DRINK it IN

Follow these expert tips for the perfect NYE party, writes Dan Stock

Michael Madrusan knows how to throw a good party.

After all, the founder of The Everleigh — a golden era cocktail bar overlooking Gertrude St in Fitzroy — and Heartbreaker, the latenight/early morning jukebox, pizza and dive bar in the CBD, has made a career of making sure people have a good time.

“We look at every night at The Everleigh as throwing a party for our guests,” he says. “For us, every day is New Year’s Eve in a way.”

So if you are hosting friends and family on Sunday ready to ring in 2018, Michael has one piece of advice for the perfect party: keep it simple.

“Don’t overcomplicate it. Simple drinks are often the best. Take a couple of drinks you enjoy, maybe vary with a couple of spirits. Get a solid recipe, one you’ve tried, or one you know you can pull off, that’s the first steps.”

Michael says one of the best drinks for a beginner to master — and one sure to get the party started in the best way — is a classic margarita.

“Everyone loves a margarita.” He says the key to a great margarita — or any cocktail that uses citrus such as a Tom Collins or daiquiri — is to use freshly squeezed juice.

“Always use fresh juice, it makes a massive difference to the drink, and you can always tell when people don’t.” To get the most out of each lemon or lime, zap them in the microwave for a few seconds, or rinse them in warm water, as this helps release the juice. A classic margarita recipe calls for equal parts tequila and lime juice with ½ part Cointreau (or triple sec) shaken over ice poured into a salt-rimmed coupe glass. As what you drink it out of is as important as the drink, Michael suggests planning your drinks around the glasses you have or can get. “The famous cocktail coupe glass, the soft, round martini-style champagne saucer is great for margaritas, daiquiris, gimlets, sours. It’s very versatile, a great party glass.”

A highball — a tall, long glass — is good for drinks that are topped with soda, while a short rocks tumbler takes care of a negroni, old fashioned and other short drinks served on ice.

“You can make most drinks with them. These three glasses will have you looking like a bit of a pro.”

Michael says spending money on good quality spirits pays dividends, especially the morning after.

“Never buy cheap spirits, that’s the golden rule when making cocktails.”

But the main thing Michael says is to remember to have fun.

“The best thing about cocktails is that you make them how you want. You can take a classic, add flavours to it,” he says.

“You want to please your guests, you want to look great — it’s about putting your best foot forward, great drinks on the table and making people happy.”

“Simple drinks are often the best. Take a couple of drinks you enjoy, maybe vary with a couple of spirits” MICHAEL MA DR USA NON THE PERFECT COCKTAIL