Do prepared cocktails need refrigeration?

Question

Do they taste better pre made?

Answer 1

It depends what you are mixing.  Best to make and serve right away really.  I wouldn't prepare anything with carbonated beverage and refrigerate and keep for awhile because it will lose the fizz.  If you do prepare in advance, like some kind of punch, just keep carbonated out and add just before serving.  Doesn't have to be refrigerated if you are serving the same day.

Answer 2

No! They do not taste better premade, really all cocktail should be made and served instantly. Although, if you are making a big bloody mary mix or a punch mix then its OK to make these in advance and keep them in the fridge. However, you should not include any carbonated (fizzy drinks like lemonade, tonic or pepsi) drinks as these would lose their fizz and go flat. You can mix the other ingredients and add the carbonated drinks right before serving.

Hope this helps, Gillian.

Answer 3

Making pre-bottled cocktails is a great way to serve alcohol at a party without having to mix individual cocktails for each person. Typically when cocktails are made at a bar or otherwise, they are mixed with ice (whether shaken over ice and strained, or built on the rocks). When you're mixing pre-bottled cocktails for a party or something, the key is to mix them without the ice...this way they can be stored unrefrigerated. Then when it comes time to serve them, that's when you add the ice in each individual cup. Your best bet is to mix your cocktails and put them in empty glass bottles fitted with pourers (like an empty vodka bottle) so everyone can take individual servings as they please.