Are you searching for the perfect signature wedding cocktail to set the scene for frivolity at your celebration? Well, bottoms up! We’ve curated our ultimate go-to list of 12 delicious signature cocktails that will have your guests saying, “One more, please, bar-keep!”
While beer, wine, and the reliable spirit and mixer combo have their place, nothing quite says ‘party’ like a well-crafted cocktail. Whether your tastes lean towards the fruity and fresh, or you favour a headier flavour profile, our expert beverage suppliers have the potation for you.
Speaking of fun beverage options to bring a little pizazz to your reception, check out this article on creating your own show-stopping champagne tower. Or if you’ve got some wedding day mixology tips to share, send us a DM over on the Easy Weddings Instagram — we love sharing your suggestions with our wonderful wedding community!
Here are our top 12 signature cocktails to tickle your tastebuds and get the party started:
The Spritz
What’s not to love about a spritz-style cocktail? Take your pick from zingy Limoncello, bittersweet Campari, and, of course, everyone’s favourite, Aperol. There’s a reason that spritzes are such a popular signature cocktail. They’re refreshing, bubbly, and, thanks to the addition of prosecco and soda, not sickly sweet. Choosing a spritz as your signature cocktail will please your photographer too — with beautiful hues of yellow, orange or red, this classic drink shows up beautifully in reception snaps.
Looking to try this one at home? You’ll need 90ml Prosecco, 60ml of your apéritif of choice (we love Aperol, Campari, or Limoncello for a touch of Positano flair), plus a dash of soda water. Simply build over ice in a wine glass starting with the Prosecco and finishing with soda water. Add a slice of citrus and a striped paper straw to finish!
The Negroni
A little bitter, a little sweet, and a lot delicious. Sophisticated and elegant, the Negroni is a firm classic for a reason. A Negroni sits perfectly on the cocktail list of a winter wedding thanks to its rich, herbaceous notes and grown-up flavour profile. Not too keen on gin or just looking for a twist on the traditional Negroni for your signature cocktail? Sought-after Melbourne caterer, Elia Donati offers a solution: “One of our most requested signature cocktails is definitely the Tequila Negroni, which is great and intense variation to the classic.”
Looking to try this signature cocktail at home? The classic Negroni is surprisingly easy to master. You’ll need 30ml Campari, 30ml gin, and 30ml sweet vermouth. Stir down over ice to dilute to your preference. Strain into your serving glass over fresh ice, and add an orange rind twist.
The Pimm’s Cup
A British classic, the Pimm’s Cup is both undeniably delicious and incredibly refreshing. Better still, a Pimm’s Cup is a relatively sensible choice. The drink itself is designed for sipping and the alcohol is diluted thanks to the ginger ale and lemon juice. Plus, there’s the added element of fun with a Pimm’s Cup’s colourful garnishes! Queensland mixologists, The Bartenders rate the Pimm’s Cup as one of their most regularly requested signature cocktails and serve the drink with strawberries, citrus wheels, and cucumber ribbons.
Looking to try this signature cocktail at home? Creating a Pimm’s Cup is an easy (and delicious!) venture. Simply add 60ml of Pimm’s No 1 to a highball glass over ice. Fill your glass to with ginger ale (or lemonade, depending on your preference) remembering to leave room for your garnishes. Finish by adding your cucumber ribbons, citrus wheels, and strawberries.
The Aviation
The Aviation is an old-world classic that is having a Jennifer Coolidge level resurgence in popularity right now. Pretty and delicate, the Aviation gets its dreamy lilac hue from creme de violette — a violet flavoured liqueur. As you might guess, this creates beautiful floral notes which are balanced by tart lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, and gin. Sydney’s Paddock to Plate Catering Co predict that the popularity of the Aviation will only continue to grow in 2023 weddings.
Looking to try this signature cocktail at home? Vigorously shake 60ml of gin, 15ml of maraschino liqueur, 7ml of creme be violette, and 45ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice over ice. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry for a touch of old-world glamour.
The Margarita
With a salt rim or without? That’s the important question. Regardless of your salt preferences, the Margarita has all the elements you could want in a signature cocktail. It’s refreshing, boozy, and inherently celebratory. Although the traditional lime recipe will forever hold a place in our hearts, there are countless modern spins on the margarita — prickly pear, watermelon, and passionfruit, just to name a few. Adelaide’s Graze and Dine co has created a mean Peach Margarita that has quickly topped the list of their most commonly requested signature cocktails.
Looking to try this signature cocktail at home? For a classic margarita, you’ll need 30ml each of Triple Sec or Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and blanco tequila. Shake vigorously over ice before double straining into your glassware of choice with or without a salt rim depending on your preference. In lieu of a margarita glass, you can opt for a coupe or even a rocks glass.
The Espresso Martini
Trouble in a glass! The Espresso Martini needs no introduction with a reputation for fun preceding it. Made with freshly brewed espresso, this martini will be a sure favourite with your wedding guests who intend to close down the dance floor. The team from Kombi Keg Northern Tasmania agrees: “Espresso Martinis seem to be all the go these days!” While this might not be a signature cocktail to start off your reception with, we recommend organising a round of Espresso Martinis for your guests to enjoy post-formalities as a way of signalling that the celebrations have truly begun.
Looking to try this signature cocktail at home? Shake 45ml vodka, 30ml coffee liqueur, and a freshly brewed shot of espresso over ice. Be sure to add the espresso to the alcohol prior to prevent it from melting the ice and diluting your cocktail. Shake well to create that beautiful glossy crema foam! Double strain into a martini glass and garnish with three coffee beans.
The Mai-Tai
Rum, rum, and more rum. One of the most famous cocktails in the world, the Mai-Tai is another drink that can be personalised in virtually infinite ways. Couples love to include this rum heavy potation for its tropical aesthetic, subtle citrus flavours, and tart flavour profile. The team from Good 2 Eat Catering explains the mouthwatering and unexpected spin they put on this time-honoured classic: “Our chef has over 60 macadamia trees. He loves smashing macadamias up with rum and pineapple juice to create beautiful macadamia Mai-Tais.”
Looking to try this signature cocktail at home? Take 45ml each of light rum and gold rum and add to your shaker. Add 30ml lime juice, 60ml triple sec, and 15ml of almond liqueur. Shake vigorously with ice before straining into a glass over fresh ice. To finish, simply add 30ml of dark rum to the top of your glass. Garnish with a skewered pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry.
The Charlie Chaplin
This dapper cocktail is like summer in a glass with juicy apricot notes, sweet sloe berries, and the refreshing tartness of lime juice. For guests who usually steer clear of gin, a Charlie Chaplin can be a welcome alternative, utilising the much loved British sloe gin. Closely related to the plum, pickled sloe berries create a ruby red drop without the bitterness associated with regular gin. Better still, sloe gin is lower in alcohol than its regular counterpart, making this the perfect cocktail to ease into the evening’s celebrations.
Looking to try this signature cocktail at home? For a Charlie Chaplin, add 30mls each of fresh lime juice, sloe gin, and apricot brandy to a shaker. Shake and double strain into a cocktail glass, adding a lime twist to garnish.
The Moscow Mule
The Moscow Mule is a simple but effective crowd pleaser. If you like your cocktails spicy and sweet, this could be the signature cocktail for you. Traditionally served in a chilled copper mug, the Moscow Mule calls for vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer. For dark spirit drinkers, your bartender can easily turn the Moscow Mule into a Dark & Stormy with the switch of some spiced dark rum to replace the vodka.
Looking to try this signature cocktail at home? Add 15ml of fresh lime juice and 50ml of vodka to a tall glass with ice. Then top with non alcoholic ginger beer and garnish with a lime wheel or skewered piece of crystallised ginger (if you’re feeling really fancy).
The Paloma
Closely related to the Margarita, a mixed sugar and salt rim makes the Paloma an intriguing signature cocktail choice. The perfect balance of sweet and sour, the Paloma can be personalised to your preferences with a few easy changes. The grapefruit juice in this cocktail adds a welcome hint of bitterness, however half the quantity can be swapped for pineapple juice for a fresh take on a classic drink.
Looking to try this signature cocktail at home? Take your cocktail shaker and add 45ml blanco tequila, 90ml fresh grapefruit juice, 15ml agave syrup, 15ml fresh lime juice. Shake vigorously over ice before straining onto fresh ice in a tall glass rimmed with sugar and salt. Top with sparkling water for a delightful fizz and add a wedge of grapefruit to garnish.
The Whisky Sour
Tart, creamy, and delicious. The Whisky Sour makes the perfect signature cocktail for a sophisticated winter wedding. Sweltering summer temperatures can make the delicious foam on a Whisky Sour dissipate quickly, so we recommend keeping this signature cocktail choice for later in the evening or for the cooler months. After a plant-based option? Ask your friendly bar supplier about switching the egg white for aquafaba for an equally enjoyable drink.
Looking to try this signature cocktail at home? Add 50ml whisky (or whiskey, depending on your preference) to your cocktail shaker with 15ml of simple syrup and 25ml lemon juice. Seperate an egg white and add it to the shaker. With no ice, dry shake the solution for 30 seconds, before adding ice to the shaker and shaking again. When the solution is white, airy and thick, strain it into a rocks glass and garnish with a dash of bitters and a maraschino cherry.
The Mojito
We’re ending our list on a firm favourite. The Mojito has been around the tracks and holds pride of place on most bars’ cocktail lists. This refreshing summer cocktail looks gorgeous in wedding reception photographs with vibrant pops of green from the mint and lime wedges. Traditionally prepared with sugar, lime and mint, dozens of variations have sprung up over the years. Berries are an excellent addition to add a tart sweetness to the flavour profile and an eye-catching purple colour to the glass.
Looking to try this signature cocktail at home? A classic that every cocktail enthusiast should have under their belt, the Mojito is quick and easy to make. In a tall glass, muddle 10 fresh mint leaves, two lime wedges, and two tablespoons of white sugar. On top of the mixture, full your glass with ice before adding 45ml of white rum and topping with soda water. Gently stir to combine, then add a mint sprig and lime wheel to garnish.
Food (or drink) for thought…
- Consider the booze factor. Cocktails are delicious, but notoriously heady with lots of flavour to mask the alcohol. Consider keeping the potency of your drinks reasonable, or introducing cocktails later in the reception as opposed to serving them from the get-go. Remember to facilitate responsible drinking.
- Offer a light and dark spirit. While you and your partner might be dark rum enthusiasts, many of your guests might only opt for white spirits. When in doubt select two to three signature cocktails, each with a different base spirit, so that there is an option for everyone.
- Consider a cocktail tower. Shakers on Wheels create incredible cocktail towers, which can be tiered by cocktail variety. This is a fun and visually impactful alternative to the traditional champagne tower, if bubbles aren’t your thing.
- Listen to your bar supplier. When in doubt, listen to your trusty bar supplier. They have the experience of serving countless weddings, so they know what works. Don’t be shy about not knowing exactly what you want either — creating crowd-pleasing cocktail lists is what they do!
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