Couture Cocktail'ing 101

At-home bar must-haves. How to bartend like you’ve been doing it your entire life. How to impress any guy with your bar skills.

These are just a few things the Delve crew covered off on with cocktail couture expert Revae Schneider. She’s the founder of Femme du Coupe, a bespoke cocktail and bar styling company servicing those in Chicago looking to be on top of their entertaining game.

What makes her an expert in stylish cocktail’ing? Revae spent her earlier years as a personal shopper for the likes of Marc Jacobs and Neiman Marcus, as well as a bevy of personal clients for whom she styled their homes and closets. That, coupled with her knowledge of the libation scene from years of bartending, brought Revae to the forefront of the bespoke cocktail scene here in Chicago.

Delve: What are the must-haves for an in-home bar that’s not intimidating to bartending novices?
Revae: A good vodka is a must because it’s universally liked by guys and girls. I also recommend having a gin on hand, but one that’s not juniper forward. And of course, a good whiskey. In addition to those spirits, I rely on orange, and recently ginger, liqueurs quite often. As far as the extras (bitters, etc.) go, fresh citrus is a necessary ingredient in any specialty cocktail. (Side note: Revae taught us that fresh citrus goes bad within 4-5 hours, so ditch the bottles lemon juice. Who knew?).

Delve: What is one drink that every girl should know how to make?
Revae: A French 75 (gin, lemon juice, sugar and champagne)

Delve: What advice do you have for newbies at cocktail creation?
Revae: Stock your at-home bar by shopping for a specific cocktail. If you have a few ingredients that you know can work together to create a great cocktail, you’ll wow your guests. Creating one cocktail that’s a hit is better than having a fully stocked bar that you don’t know how to navigate.

Delve: What style trends are you loving for at-home bars?
Revae: I would definitely go with a bar cart for housing all spirits and bar tools. And I’m a huge fan of vintage glassware.

Planning an event? Revae even does house calls. We’re talking everything from bachelorette parties (hello, mixology class) to food pairings. Check out offerings from Femme du Coupe here. 


*Photo via Femme du Coupe