Picante Cocktail Bar: How To Set Up Cocktail Station For Home Hosting

A straightforward cocktail to prepare at a home hosting gathering, the picante recipe is complete with sweet, sour and spicy ingredients that are interesting to work with. At such a gathering, one can quite simply set up a picante cocktail station complete with all the essential ingredients and recipes required to blend the drink.  

Guests can either prepare the cocktail themselves, as a party activity or a mixologist can blend the drink according to the preferences of those assembled. The station can be set up either at one’s home bar or can be curated aesthetically out on the porch at a garden party or an outdoor summer barbecue.  

Read on below for a simple guide to set up a picante cocktail station as an interesting DIY mixology activity for an upcoming home hosting event:  

Assemble The Ingredients  

The first step involved in setting up a picante cocktail station is to assemble all the essential ingredients. Go for a good quality, premium 750 ml bottle of reposado tequila which can be used to cater to 15-20 guests when preparing a picante cocktail containing 30 ml of the spirit. Along with reposado, bring together other essentials including fresh limes for making lime juice, honey or agave syrup and lots of ice. Be sure to add fresh red chillies to the shopping list too, as this ingredient gives the picante cocktail its signature spicy touch. 

Arrange Bar Tools And Accessories  

After the cocktail ingredients are brought together, the next step is to arrange bar tools such as a sturdy cocktail shaker, a muddler and bar spoon. Keep a lemon squeezer on hand to extract lime juice from the fresh citrus fruit. Also place a jigger on the cocktail station so the mixologist or guests themselves can measure proper proportions of the spirit to prepare the picante cocktail. Ensure that the garnishing accessories as well as serving glasses are made up of reusable and sustainable materials for a more ecologically conscious bartending activity. 

Include Picante Variations  

While assembling ingredients, also take a look at different variations of the picante cocktail which can be prepared for guests who want to try out these varieties. Arrange for mango puree or pineapple chunks and even a small 250 ml bottle of mezcal for anyone who wishes to infuse their cocktail with these ingredients. Variations will put a more imaginative spin on the cocktail recipe so, also keep on hand diced jalapeños or mildly spicy chopped green chillies for different renditions of spicy flavours incorporated into the picante. 

Jot Down The Recipes  

The next step involved in putting together this cocktail station at one’s home bar or out on the patio is to jot down detailed cocktail recipes. If cocktail making is going to be a DIY activity at the gathering, these recipes will come in handy for anyone who is slightly unfamiliar with the process involved in making a picante. As well, when recipe variations are written down at the cocktail station, it will become easier for anyone interested in trying out a picante variety to choose a cocktail version and prepare it by following the readily available steps. 

Create A Separate Garnishing Station  

One of the elements which will add a final flourish to the DIY cocktail station is a separate space reserved for garnishing. Carve a spot where guests can assemble to rim their picante glasses with a mix of chilli powder and salt or tajin and salt. Here, set up other garnishing elements like lemon wedges, red chilli slices and colourful cocktail umbrellas that can be used to adorn the picante cocktail glass once the drink is ready for serving.  

Also Read: DIY Moscow Mule Bar: How To Set Up A Perfect Cocktail Station