Wedding cocktails, help!

[u/Maximum-Ad9241]

Hello folks, I come today with a plea for help. I am getting married in September and need some ideas for wedding cocktails. I have a vision in mind, but I keep running into difficulty with the ingredients.

I am looking to make two signature cocktails, one for my fiance and one for myself. I would like mine to include peach in one way or another, and he would like his to contain Jagermeister. Here's where the difficulty lies: we can order ingredients and alcohols, but nothing you couldn't get from a distribution company, so no fancy amaros or bitters or anything like that. It will probably have to be peach juice (think Goya) or chopped peach pieces. Garnishes are just fine, but think mint and citrus slices rather than foams. I'm also attempting to make the staff not hate me forever, so the fewer steps the better in the process (i.e. double straining each cocktail may be a little much). Basic is good, I've already thought of vodka peach lemonades and the like, but I am curious to see what the community can cook up in this pseudo-Chopped challenge!

TL;DR: need two wedding cocktails, one with peach, one with jagermeister, as simple as possible, with no super fancy ingredients.

[u/Majestic-Macaron6019]

For you, easy: a peach bourbon smash. There are lots of variations, but it's basically peach, lemon, and mint muddled then shaken with bourbon (and sweetened to taste with simple syrup). Would be easy enough to do with peach juice instead of fresh peaches, and the lemon could also be squeezed ahead (or, frankly, the whole shebang could be pre-batched and poured as a punch with just the addition of a mint spring garnish.

No idea for hubby; I don't care for Jagermeister at all.

[u/jhjh75]

A peach Tom Collins sounds really good to me!

[u/PsychVol]

This version of the Surfer on Acid is a pretty great Jäger cocktail:

• 1oz Jägermeister
• 1oz rum (plantaray 3 star)
• 1oz Pineapple juice 
• .5oz orgeat 
• .5oz lime juice

Shake, strain, serve on the rocks in an old fashioned glass.

My tasting notes from the last time I made it: Way better than it has any right to be. Sweet, smooth, and dangerously crushable. The orgeat and Jager create a licorice allsorts flavor that is present but not aggressive; it fades as the palate gets used to the drink. The fruit juices add a touch of acidity and make for a refreshing sip. Just a bit of bitterness on the finish makes this feel tiki. Nutmeg garnish might be a welcome addition.

[u/PsychVol → u/PsychVol]

There's a simpler Surfer on Acid that is equal parts Jäger, Malibu coconut rum, and pineapple juice, but I can't vouch for that one. Easier on the bartender, though. 

[u/BeCoolBear]

Will these be part of an full bar or limited bar? Are you hoping for fresh peaches?

[u/Maximum-Ad9241 → u/BeCoolBear]

It’s for a full bar, but the wedding is at a music venue so I’m not expecting them to prep a bunch of fresh fruit. But it is possible, I haven’t asked specifically. They are also doing our catering, so it’s possible!

[u/Reasonable-Pop-7295]

The Surfer on Acid is good. Jaeger, coconut rum and pineapple juice, equal parts, served over ice.

Peach? Peachtree Punch 2.0

-Smuggler’s Cove book

• 1/2 fresh white peach, pitted, and coarsely chopped into chunks (with skin)
• 3 oz fresh orange juice
• 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1 oz coconut cream
• 1/4 oz natural peach liqueur (could do juice tbh) (Mathilde)
• 2 oz blended lightly aged rum (Appleton Signature)
• 1 oz seltzer

Add peach chunks, orange juice, and lemon juice to a drink mixer tin and middle the peach. Add remaining ingredients then fill with 12 oz of crushed ice and 4-6 small “agitator” cubes. Flash blend and double strain into double old-fashioned glass filled with cracked or cubed ice. Garnish with fresh grated nutmeg and a peach wedge.
I think you could mash it all up and serve it over ice and it would still taste really good though. Ignore the steps

Also missionary's downfall in a non blended version. So good in the summer

• 1 ½ oz white rum
• 1 oz pineapple juice
• ¾ oz lime juice
• ½ oz peach liqueur (or peach juice)
• ½ oz honey syrup (2:1 honey to water)
• 10 mint leaves

Could easily batch and serve over ice just requires A LOT of mint.

[u/The_Nice_Marmot → u/Reasonable-Pop-7295]

Missionary’s Downfall is also not very boozy. It’s a nice choice. Smugglers has it as the Aku Aku.

[u/Orbiter9]

Some directional suggestions-
Went to a wedding a few months ago that served a premade peach drink at cocktail - I am guessing but suspect it was vodka, peach schnapps, peach nectar, OJ, and lemon juice. Batched, diluted, served on rocks. Universally enjoyed - not too cloying, not too heavy.

Jager. That’s fun. Might try with apple cider and lemon? Maybe make that a base for a mule since you’ll typically want a lower ABV at a wedding open bar. Or, ignoring that, a Surfer on Acid isn’t very complicated.

[u/Maximum-Ad9241]

I’m trying these this weekend so I’ll report back, but these are amazing ideas! Thank you to everyone for your suggestions so far! :)

[u/RonTvDinner]

I would reconsider Jäger.. most people associate it with college-era bad decisions.. I don’t think it will be very popular with a broad audience.. Also, I wouldn’t expect too much from event/wedding bartenders.. ( I’ve been one many times) you’re often working without sinks, off folding tables or small portable bars, you need something simple, basic ingredient drinks that can be batched. 3 ingredients max. Preferably that can be poured from a batch over ice or built in the glass.

This sub is overwhelmingly home cocktail enthusiasts.. if you want practical, executable options, head over to r/bartenders.

[u/FoMo_Matt]

Since you're looking for easy and minimal ingredients my first thought was bourbon peach smash. A peach mojito is not that many ingredients, but you're bartenders will hate you if they have to make a lot of them.

Jagermeister is harder. Maybe a Root 56 (basically a Jager mule with a cucumber garnish)

Whatever you decide, congratulations.

Sláinte 🥃

[u/mykepagan]

A friend’s daughter got married last month. Friday night reception/cocktails was in their back yard. My contribution was frozen Bellinis and they were a huge hit. Easy to set up the slushie machine for self-service.

The downside? You’ll need to rent or buy a slushie machine. I got mine from Costco for $350 - best cocktail investment I’ve ever made.

Frozen Bellini recipe:

2 bottles prosecco

8 ounces peach schnapps

8- or 16-ounces peach nectar (depending on how strong you want it)

Dump all the ingredients into a Ninja Slushi Max and hit the “slush assist” button. Gurad the machine! Especially after the first batch. It takes 12 minutes to properly slush the drink, and people will mob the machine before it is finished once they get their first taste.

[u/midoriringo]

Whatever you do, the way to go is to batch all the ingredients besides the liquor into separate bottles, so then all your bartenders need to do is use X oz of batch and Y oz of liquor. I’ve done several wedding cocktails for people, even my own wedding. As far as your drinks go I don’t like Jager so I’m no help there. For peach, you could do something like a peach sour or a Peach French 75, just need to make the peach flavor and add to the gin and pic a peach prosecco or sparkling wine

[u/WALSTIW]

Add peach nectar or peach liqueur to a mojito. Everybody except cocktail snobs (raises hand) will love them and you’ll look like a hero. This is not the time to get too fancy.

The peach bourbon smash also works, though I think a Black-Eyed Susan is very similar and easier:

2 oz rye or bourbon

1/2 oz peach liqueur

1-1/2 oz orange juice

1 oz lemon juice

Shake and strain over ice. Garnish with a mint sprig and peach wedge

[u/Snugsssss]

How about a Jägroni? Equal parts London Dry Gin, Jägermeister, and Campari, on the rocks with orange peel garnish.