Professor of Cocktail Studies

The “signature drink” approach is common at large wedding receptions and, in addition to helping couples (or the bride’s father) save on their bar tab, it is almost the only practical way to serve 100+ guests quickly and efficiently in the 60-90 minutes between the end of the wedding ceremony and the serving of dinner. Because as soon as the ceremony ends, all 100+ guests head straight to the open bar. They get their first drink, it is usual for them to come back for a second, and a determined few will angle for a third before the start of dinner service. I not making this up. Typically, there are two signature drinks: a “His” (groom’s), which is frequently an Old Fashioned; and a “Hers” (bride’s), which is almost invariably some sort of foo foo cocktail like vodka, lemonade, a bit of blueberry syrup, with a garnish of 3-4 blueberries. On one occasion there was also a “Theirs” (an Aperol spritzer). On that particular evening, guests frequently ordered a “His,” “Hers,” or “Theirs”...