The 10 Best Cocktails for a Dinner Party

A dinner party has three moments, and each one asks for a different drink. Before sitting down, guests want something that opens the appetite. At the table, the drink has to work with the food instead of competing with it. After dinner, it can slow down and get richer. These dinner party cocktails follow that order. All ten are built on Altos tequila, and most of them can be prepared before the doorbell rings, so the host spends the evening at the table, not behind the bar.

Aperitif Cocktails to Open the Night

The best aperitif cocktails, or pre dinner cocktails, tend to be dry, slightly bitter and light, so they wake up the palate without filling anyone up. The Tequila White Negroni is the lightest of them: equal parts Altos Plata, Lillet Blanc and gentian liqueur, stirred and finished with a lemon twist. The classic Tequila Negroni does the same job with Campari and sweet vermouth for those who like it more bitter. Two Altos creations belong here too. The Feliz Martini pairs Altos Plata with Cocchi Americano and a few dashes of amontillado sherry, and the Pacific Standard brings Aperol and Carpano Antica together with a bar spoon of Green Chartreuse. If you prefer bubbles, the Paloma Royale tops grapefruit, lemon and Altos Plata with champagne.

Dinner Party Drinks for the Table

Once the food arrives, the drink takes a step back: these are the dinner cocktails proper. Long, fresh dinner party drinks with citrus and soda refresh the palate between bites and do not fight with sauces or spice. The Classic Paloma is the natural choice for Mexican food or anything grilled, and the Tequila Collins, with lemon, a little sugar and soda water, goes with almost any menu. To keep things easy, choose one drink for the table and prepare it in advance. Stirred drinks such as negronis can be batched in a bottle with about 20% water added, which replaces the dilution the ice would give, and kept in the fridge until it is time to pour. Prepare garnishes ahead too, from twists to grapefruit slices, so each drink takes seconds.

After Dinner Cocktails to Close the Evening

After dinner cocktails are often stirred and spirit-forward, meant to be sipped slowly with dessert or coffee. The Tequila Manhattan is built on Altos Añejo with red vermouth and bitters, and the Tequila Sazerac uses Altos Reposado with agave syrup, Peychaud's bitters and an absinthe rinse. The Hernández, another Altos creation, adds red vermouth, agave and a touch of maraschino. Choose the bottle by the moment. Altos Plata keeps the aperitifs and table drinks bright and clean. Altos Reposado and Añejo, rested in oak, carry the vanilla and caramel that a slow last glass asks for. Find the full list of ten below, pick one drink for each moment, and browse more cocktail recipes.

A dinner party has three moments, and each one asks for a different drink. Before sitting down, guests want something that opens the appetite. At the table, the drink has to work with the food instead of competing with it. After dinner, it can slow down and get richer. These dinner party cocktails follow that order. All ten are built on Altos tequila, and most of them can be prepared before the doorbell rings, so the host spends the evening at the table, not behind the bar.

Aperitif Cocktails to Open the Night

The best aperitif cocktails, or pre dinner cocktails, tend to be dry, slightly bitter and light, so they wake up the palate without filling anyone up. The Tequila White Negroni is the lightest of them: equal parts Altos Plata, Lillet Blanc and gentian liqueur, stirred and finished with a lemon twist. The classic Tequila Negroni does the same job with Campari and sweet vermouth for those who like it more bitter. Two Altos creations belong here too. The Feliz Martini pairs Altos Plata with Cocchi Americano and a few dashes of amontillado sherry, and the Pacific Standard brings Aperol and Carpano Antica together with a bar spoon of Green Chartreuse. If you prefer bubbles, the Paloma Royale tops grapefruit, lemon and Altos Plata with champagne.

Dinner Party Drinks for the Table

Once the food arrives, the drink takes a step back: these are the dinner cocktails proper. Long, fresh dinner party drinks with citrus and soda refresh the palate between bites and do not fight with sauces or spice. The Classic Paloma is the natural choice for Mexican food or anything grilled, and the Tequila Collins, with lemon, a little sugar and soda water, goes with almost any menu. To keep things easy, choose one drink for the table and prepare it in advance. Stirred drinks such as negronis can be batched in a bottle with about 20% water added, which replaces the dilution the ice would give, and kept in the fridge until it is time to pour. Prepare garnishes ahead too, from twists to grapefruit slices, so each drink takes seconds.

After Dinner Cocktails to Close the Evening

After dinner cocktails are often stirred and spirit-forward, meant to be sipped slowly with dessert or coffee. The Tequila Manhattan is built on Altos Añejo with red vermouth and bitters, and the Tequila Sazerac uses Altos Reposado with agave syrup, Peychaud's bitters and an absinthe rinse. The Hernández, another Altos creation, adds red vermouth, agave and a touch of maraschino. Choose the bottle by the moment. Altos Plata keeps the aperitifs and table drinks bright and clean. Altos Reposado and Añejo, rested in oak, carry the vanilla and caramel that a slow last glass asks for. Find the full list of ten below, pick one drink for each moment, and browse more cocktail recipes.

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