The Long Road Distillers Guide to Batching Your Cocktails (with Recipes)
Win your Big Game watch party by batching your cocktails. Leave your guests saying, “Batch, please!”
It’s party time. Your guests are knocking on the door, and you’re still frantically running around with the Mrs. Meyers and paper towels, trying to get every surface of your home game-ready. Your oven is beeping (the buffalo chicken dip is done), and your kids are flying around like extras from a Mad Max movie.
Good thing the cocktails are already prepared
Long Road’s got you covered – you batched your cocktails last night. They’re neatly labeled in the fridge and ready to serve.
Batching your cocktails means less work on the day of your party. Your counter will stay clean. No red drips from an errant dash of bitters. Your jigger and cocktail shaker can rest easy in your bar cart.
Cut your garnishes a few hours before your party. Store them in a sealed container in your fridge, and you have one less thing to worry about.
Batch your cocktails for the Big Game (or any party)
With the Big Game just days away, we’ve assembled this guide that covers everything you need to know to whip up world-class batched cocktails. Work out the kinks in your batching game this year – here at Long Road, we fully anticipate a Detroit Lions Super Bowl appearance next year. You’ll want to perfect your batching skills before then.
While the Big Game is one reason to batch cocktails, this guide is evergreen. Make your next backyard barbeque, camping trip, or poker night effortless. Batched cocktails are the perfect solution for large parties because they allow you to interact with your guests (or just watch the game).
Take pride in your cocktails and win your party
You know us. We admire a fine craft cocktail made from scratch. We use honest ingredients and take the Long Road. No shortcuts allowed.
Don’t think of batching cocktails as a shortcut. You’ll be putting all the care and artistry you always put into your cocktails. It’ll just be on a larger scale. Use the freshest ingredients you can source, pair them with our spirits, and your friends will insist that you host the watch party every year.
Once you’ve prepared the batched cocktails, you’ll need glasses, ice, and garnishes to serve.
Cheers!
What you’ll need
Put that jigger and cocktail shaker away. For batch cocktails, you’ll be using liquid measuring cups. You’ll also need a large container to mix the ingredients in.
And don’t forget about a serving container. Consider repurposing an empty bottle of Long Road spirits (remove the label first). You may want a funnel to facilitate pouring the batched cocktail. Ball jars work well as serving vessels, too.
Got a fancy decanter or pitcher? Great. Use it.
Don’t sweat the math
We’ve provided three of our favorite batch recipes (below), but if you are making a large batch based on your own recipe, don’t sweat the math – it’s easy. You won’t need a graphing calculator, and you don’t need to be an accountant at Plante Moran to crunch the numbers.
Multiply the ingredients by the number of servings you’re making. For example, if you’re aiming for ten servings, multiply the ingredients by 10. So a recipe that calls for 2 oz of Long Road Aquavit will need 20 oz.
Tips for successfully batching your cocktails:
- Measure your ingredients. Don’t eyeball. Use liquid measuring cups.
- If you’re batching up more than one cocktail for your party, label your serving vessels so your guests know which cocktail is in which vessel. Displaying the ingredient list is an elegant touch.
- Don’t add anything sparkling until just before serving. The bubbles will disappear if you add that prosecco, tonic, or soda too early. Pre-batch the other cocktail elements separately, and add the bubbles when it’s time to serve.
- If you plan on using large ice cubes from a specialty mold, well done. You’re our kind of host. Make several batches of ice cubes before your party, and store them in a large ziplock baggie in the freezer.
- Store cocktails that are served “up” in the freezer. Don’t add ice. These cocktails are ready to drink. Just pour them into the appropriate glassware and garnish.
- Store cocktails that are served on the rocks in a sealed container in the fridge.
Old Fashioned Recipe (serves 10)*
The old-fashioned is one of the 🐐 cocktails. This recipe calls for Long Road Straight Rye, but feel free to substitute your favorite Long Road whisky or use Long Road Straight Bourbon.
Ingredients:
- 20 oz Long Road Straight Rye Whisky
- 5 oz simple syrup
- 20 dashes bitters
- Orange peel (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Combine all liquid ingredients into a large container and stir. Pour into the serving jar(s) and seal.
- To serve – pour the cocktail into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange peel.
*Note:
Don’t feel like batching up some Old Fashioneds? We’ve got you! Grab a bottle of Long Road Midwest Old Fashioned, available at all Long Road Distillers locations and fine retailers throughout the state. Each bottle serves at least 4 cocktails!
Equal Parts Recipe (serves 10)
Equal Parts is a classic Long Road cocktail that combines equal parts of Aquavit, Raspberry Liqueur, lime juice, and simple syrup. Garnished with a lime wheel, this cocktail makes the perfect digestif. Skip dessert (or don’t) and treat your guests to an Equal Parts.
Ingredients:
- 10 oz Long Road Aquavit
- 10 oz Long Road Raspberry Liqueur
- 10 oz lime juice
- 10 oz simple syrup
- Lime wheel (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Combine all liquid ingredients into a large container and stir. Pour into the serving jar(s) and seal.
- To serve – pour the cocktail into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Super Secret Never Fail Punch Recipe
Punches are another popular batched cocktail. Like good jazz, this recipe is a bit more free-form. Put on some Miles Davis and get creative.
Ingredients:
- 1 part sour – usually citrus
- 2 parts sweet – simple syrups, honey, sugars, sweet vermouth
- 3 parts strong – a spirit of your choice
- Vodka, MICHIGIN, Old Aquavit, Bourbon, Sovereign Gin
- 4 parts weak – water, bubbles, ginger beer, soda
- Garnish of your choice
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients into a large container and stir. Pour into serving jar(s) and seal.
- To serve – pour the cocktail into a highball glass filled with ice. Add a garnish of your choice.