popular cocktails and drinks

Popular Cocktails and Drinks for Events: NYC Caterer's 2025 Guide

Signature Cocktails Make Events Memorable

Craft cocktails are no longer a luxury—they’re expected at high-end events, private parties, and corporate gatherings. Whether you’re planning a wedding reception in Midtown Manhattan or a rooftop mixer in the Garment District, your drink menu should match the occasion.

At Susan's Kitchen NYC Bar Catering, we bring professional bartenders, custom menus, and fully licensed service to every event. Our experience with corporate and social events gives us an edge in cocktail planning, batching, and presentation.

Top 5 Classic Cocktails Everyone Orders

Classic cocktails never go out of style. These drinks are familiar, balanced, and elegant—making them a safe and classy option for nearly any event. Below are five timeless choices frequently requested by our NYC clients:

• Old Fashioned – Bourbon, sugar, bitters, orange peel
• Margarita – Tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, salted rim
• Negroni – Gin, Campari, sweet vermouth
• Cosmopolitan – Vodka, cranberry juice, lime, triple sec
• Mojito – Rum, fresh mint, lime juice, soda water

These drinks not only appeal to wide audiences but also offer flexibility for batching or individual preparation. We tailor each drink to your preferred spirit selection and glassware standards. For more details on what’s included in our drink tiers, see our bar package pricing.

Trending Cocktail Styles in 2025

Modern mixology evolves every season. In 2025, the most popular cocktails for events are using fresh botanicals, low-ABV profiles, and global flavor profiles. These aren't your average bar drinks—they’re curated to be experienced.

Here are some cocktail styles and examples that are trending this year:

• Spritz Variations – Think hibiscus spritz, elderflower spritz
• Smoke-Infused Cocktails – Mezcal-based drinks with smoked bitters
• Spicy Margaritas – Made with jalapeño tequila and agave nectar
• Clarified Punches – Elegant, clear drinks served in glass decanters
• Zero-Proof Mixology – Sophisticated mocktails like the Seedlip Collins

We build drink menus based on your guest profile, event type, and space. For private parties and launches, these trending drinks offer style and conversation value. View how we align your menu with your vision in our alcohol party planning guide.

Cocktails by Season or Event Type

Different seasons and event types call for distinct drink styles. We work with each client to match seasonal ingredients, glassware, and garnishes with the event theme. Here’s how we generally break it down:

Glassware also plays a major role in seasonal cocktail presentation. To learn how glass choice affects the drink experience, visit our page on choosing bar glassware.

Essential Cocktail Skills for Event Bartending

Executing drinks consistently at scale requires precision and foundational skills. At Susan’s Kitchen, all bartenders master core drink techniques to ensure quality under pressure. These include:

• Shaking, stirring, and layering spirits properly
• Maintaining clean prep stations and speed rails
• Garnish techniques for visual appeal
• Using proper ratios and batching formulas

Training and consistency matter, especially at high-volume events. See our training process and expectations for staff on our basic drink making skills page.

Understanding the Liquors Behind Every Great Cocktail

To create a strong cocktail menu, you need to understand the base spirits behind each recipe. Different liquors bring different profiles—some work best for bright daytime events, others for evening formality. Here's a basic breakdown used in most professional bars:

• Vodka – Clean and neutral; used in martinis, cosmos, mules
• Gin – Herbal and dry; used in negronis, gimlets, and tonics
• Rum – Sweet and tropical; ideal for mojitos, daiquiris, punches
• Tequila – Bright and earthy; perfect for margaritas and palomas
• Whiskey – Rich and smoky; used in manhattans, old fashioneds, sours

Our bartenders use spirit-forward knowledge to balance alcohol content, sweetness, and finish. For more information on the flavor and function of each type, visit our guide to understanding liquor types.

How to Serve Cocktails Efficiently at Events

At Susan’s Kitchen, speed and consistency are critical to every service. Whether it’s 40 guests or 400, we batch cocktails where appropriate, pre-garnish when possible, and set up bar stations for rapid flow. Here's how we serve drinks efficiently without compromising on quality:

• Use batch recipes for high-demand drinks (e.g., margaritas, rum punch)
• Pre-juice citrus the same day to retain freshness
• Set up separate garnish stations for busy bars
• Stagger signature cocktails based on event timing

Our team follows industry-standard techniques like stirring vs. shaking, floating, layering, and controlled dilution. Learn more in our section on drink making techniques.

Beer and Wine Still Matter

Not every guest drinks cocktails. That’s why we balance every bar menu with well-selected beer and wine options to suit the event’s mood and menu. We recommend:

• Craft lager or pilsner for crowd-pleasing light beer
• Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Noir as default pairings
• Rosé in spring/summer for casual day events

Need help curating a wine or beer list to go with your catering menu? We cover the basics on our beer basics guide.

Clarifying Cocktail Terms for Your Planning Team

If you're new to planning events with bar service, many terms can be confusing—neat, up, rocks, highball, Collins, muddle. Understanding bar language makes coordination with your bartending team much smoother.

Our team has compiled a glossary of must-know terms for hosts, planners, and staff. Review them here: bar terminology explained.

Plan Your Custom Bar Setup

Every venue is different—some have tight service areas, others require mobile bars. Whether indoors or outdoors, Susan’s Kitchen comes fully equipped with the tools needed to execute elegant, efficient drink service.

If you're building a DIY bar or supplementing a venue setup, we’ve outlined the foundational equipment you’ll need to stay organized and efficient. Read more on our home bar equipment essentials page.

Book a Full-Service NYC Bar Catering Package

Susan's Kitchen offers licensed, insured, and professionally staffed bar services throughout New York City. Whether you’re planning a fundraiser, rooftop event, or luxury wedding, our team builds a custom drink menu and takes care of everything from mixers to cleanup.

We handle alcohol permits, batching, ice management, glassware coordination, and everything in between. Contact us now to build a custom quote and receive our current availability calendar.