Happy hour at home: How to create a cocktail corner for entertaining

“HEATHER HOTCAKES!!” She enters a room and men shout her handle. Yup, Heather Manning started as a plus-size pinup model at heather_hotcakes and has more than 12,000 Instagram followers. But imbibers need to know, she’s added a new beverage-focused page: cocktails.with.hotcakes.

Manning is always dressed to the nines. So, when we decided to gather tips on how to set up a special corner of any home as a pop-up or permanent space for drinks, she was the first influencer who came to mind.

This Fountain Valley mother of two, a special education teacher by day, has a style that’s vintage, fun and friendly.

Manning took on cocktails during the pandemic because she missed her bartender friends. She has met quite a few while attending media events with her husband of nearly 20 years, Southern California beverage writer Rich Manning.

During the pandemic she had a bartender come on her social media channel weekly to teach her how to make a cocktail, she says. “So, I decided to start the second page, Cocktails with Hotcakes, particularly since my husband writes a lot for the industry. I figured this was also a good way for me not to feel like I was just a ‘plus-one.’”

Manning says whether it’s for a house party or your nightly happy hour, you’ve got to set the stage for a special experience.

“I think it’s really important to have that area set aside because when you’re hosting or when you get home and you want a cocktail, that’s your moment to take a breather,” she says. “I just stand in front of my glassware and my bottles. And I’m like, okay, ‘Where do I want to go now? What do I want to do? And that helps me decompress and take a moment out of the day’s craziness.”

That space can be inside or out, on a patio or beside the pool. But it needs a theme that you love, she says. You could consider a coastal Mexican resort, Irish pub, tiki or a number of styles. Just think about setting the mood with whatever helps you chill. As research, Manning suggests visiting your favorite watering holes and taking cues from the way they set the vibe.

In her home, she’s created a backdrop near her dining room. It’s green with gold accents that signal classic mid-century modern/Palm Springs lounge.

“The wall that I do all of my little shoots from was definitely a labor of love,” she says, adding that it went up during the pandemic when she had lots of time at home. “I love it so much because those are all individual decals, and they come on this giant roll. We had to paint and then I had to put the decals up.”

Once you’ve picked your spot and set your theme, start surrounding it with objects that inspire you: bottles, glassware, cocktail recipe books and more. Manning sometimes collects cool accessories from her go-to bars.

“Coasters. And I have a lot of tiki swizzle sticks. Always ask, they usually will be happy to sell you things.” But please be respectful, she adds. “If a cool glass comes out, or a shaker, and people are like, ‘I’m just gonna put that in my purse.’ No! Don’t take it.”

Manning says you don’t need to pinch anything because there’s so much chic barware available for pennies on the dollar — if you know where to look. Vintage shops, liquor stores, Amazon, Crate & Barrel, West Elm and other retailers sell originals and reproductions of classic drinkware of all eras.

And don’t forget to recycle when you splurge on pricey spirits. “There are some beautiful liquor bottles out there. When you finish them, save a couple and put some twinkly lights in them. That way you have a nice memory of the wonderful booze that you drank, and then it also makes the space feel a little more special.”

While Manning digs classic mid-century modern, Pasadena cocktail writer Eddie Zamora draws on his Cuban heritage for the Pecking Room, a bar in his garage with a posh tropical look.

“I’m originally from Miami, Florida, and there’s peacocks all over Miami. So, my bar has little peacocks all over the place. I have a peacock lamp. I have a couple little smaller peacocks on the back bar. I’ve got a peacock tray on the bar itself.”

The Pecking Room is also home to “Kill the Bottle,” his Apple top-30 podcast about food and drink. On air, he’s hosted country singer Martina McBride, Chef Richard Blais, actor Laz Alonso of “The Boys” and other celebs.

A big-time influencer now, this stylish guy was inspired by peacock print wallpaper he saw in a vignette at IKEA.

“It was super gorgeous,” he says. He and his wife tracked it down to a pricey European designer, but they wanted to stick to a budget. “We shifted and found another wallpaper that’s dark green with these elegant gold palm trees, so it’s very subtle but elegant and classy.”

Zamora took his time building his look and now has all kinds of goodies in his bar: an icemaker, a vintage-look fridge, a neon sign, logo sign, even a small dishwasher. “That little guy will just plug in and take care of whatever I need. I don’t have a sink and I don’t have any water back there. I actually don’t feel like I need it, because everything is in such close proximity to the house.”

He likes to hunt for barware at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Flea Market. One of his prize finds is a special glass for a Cuban drink called a canchánchara. “During the Spanish-American War, when they were trying to liberate from Spain, the fighters would drink a mixture of rum, lime and honey syrup.”

According to Difford’s Guide, most historians agree that the drink originated during the Ten Years’ War (1868-1878), but it was definitely popular during the Spanish-American War.

Zamora also has a 1930s neon replica sign from the original Havana Club bar in Cuba and a 1951 Club Tropicana menu that he picked up during a 2017 visit to the legendary nightspot.

Creating your home bar is all about setting the vibe and making it your own, he says. “People feel like they’re coming to a little club. I open up my garage and I’m like ‘Whoa! I’m in another world.’”

Get started building your own oasis. Here are tips from the experts to guide you:

Resources: Get Heather Manning’s look at heartofhaute.com and pinupgirlclothing.com. “Modern Classic Cocktails: 60+ Stories and Recipes from the New Golden Age in Drinks” by Robert Simonson is a go-to recipe book for Manning. Find barware at Facebook/Marketplace, Target, Crate & Barrel.

Resources: Find shelving at Costco Wholesale and lamps at Cost Plus World Market. Scout out special vintage pieces at the Rose Bowl Flea Market.

Boysenberry Old Fashioned

Yield: One serving

2 ounces bourbon

4 dashes black walnut bitters

¼ ounce boysenberry syrup

Garnish: Orange peel and fresh boysenberries

Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass half filled with ice. Stir for 20-30 seconds until chilled.

Strain into a rocks glass filled with one large ice cube. Garnish with an orange peel and a boysenberry.

Source: Original recipe by Heather Manning

‘Up All Night’ Espresso Rumtini

Yield: One serving

1 ounce espresso

1 ounce The Real Havana Club Añejo Clásico rum

1 ounce Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur

1 ounce Amaro Averna

¼ ounce simple syrup

Smoke a chilled Nick and Nora glass. Add ingredients to an ice-filled cocktail shaker.

Shake and strain into your smoked glass. Garnish with 3 whole coffee beans.

Source: Original recipe by Eddie Zamora

Get the latest news delivered daily!