maureen b

I used 5 qt aluminum dutch oven with no sticking at all. Don't worry about what pan to use. Just be sure it has a lid and is not too big. Corningware works fine, too.

The thought of drinking from a metal cocktail glass seems kind of unpleasant to me. I treated myself this Christmas to a set of iittala Aarne cocktail glasses. They are v-shaped with a short, stumpy stem. I tried them out with an Aviation, which fit perfectly in this size glass.

Thanks for the warning! My "social circle" has overwhelmingly approved of this delicious drink. Luckily I made a double batch to fill up the punch bowl and an ice ring imbedded with orange slices and cranberries kept everything well chilled for the couple of hours until it was gone. It was a very festive Christmas indeed with Regent's Punch. My thanks to David Wondrich for sharing this recipe.

For my first cocktail party with about 50 guests, I provided a full bar so that people could mix up their favorite drinks, but I came to the realization that most of my friends were so used to beer and wine at parties that they had no idea what to do when faced with so many choices. In parties that have followed, I simplified things by providing two or three different cocktails in pitchers. But that is for a large cocktail party. What you have going is another story all together and I think wine/beer/sangria/interesting soft drinks would be more than enough in the way of libations for this marathon event. Got to keep your crew on their feet. My recommendation is to enjoy your well deserved cocktails after this incredible meal (and before the orgasmic burgers). Happy Birthday!