Even though a variety of establishments are now open, people are still opting to enjoy their favorite drinks at their homes. With so much time spent indoors, you now have the opportunity to become the bartender and host you never knew you could be. Prepare for fun game nights and flowing drinks by learning the best cocktail recipes and virtual games that will turn your house into your personal at-home center bar.
Best Cocktail Recipes
The first step to creating the perfect at-home center bar is having the best cocktail recipes. While you may be used to bartenders quickly whipping up beverages for you, it’s now time to step up to the plate and see what bartending skills you’ve got. While there are hundreds of drinks to choose from, here are some of the best cocktail recipes that’ll add pizzazz to your center bar.
Whiskey Sour
Even though this age-old drink dates all the way back to the 1860’s, the whiskey sour has remained one of the best cocktail recipes around. If you like whiskey and you like drinks with a sour kick, this could be a game changer for you. Whiskey of your choice, lemon juice, maple syrup, an orange garnish, and cocktail cherry are all the ingredients you need. Shake them all together in a cocktail shaker with ice and pour yourself a frosty whiskey sour!
Classic Mojito
Originally from Cuba, the classic mojito has earned its title as one of the best cocktail recipes around the world. This minty fresh drink is simple to make, but requires an extra touch that you may not be familiar with: muddling. All you need to do is use a wooden cocktail muddler (or unfinished wooden spoon) to gently mash mint together with lime juice and simple syrup. Place the leaves in the bottom of a cocktail shaker, add rum, and shake it up. Top off the drink with soda water for a little bubbly element!
Moscow Mule
Want a quick and easy beverage to cool down this summer? The Moscow Mule makes it on the list of best cocktail recipes because it meets that criteria while also being insanely tasty. Grab your vodka, ginger beer, lime juice, and you’re ready to pour into that iconic copper mug. Ever wonder why this drink is served in a copper cup? One, copper immediately takes on the temperature of your drink, keeping the cup and drink cool as you sip on it. And two, Hollywood stars fell in love with the idea in the 1940’s and the tradition has stuck ever since!
Cosmopolitan Cocktail
Carrie Bradshaw and her girl gang put the spotlight on this drink as one of the best cocktail recipes in the city. Yes, Sex and the City made this drink even more famous than it already was, and for good reason. This fruity drink with a sour kick is classy and sassy all at the same time. Combine vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, and triple sec into a cocktail shaker full of ice. Shake, shake, shake, and strain into a martini glass. Top it off with an orange twist and sip like you’re at an uptown bar in Manhattan.
Pina Colada
Bring a little Puerto Rican flavor to your at-home center bar with a sweet Pina Colada! For all you slurpee lovers, opt to blend the ingredients into a blender for a slushy texture. White rum, frozen pineapple, coconut milk, lime juice, and maple syrup are all you need to transport yourself to the white sandy beaches of Puerto Rico. Garnish with an umbrella for a cute, tropical accent!
Champagne Cocktail
Nothing screams sophisticated and classy more than champagne. While champagne alone is a yummy beverage, the champagne cocktail elevates it even further. It’s super simple to make, so there’s no way you can leave this one out of your at-home center bar! First, mix together champagne and angostura bitters. Then, squirt a lemon peel to bring a burst of spritz. Drop in a sugar cube to create a fountain of sweet bubbles, and last, garnish with a lemon twist. Voila, enjoy a glistening glass of champagne with an extra hint of flavor!
Entertainment: Social Gaming Style
Once you have the best cocktail recipes mixed up and ready to go, it’s time to bring your at-home center bar to the next level with entertainment. While you may not be able to invite all of your friends and family over to have a game night just yet, there are plenty of virtual games that will fill your evening with laughter and fun. Grab your beverage and check out these popular games that can be played right on your phone or laptop!
Play Free Online!
If you’re looking for casino perks while still at home, Hard Rock at Fire Mountain offers free online play for Wild Card holders through our Social Casinos. Regardless of the casino games you enjoy, Hard Rock at Fire Mountain has endless opportunities on property and online for the ultimate gaming experience. Sign up for our loyalty card program today, the Wild Card, and attach to your Social Casino accounts for your chance to start winning real-time prizes!
Hard Rock Blackjack & Casino
Casino goers can now enjoy an exciting and real casino experience that includes many player-favorite table games, including blackjack, roulette, craps, and more, all in stunning 3D. Players can also enjoy popular video poker games and exciting slot titles, or can sit at one of the many real-time multiplayer Texas Hold’em or Omaha Poker tables. Install the app and play for free today!
Hard Rock Social Casino
Virtual social gaming is now easier than ever! The Hard Rock Social Casino features over 100 exciting, unique, and free slot games including favorites players may recognize from the casino floor. Players can also link their Wild Card to their Hard Rock Social Casino account for the chance at real casino rewards, from Free Play and Buffet tickets to hotel room nights at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain. Create an account to play free now!
Playing Cards.io
For a whole bunch of virtual games, check out Playing Cards.io. It’s a free app that will make your friends and family night one to remember. Choose from all sorts of games like Crazy Eights, Go Fish, and Joking Hazard, or play a custom card game with a standard deck of cards. Then, create a room for you and your friends to play in virtually. If your at-home center bar is full of adults for the night, play the equivalent to Cards Against Humanity—Remote Insensitivity. Set up a Zoom or Skype call with everyone, and you’re ready to chat, play, and drink!
Heads Up
Heads Up is another popular virtual game to add to your social distancing game night. You can choose from multiple categories like “Act It Out,” “Blockbuster Movies,” and “Accents & Impressions” to keep the entertainment going for hours! Simply download the app, set up a video chat, and your friends and family night is already planned.
Scattergories
This top-selling word game is a fun choice if you’re looking for your mind to be challenged. Beat the clock to name objects within a category and add a little competition to your friends and family night. Scattergories is normally played as a board game, but you’re in luck because it’s also offered as a free app. Zoom or Facetime your family, have everyone download the app, and let the competition begin!
Quiz Up
What’s more fitting for an at-home center bar than a trivia game? Trivia nights at your favorite bars may be on hold, but that just means more time for you to improve your knowledge set before they’re back in action. Quiz Up is the perfect game to help you train because it allows you to play against your friends in real time with thousands of topics. Plus, it’s free! Jump on a video call during your friends and family night and become a trivia master!
Hard Rock Has It All
While entertaining at home is fun and there are plenty of cocktails and games to keep you occupied, don’t forget that Hard Rock Sacramento has everything you need now that we’re up and running again. From specialty cocktails at the Hard Rock Cafe Center Bar to new and safely improved casino games, every visit is just as exciting as the grand opening. Choose dining experiences equipped with bar bites at the finest restaurants like Council Oak Steaks & Seafood to wind down for the evening. While you stay healthy at home and practice social distancing, plan out your next vacation to Fire Mountain and take a look at the countless rooms and suites we offer our guests.
In addition to our newly introduced safety precautions, Safe + Sound, Hard Rock at Fire Mountain is now offering enhanced experiences on-property. You Sang, We Listened is offering new casino gaming, new menu additions, new pricing, and much more! The team at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is keeping your health, safety, and needs top-of-mind as the world begins to open up once again! Join us to experience a new and improved Hard Rock experience.
Now that you’re ready to work your at-home center bar like a professional bartender, let all your friends and family know that a virtual game night is in the works! With games and the best cocktail recipes, all you need to do is cook up a delicious dinner to complete your perfect evening!