsibilities, and the general worries of life, we might forget the joy of pleasant company, of stretching out our legs and doing nothing in the company of loved ones.

We might long for cozy gatherings where you can relax and enjoy the beauties of life again: eat and laugh with extended family, drink with old friends again, play a poker game with your coworkers, and finally meet your cousin’s second husband.

If you’re considering organizing or attending one such gathering, it’s wise to think seriously about putting cocktails on the menu. Nothing is sure to brighten a social gathering up like a cocktail. Who doesn’t like cocktails? The splash of colors, the burst of flavors. Cocktails have been used to welcome guests and help people relax and socialize for centuries (they are believed to have originated in the 17th century).

They lift people’s moods and loosen their tongues (thanks to the layers of alcohol), making them ready to mingle.

Another great thing about cocktails is the many different types, from sours, which are acidic and sweet, to highballs, which are sour and served in tall glasses.

This article will highlight four cocktails that can go well for four different kinds of cozy gatherings.

Old Fashioned for a Poker Night

When talking about gatherings, we cannot skip the game of poker, which attracts so many people and becomes a good occasion for a friendly meet-up or a real challenge for an on-site or online competition. The popularity of the World Series of Poker reveals the fact that people enjoy not only games but also tournaments. So, if you are eager to organize your poker party, check out these 4 smart poker bluffs in WSOP history, develop your skills as a poker night host, and then take care of the right type of cocktail.

Poker is not just a high-tension, win-or-lose game. It can also be enjoyed by friends in a much-relaxed home setting, with little at stake. After all, it’s just a card game of logic that anyone can enjoy.

And no other cocktail can stand to the occasion of a night of poker games with friends than the good Old Fashioned cocktail. You can even guess from the name that it has a special air of class and sophistication. When guys come together to play poker, this is what they want to be drinking. With its mix of strong whiskey and bitters topped with only a hint of sweetness, it is an excellent match for the strategic and calculating nature of poker games.

In addition, there is the almost meditative ritual of muddling sugar cubes and bitters and stirring in whiskey before drinking. Old Fashioned is certainly the cocktail to set the mood for the game.

Ramos Gin Fizz for a Book Club Meeting

If you’re meeting with friends for a book club meeting, you probably want to try out this New Orleans-bred cocktail, Ramos Gin Fizz, made from gin, syrup, and orange flower water. It is named after the bartender credited with creating it in the late 1880s, Henry C. Ramos. He mixed raw eggs with cream to give the cocktail its signature foamy texture, a feat no one had accomplished until then.

That made Ramos Gin Fizz so popular that bars had to employ whole teams of bartenders to keep up with demands. This is a drink that matches the grandeur of literary conversations. The mere aroma of the cocktail, not to mention the flavors, will lift everyone’s mood.

Pomegranate Mojito for a Cooking Night

This type of gathering is not as frequent as others, but maybe the circle of your friends enjoys coming along and cooking an enjoyable meal together.

For a cooking night, try out some Pomegranate Mojitos, even if you are from the team Pomegranate Martini. Although both look exotic and can be preferred for different occasions, pomegranate Mojito can be a better choice especially when you don’t have much time since it is easy to make: Just mix the rum, lime, mint, and fizzy soda water, and you have your drink.

This is a classic Cuban cocktail. It replaces the sugar syrup of classic mojito with pomegranate juice to create a unique experience. The burst of red will create a lively atmosphere befitting the occasion of your cooking night. Your friends will be glad for the mint in the flavor as it cleanses their palates between bites.

Vampire’s Kiss for a Halloween Party

If your gathering is a Halloween Party, why not spice things up with a round of Vampire’s Kiss for everyone? Even the name fits the occasion; not to mention the color: blood-red. To make things even more spooky, you can have someone in a vampire costume serve the drink.

It is a sweet-tart drink with a steady stream of smoke and bubbling that can creep the hell out of you. There’s probably no cocktail that fits the occasion as much as this. Made with vodka and raspberry liqueur, this drink will surely be a delight!

Final Thoughts

It’s great to get out and hang out with people every once in a while. It can help us clear our heads and rejuvenate our minds. For some people, it might be the only safety from total despair.

When joining loved ones in a cozy gathering, a good liqueur can help to loosen us up for the occasion. Having cocktails available for everyone will do a great deal for the conversations as the night goes on.