Scintillating conversationalists don’t need to serve clever cocktails. I, on the other hand, usually get drunk before my guests arrive so I need the cocktails to speak for themselves. Here are a few cocktails that’ll get everyone talking.

Bring home the bacon (created by Heidi Hinkle)

2 oz. tomato vodka 
1 oz. tomato juice

1/4 bar spoon of beef bouillon granules

Dash of Worcestershire

Shake vigorously and serve in a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a bacon olive trio (I'd never leave you baconless – you’ll find the recipe for all three below).

Bacon mousse olives: Place cream cheese and cooked chopped bacon in food processor, mix until smooth. Place mousse into pastry bag and fill large, pitted Spanish olives.

Deep-fried bacon-wrapped olives: Wrap a thin slice of raw prosciutto or panchetta around a large Spanish olive, secure with toothpick. Pan-sear the bacon until crispy.

Prosciutto-stuffed olives: Tightly roll thinly sliced prosciutto and insert into a large, pitted Spanish olive.

Pixi Stick Sour (created by Kristen Boe)

1 oz. Vodka

2 oz Apricot brandy

4 oz Fresh orange juice

½ oz Simple syrup

1 oz Lemon Juice

A handful of pixi stick straws

Pour the Pixi Sticks into a shallow bowl. Take the cutest glass you can find, dip the rim in water then dip into the Pixi Stick powder until coated, now your glass is ready. Pour all of the liquid ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake and strain into your pre-prepped glasses. Use the empty Pixi Sticks as straws.

Shots on the rocks

This is all about the presentation. Take a bottle of your favorite vodka, schnapps, tequila or whatever alcohol you fancy, and place into an empty half-gallon juice carton (you’ll need to cut off the top.) Fill the carton with water and put the whole shebang in the freezer. After a few hours the water will freeze and you can tear away the paper carton to reveal a bottle perfectly encased in a block of ice. Something about this makes everyone say yes to at least one shot. You can also add lemon or lime slices or even fresh flowers to the water before it freezes if you’re feelin' extra fancypants.

Lime ‘n Lager

1 six-pack of light beer

1 can frozen limeade

1 lime

Place frozen limeade into a large pitcher, slowly add beer and stir to combine. Squeeze half of the lime into the mixture. Serve in frozen beer mugs or thick walled pint glasses. So easy, even a caveman or (tipsy hostess) can do it.

I’m grateful for clever cocktail recipes, and I’ve got a million of ‘em (or at least ten more) just click here to see the rest. I may not be the hostess with the mostess, but when you come to one of my cocktail parties, you’ll be enveloped in welcoming arms, strong alcohol and some whip-smart conversation – but not from me, I’m usually passed out by 10pm.

That’s why I’m grateful for clever cocktail recipes.