Actividades: Thrill your guests with exotic flavours, great garnishes and attractive presentations. Martinis, margaritas and mojitos continue to dominate cocktail menus. The allure of martinis remains popular and caterers continue to explore it with different mixers: liqueurs of different flavours, alcohol such as vodka. Fruity mixes Fruit flavoured mixers are the most tried and tested formulas. Margaritas mixed with different fruit liqueurs or syrups: from strawberry to oranges as well as pomegranate and blackberry. Vodka concocted with essence of ginger, cinnamon or clove combined with fruit nectar and liqueur. Mojitos is also another favourite with a tangy fruity mix… Break away from usual mojitos with lime and try a blackberry mojito. Martinis can also be mixed with fruit or a combination of fruit-and-spice flavours such as pineapple-ginger martinis made by blending fresh pineapple and ginger with a simple sugar syrup and mixing it with vodka. Or try the watermelon-and-basil martinis and pear-and- cardamon sidecars. Unique presentations Apart from original mixes, garnishes, decoration and presentation play a large part in making the cocktail visually tantalising. Garnishes may include fruit pieces, coloured sugar and flowers giving a delicious visual impact. Try putting flavoured coloured sugar on glass rims for margaritas or colourful syrups to give exotic and unique colours to the cocktails. Think beyond just a toothpick and an olive! Apart from garnishes, glasses today come in all shapes, colours and sizes. From small shot glasses to the traditional flutes, they add a different dimension in the presentation of the cocktails. If you are trying to get guests to try as many different concoctions as possible, small shot glasses are good for “trial” size cocktails and guests can ask for bigger portion if they like it. Dress up the bar counter. You can complement the counter with bar stools in attractive colours or with printed motif seat covers. What’s trendy today is also ice bars which are lit up from underneath and with the logo of the company or product carved in them. Give some actions Unusual flavours and colourful garnishes are already a visual treat to the guests, but add on more by serving them with bar entertainment. Get the bartender to prepare the mixes with a cocktail-mixing high-energy show with one or two bartenders with juggling and throwing bottles and cocktail shakers, for example.