Yup. I’m so totally posting three times a week. Cough. Well, no matter. I am here now, and I need your help!

CW and I are having a cocktail party tomorrow night — it’s a combination holiday, birthday, and end-of-semester party — and I am quite pleased and excited. I am looking for some input on drinks, though.

I’ve already got one specialty drink that I’m going to pre-mix in a big batch and have in a pitcher. It’s a bourbon, cider, and ginger beer combination that is quite tasty if I do say so myself. So that one will be the sort of “signature” drink. I would love some feedback on the other booze we’ll have on hand, though.

Here’s what I was thinking: additional bourbon (besides the stuff in the cider drink above), vodka, and maybe gin (?). We’ll also have cranberry juice, club soda, tonic, and Coke/Diet Coke. Maybe also ginger ale. So that way, people could make vodka cranberry fizzes, bourbon and soda, gin and tonic, vodka or bourbon with ginger ale, bourbon and Coke/Diet, etc.

First question: Is that enough variety? Are there any essential mixers I’m forgetting about? Is gin too much a summer drink?

Second question: I might also get a small bottle of vanilla vodka and a small one of Frangelico for making birthday cake shots. Would that be overkill, or fun? (This is a super tasty shot — mix equal parts vanilla vodka and Frangelico, serve with a sugared lemon slice that you bite/lick after doing the shot. It tastes AMAZINGLY like chocolate cake.) The only drawback, for me, is having to buy a second bottle of vodka, because this calls for vanilla vodka. Should I do it?

Oh, and for people who don’t care for cocktails, there will also be some red & white wine on hand, and a little beer. I told people if they want beer, though, they might want to bring some. We’ll have La Croix and all the mixers for people who prefer non-alcoholic drinks, too.

Here’s what else we’re having, in case you’re interested: I am in charge of dessert, which is going to be three kinds of cupcakes. I’m making gingerbread cupcakes with lemon cream cheese frosting, peppermint bark cupcakes (chocolate-peppermint cake with vanilla buttercream and crouched candy cane topping), and classic vanilla with sprinkles. CW is in charge of the savory snacks, and he’s making bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with goat cheese, caprese skewers, and some kind of crostini with either a smoked salmon, asparagus, or artichoke topping (not sure which yet). There will also be a cheese plate, and I think some people might bring stuff, but I’m not sure what. I have already made the cupcakes and I’ll be icing them tomorrow, plus helping CW assemble his things. I just hope I can keep my hands off the cupcakes tonight.

Anyway, any of your thoughts about the drink situation are totally appreciated! I’m picking everything up tomorrow afternoon.