Someone is coming over for the first time. What are you offering them?

Every host must have the following offerings at all times (you never know when someone it going to pop by, or when the afters will end up at your place!):

• Water: It may seem like an obvious choice, but some folks simply forget to offer their guests a plain glass of water. It doesn’t have to be fancy–it’s your place, of course. Tap or still is perfectly fine. I recommend presenting this in a glass, not a plastic cup, to offer it with or without ice, and present with a coaster.
• A non-alcoholic fun option: I keep La Croix in my fridge for this purpose. For you, it could be anything. A ginger ale, Topo Chico, soda like Sprite or Coke, or coffee (even instant from a Nespresso or Keurig) are all great options. Decaf coffee is a great way to end an evening. Don’t pressure your guest into an alcoholic beverage; make these options feel perfectly normal.
• Your specialty cocktail: Here’s where it gets fun! Everyone needs a speciality beverage to offer their guests. Here’s how to find your own.

Pick your base.

This is your place, so your signature cocktail should have a base of something you love.

• The non-offensives: Vodka, gin, white rum, sparkling wines
• For the IFYKYK crowd: Whisky, bourbon, brandy, scotch, Cognac, champagne
• The you’re crazy for that, but I respect it: Dark rum, tequila, moonshine, speciality liquors like Screwball or Rumple Minze

Now, go back to the basics.

Martinis, old fashioned, negroni, and Manhattans are all classics for a reason. Knowing your favorite base, is there a classic you can choose? Try using your favorite search engine with (your favorite base) + cocktail recipe.

Remember where you’re from.

If there isn’t a basic cocktail that speaks to you, look up what’s famous in your area.

Growing up in Pensacola, I like to honor my roots by making a mean Bushwhacker (my secret ingredient is instant espresso!). It makes for a great story and while it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea (er– or extremely strong milkshake), it is something everyone should try once.

Try searching “your hometown” + specialty drinks. Kentuckians might want to perfect their Old Fashioned or Mint Julep, Southerners may want a perfect Hot Toddy, and those from more tropical areas should try to refine a refreshing Mojito or house made Margarita.

Put your own spin on it.

Hopefully by now you have narrowed down your specialty drink–great job! Now you need to put your own spin on it. This doesn’t have to be an entirely new ingredient, and it can be something as simple as using a garnish from your garden, a certain brand of ingredients, or adding a fruit slice or cherry.

Here are a few options:

• A fun shaped ice cube
• A unique reusable straw or stirrer
• Instant espresso or coffee powder
• A splash of one of Rose’s syrups, like grenadine, blueberry, peach, strawberry, lime juice, for a little extra flavor and color
• Slice of fruit, like lemon, lime, or orange
• Maraschino cherry
• Nutmeg powder
• Sea salt (great with richer, chocolatey beverages!)
• Chocolate syrup
• Fresh herbs, like rosemary, thyme, and mint

Figure out how to keep the ingredients on hand.

For me, I like to slice oranges and lemons myself and keep them in the freezer for my cocktails. This is much more economical and simpler than buying produce weekly that might go bad, considering I live alone. You can also do the same with fresh herbs. With whatever ingredients you have in your special drink, find a way to easily keep them on hand.

Consider virgin alternatives.

I recommend following your guest’s lead. If they requested a water or non-alcoholic option, have that as well. Do not drink an alcoholic beverage if your guest is not drinking. If you are a guest, and notice your host is not drinking, you should similarly follow their lead. Here are a few swaps you can make:

• Bottled juices
• Freshly squeezed fruit, like lime, lemon, and orange
• Flavored sparkling water
• Bitters*
• Kombucha**

* Bitters contains alcohol the same way vanilla extract contains alcohol. While it techincally contains alcohol, you nor your guest will feel intoxicated from a few dashes of bitters. Bitters and soda is a common non-alcoholic drink, but some people may have their own personal boundaries with ingredients that you should ask about beforehand.

** Kombucha contains trace amounts of alcohol. Like bitters, you are very unlikely to feel any effects. Make sure your guest is okay with it, though. It is not recommended that pregnant people drink Kombucha.

Now, let’s offer the drinks.

Preferably, this would come after a quick tour of your home. Even if you live in a small studio apartment, you should still show your guest the bathroom and kitchen. Ah, now that’s over, try this play-by-play:

Repeat after me: Can I offer you anything to drink? Would you like a water, La Croix, or (insert specialty cocktail)? It’s my speciality!

Your guest chooses.

Now, you retreat to the kitchen. Make sure you guest has some form of entertainment in the meantime. This could be a playlist, a new book or magazine on your coffee table, or something on the TV. Maybe even a toy + your cat.

Make the drink–twice. One for you and your guest.

Put it in a good cup, not a plastic ones. (It’s never too late to start collecting a crystal pattern–thrift stores are overrun with old Anchor Hockings and Libbys!)

Garnish and add your special twist.

Give this to your guest on a coaster. Presentation is everything.

Congratulations, you just served a signature drink.

What next? Here are a few conversations starters you can try once you and your guest are settled in with a beverage:

• What is your go to drink order at a new place?
• Some people have very strong water preferences, like Fiji water only, do you?
• How do you feel about ordering a drink at the airport or on a plane?
• What was the first alcoholic drink you ever had a sip of?
• What was the first thing you ever got drunk off of?
• What’s your signature cocktail?
• What’s your martini order?

Your signature cocktail can evolve over time. Collect them like Pokemon cards.

When I was in college, The Kressie Special was a vodka (whatever on hand) soda + pineapple juice. Then my taste buds evolved and I ventured toward Cathead and Tito’s. From there I began my journey with Vodka martinis. Dry, wet, shaken, straight-up, with a twist, dirty–I experimented with them all. After perfecting a classic Martini, I moved on to an Old Fashioned. This is my current go-to drink to offer guests. It’s classy, timeless, a little bit harder than others to perfect, and when made well–your guest will melt into your palms. And, when I’m feeling a little wild, that’s when the blender comes down from the top shelf and I call out, is anyone else craving a Bushwhacker right now?

I leave you with my Old Fashioned recipe as a parting gift, for reading this first Stop Being Uncouth’s first blog post:

Kressie’s Old Fashioned

• 2 oz bourbon (Recommended: Woodford Reserve)
• 3-4 dashes of bitters (Recommended: Angostura Aromatic Bitters)
• 1 tsp simple syrup
• 1-2 tsp tap water, depending on your taste preference
• 1 thinly sliced frozen–yes, frozen–orange. Give it a twist above the glass before dropping it in. Wake that sucker up.
• 1 large ice cube (Recommended: Check a store like Home Goods or TJ Maxx. They typically have speciality ice trays for cheaper than Amazon. I personally use giant spheres, but have also seen cubes and novelty shapes)
• 1 whisky glass (Recommended: Thrift, Ebay, or Etsy for something groovy and vintage. Start by buying one inexpensive pair.)
• Optional: Garnish with a cherry, for fun. Yes. I know the orange is already there. The cherry is fun.

Stir and serve. Some folks like to make these in batches and serve in a cocktail shaker. If that works for you, I love that. I like to go glass by glass for some reason.