It's party time! Cocktail parties are becoming an integral part of the most of urban societies these days. They are organized more frequently now as the youth is ruling the roost and becoming party crazy folks. Liquor and alcohols are the new favorites of the young professionals. Their zeal for these new interests is characterized by the fact that they work extremely hard in the work places but they party much harder after the work. This emerging young generation is not lagging behind anyone in knowledge as well. Information technology has helped them immensely to know the facts about all the things they are involved in.

™

In the cocktail parties, the most important accessory is barware. As classy as the bar wares are as rocking a party would be. Simply put, they are a kind of glasswares or any material items that are used in preparation and serving of the alcoholic drinks. Barwares are selling like hot cakes these days both in wholesale as well as retail market.

Materials that are used popularly in making bar wares are stainless steel, glass, plastic, acrylic and and aluminum. Stainless steel is known to be the most durable. It's easy in cleaning and maintenance. Glass is great for enhancing the visual and decorative appeal of the merchandise. Maintenance is bit tough but they are easy in clean up. Plastic is one of the inexpensive materials and can be molded in to multiple shapes and sizes. Acrylic is a material that is known for strength and bar wares made of it last very long. Aluminum also is a metal that is known for its durability and shine. Clean-up and maintenance is never a worry for aluminum merchandise.

Main categories for bar wares are cocktail shakers and flasks; drink chillers; bottle openers and stoppers; bar glasses; bar tools and bar accessories. There are several items that inalienable parts of these main categories. Beer Pitchers, Carafes, Cocktail Jiggers, Cocktail Shaker, Drink Mixers, Juice Bottle, Wine Decanters comprise the cocktail shakers and flasks. Can Cooler, Champagne Chiller, Ice Bucket, Wine Cooler constitute the drink chillers. Bottle Opener, Bottle Stopper, Champagne Opener, Corkscrew, Rabbit Bottle Opener, Wine Drip Stopper, Wine Opener, Wine Pourer etc. are the parts of bottle opener and stopper. Important bar tools are Bar Spoons, Ice Crusher, Ice Tongs, Julep Strainer and Peg Measure whereas significant bar accessories include Appetizer Tray, Bar Set, Wine Coasters, Wine Rack, Wine Trolley etc.

Throwing a cocktail party can be a great way to get friends, co-workers or other business mini vortexer associates together in a loose, laid back environment. There's no better way to network, social or business, than at a party with a cold drink.

These cocktail party ideas may hearken back to the golden era days of Hollywood so play it up with some diffused lighting, silver candlesticks and a few vases of roses for a touch of class.

To create an environment conducive to mingling, make more space by pushing the sofas and chairs back to the walls. Create a few sitting areas so guests can engage in private conversations, have a place to set their drinks and get a rest from those stiletto heals. Avoid the junior-high dance feel by spreading the chairs out instead of lining them up against the wall. For those starry-eyed, would be lovers; scatter a few pens and notepads around the room to allow for the easy exchange of digits.

Perhaps the most important item on your list of cocktail party ideas is, of course, the bar. Find a spot off in the corner or to the side and designate it the bar area. Stock it with booze, juices, sodas, club soda, ice, fruit garnishes, pimiento-stuffed olives, assorted glassware, shot glasses, a cocktail shaker, a stirrer, swizzle sticks, cocktail napkins and a cocktail recipe book for flashes of liquid creativity. Budget permitting, you can pull out all the stops by hiring a professional bartender for the evening.

Can't afford to hire a bartender and don't want to spend your whole evening behind the bar? A great cocktail party idea is to simply make the bar self-serve. Get the recipes for a few favorites and multiply them by 10 and place in pitchers. Or you can just provide the liquors and mixers, set out a book of recipes and let the party-goers craft their own libations.

Which ever way you decide to go don't settle for the same old beer and wine. After all there won't be any novelty to your cocktail party if your guests are downing the same old drinks they have the other 51 Saturdays of the year.

For the most part, it's the mingling and sparkling conversation that makes a cocktail party swing but if you want to shake things up a bit try these cocktail party ideas:

* Best Martini Mixologist. Round up the martini aficionados and let them showcase their stuff. Be sure you have vodka, gin, dry vermouth, pearl onions, olives, lemon twists, a shaker and a stirrer on hand to unleash the martini magic.

* Best Original Cocktail Challenge. Have your guests create a completely original cocktail from your assortment of liquors, mixers, garnishes, swizzle sticks, and drink umbrellas. Make sure they name it, the more ridiculous the better!

* Play the cocktail party version of Mad-Libs. One guest comes up with the adjective and another comes up with the noun (for example, Tasty Pie or Hot Wax). Then they have to formulate the drink to match the name. Best tasting concoction wins!

* Best Bartender Showoff (Tom Cruise style). Break out the shakers and plastic glasses, crank up the "Hippy, Hippy Shake" and let your guests shine. Keep this one in the kitchen so the spills that go with the thrills won't leave you with a huge carpet cleaning bill.