Celebrate the Season’s Retail Successes With These Cocktails

Retail stores and retail corporate offices often host holiday parties for their employees as a reward for all the hard work. Parties are also a good way to a) relieve some of the stress of the season as well as b) create a “team building” event (although the HR department will frown on forming too close or inappropriate “team” member liaisons). Whatever the reason, here are some concoctions guaranteed to lubricate the season’s events.

Mission Statement 

Everyone in an organization should be going in the same direction and seeking the same goals. This one works because everyone’s intention at a company holiday event seems to be to crowd around the beverage service station at the same time.

Ingredients

juice of ½ lemon

1 measure of cherry brandy

3 measures of a quality gin

soda water

stemmed cherries for garnish

Pour the lemon juice, brandy, and gin into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until frothy, and then pour with the ice included into a tall glass. Top off with enough soda to fill. Decorate with the cherries.

GWP (Gift With Purchase) 

The green crème de menthe presents a very seasonal look with an unexpected bonus of the whiskey.  Enjoy in moderation, or you’ll be the one sporting the seasonal green look.

Ingredients

1 measure green crème de menthe

1 measure Irish whiskey

Chilled Champagne or sparkling wine to top it off

cranberry garnish (optional)

Combine the crème de menthe and whiskey in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a champagne flute and then top off with the champagne. Add one or two cranberries for garnish if so desired. 

Trim-a-Home 

I love the trim-a-home departments in those big old department stores. All the Christmas trees decorated with ornaments, wreaths, and tinsel; the smell of pine and bay. And somewhere buried in the back is usually Santa’s throne and a line of kids excited beyond all reason. Here’s a light refreshment that makes a very pretty seasonal presentation.

Ingredients

1 measure dry vermouth

½ measure gin

½ measure cherry brandy

cherry wrapped in a lemon rind spiral for garnish

Mix all the ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and then strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with the cherry-wrapped lemon rind.

Peak Season 

The time of year every retailer plans for and gears up for all year long is known as the peak season. This is make-it-or-break-it time for every company. Someone once said that retailing is eleven months of preparation for one month of selling. Fortunately this cocktail does not take long to make, and you will definitely feel at your best after just one.

Ingredients

2 measures of vodka

½ measure of peach schnapps

1 teaspoon  of peach juice

champagne or sparkling wine

peach slice for garnish

Add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with lots of ice. Shake vigorously until a frost forms, and then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Top off with the champagne and then decorate with the peach slice. Beautiful!

A great deal hinges on the success or failure of this season for any retail business. One must be prepared, so  assortment, the logistics, the promotional strategy and more are important, but at the end of the day, it’s also a time to celebrate. If you achieve and exceed the plan, then it is definitely time to celebrate. If not—if you miss the targets and miss the plan—well then, an appropriate beverage might just lessen the blow.

Cheers!   

How do you celebrate the season’s retail successes (or mourn those missed sales figures)? Feel free to share your own Retail Cocktails in the comments!