If you want to have a drink with a group, buy them a round at a bar. If you really want to go all out and impress some friends, colleagues or acquaintances, though, teach them a new cocktail. Even better if it’s a recipe that they will remember.

I always like to get a drink in my guests’ hands right when they walk through the door. At least, that was my plan last weekend. To quote Burns (Robert, not George), “The best laid plans, o’ mice and men, go oft astray.”

Usually I have the drinks prepared and on a tray ready to go when people walk in, but I had a slight snafu with the zipper on my little black dress earlier in the evening and those few extra minutes spent fixing it took up precious time that I did not have to waste.

I thought that I had gotten a bartender to agree to work the party, but he cancelled at the last minute so that night I was to play the role of both hostess and barkeep. No matter. I know a few tricks.

When the guests arrived, I gave them a quick tour. Living room to the left, bedroom to the right, then galley kitchen straight ahead. (Yup, that was about it— it’s a New York apartment, after all).

Standing behind the counter I said, “Last Call?” And they immediately chimed in, confused, “Wait! We just got here.”

“Oh, it wasn’t a question,” I said. “I’d love to make you each a Last Call.”

While I was talking to them and catching up, I was also able to whip up the Last Call because It. Is. So. Simple. And that’s the key. Plus, it’s delicious.

The drink is a deft marriage between Brenne Whisky and Sorel. Brenne is a unique, small batch, French Single Malt Whisky, and Sorel is a Brooklyn-brewed, spiced hibiscus liqueur. Both are awesome alone, so it makes perfect sense that they are great together.

I grabbed four snifters, dropped one large ice cube into each, and got going. Two ounces of Brenne. One ounce of Sorel. Done. Bingo. That’s it.

My friends were impressed, my outfit was to die for and I sent three life-long friends into the crisp March air with a simple new go-to drink for their entertainment arsenal.

RECIPE:

Last Call

2 parts Brenne Whisky

1 part Sorel

Combine & enjoy.

Adding one large Ice cube (or sphere)-- optional

Heating the Sorel over a flame before adding the Brenne– optional

Andrea Pappas is the Founder of BrunchCritic.com. You can find her at www.facebook.com/brunchcritic , on Twitter @BrunchCritic and on Instagram @BrunchCritic