How to Choose a Signature Drink (Plus 4 Recipes)

I’ve seen a lot of calligraphed signature drink signs over the years. Sometimes they’re on chalkboards, sometimes they’re on glass or an antique mirror. Occasionally they’re homemade, often they’re purchased on Etsy. Sometimes they’re accompanied by a line drawing of the drink in question, or alongside a quote (may I suggest: “vodka, because no good story ever started with a salad”). Like a bathroom emergency kit or a basket of flip flops by the dance floor, offering a his & her cocktail has become a wedding staple. 

But Jeseca, you may be asking yourself, what’s the point of a signature cocktail? For starters, they’re cute AF. Plus, weddings are all about showing off your unique personalities, and there’s no better way to express yourself than through a creative libation. People love getting invited to open bars—I mean weddings—and nothing gets your wedding guests in the dancing spirit like a complimentary spirit…or two…or three. 

How to Choose a Signature Drink

Keep It Simple
You want your guests out on the dance floor, not waiting in line at the bar while the bartender muddles mint and blueberry and shakes ice for a blueberry mojito. That sounds delicious, but I digress. Your signature drink should not take long to make and should contain under four ingredients unless it can be premixed in a big batch.

Choose Something You Like to Drink
Don’t overthink it; you’re not entering a mixology competition. Your signature drink should be something you’ll actually want to drink on your wedding day. My signature drink, for example, would be a Coors Light (I will not be taking comments at this time). 

Think Seasonal
Some drinks, like Coors Light, are appropriate for all seasons. Otherwise lean into these flavor profiles: floral for spring, citrus for summer, spiced for fall, and warm for winter. 

Don’t Make It Too Strong
If you met at a dive bar guzzling double vodka Red Bulls maybe that’s a piece of your love story you don’t reflect in your signature drink. You want to choose something that people can have multiple of and still make it out onto the dance floor. 

Do Your “Research”
Take your cocktail recipe for a test run at home to decide which one is the best suited for your wedding day. (I’m an excellent taste-tester if you need a second opinion.)

Wedding Signature Drink Recipes

When choosing a signature drink both the name and the ingredients should be meaningful to you, but we have some ideas. 

Peach Bellini

6 oz prosecco
1 oz peach schnapps
Optional: splash of orange juice

Combine ingredients in a champagne flute. Garnish with a peach slice. 

  

Cranberry Mule

There are endless ways to customize a Moscow Mule, but this one is perfect for all seasons. 

2 oz vodka
1 oz fresh lime juice
2 oz cranberry juice
2 oz ginger beer 

Fill a copper mug with crushed ice and stir in vodka, lime juice, cranberry juice, ginger beer. Garnish with a lime. 

French 75

2 oz gin
¾ oz lemon juice
¾ oz simple syrup
2 oz champagne 

Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice and mix well. Strain into a champagne flute, top with champagne. Garnish with a lemon wheel. 

Big Batch Rum Punch

A make ahead option that can be served quickly to your guests. There are also options for putting a different spin on this one. You can use dark rum, light rum, coconut rum, or spiced rum. You can add grenadine to make it sweeter or change the juice ratios.

2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups orange juice
1 cup grenadine
½ cup rum
½ cup dark rum
½ cup coconut rum
½ cup lime juice

Pour all ingredients into a large container and stir. Serve over a cup of ice. 

And when in doubt, you can’t go wrong with a Coors Light. (Coors, if you’re looking for a brand ambassador hit me up.)