How to Handle Yourself at Work Drinks

It’s finally happened.

You’ve been asked to WORK DRINKS. (#workparty.) After weeks of back and forth and fiddling with your schedules to make it work, the day has arrived. If you’re a little nervous, you’re not alone. First work drinks can feel like a super awkward odd first date. Are we friends...are we acquaintances...are you a spy and have plans to tell my boss everything I say? You never know.

So, what does it mean? What can you talk about? You’re still working, but it doesn’t have to be so buttoned up. This isn’t a conference call-- and there’s no hold music (prayer hands). To help you prepare we hit up our friends at Diageo to suss out some appropriate work drink convo starters. Think of these as your cue cards to success.
 

HUMANIZE YOURSELF

Hey you, yes you. You’re a human. Not a robot behind a computer with super emailing skills. Many of us have only every connected over email. Don’t start the convo off digging into proposals or ROIs. Talk shop… about yourself. You don’t need to over-divulge. Your new acquaintance is not your new therapist. Rather, talk about something you’ve done recently that has nothing to do with work. For instance, a book you read. An article that you enjoyed. “Did you happen to see that piece on The Cut…?” It’s a super easy, informal way to start that makes all parties feel at ease. If the answer is yes, bond over the content. If the answer is no, fill them in and see what they think.

ASK THEM ABOUT THEMSELVES

Once you’ve broken the ice with a little cocktail, ask how they got started in their current position. It’s a great way to get to know about their past and their work history, without flat-out asking about their day-to-day. While they’re talking about their past, present, and future, figure out a way you can help them out… if it makes sense. One of the best ways to make a good impression during a work drink meet up is to find common ground and goals. For instance, you might have someone you can introduce them to who can help them out. Maybe their company is looking for a new web designer and you happen to know the perfect person. Allow the convo about work to flow naturally, and you might end up being able to help them (and your friend) out. It’s a win-win.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

You don’t want to order #thesame. You want to show that you make your own decisions and are self-sufficient, that includes your cocktails. It’s the little things. Do your research before going out

to drinks so that you can make an educated decision and order your cocktail confidentially.

Some great cocktail choices include: the Crown Royal Old Fashioned, Crown Royal Vanilla and Hard Soda or Crownberry.

THEN BE DIRECT

Once you’ve done them a mini favor, bring up how you can better serve each other. If it’s going well and this is someone you can see yourself working with, don’t be afraid to put that on the table with a simple, “We should figure out how we can work together.” You’ll be able to read their vibe if they want to work with you as well. There’s no reason to side-step around the ask, whether it’s for your full time job or a side-hustle you’re working on, be direct.

Take charge.

And remember: Even if your boss or drinks-mate orders another cocktail, only ordering one shows self-discipline and maturity so make sure you sip slowly and drink plenty of water.  If you do however, want to go home a make yourself a celebratory ‘job well done’ drink, we’ve got a couple of recipes (below) for you. Cheers to that!

Vanilla Mule

•1.5 oz. Crown Royal Vanilla
•2 oz. Ginger
•1 oz. Soda
•Lime

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a copper mug and garnish with a lime.

CHEERS! 🥂

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ETW: One Last Shot to Attend C&C NYC

photo credit: Smith House Photography 

Create & Cultivate isn’t just another conference. Sure, there’s networking and learning. There are mic drops left and right. Our speakers lay down the truth when it comes to the ups and downs of running a business, how they’ve learned from their mistakes, restructured strategies, mitigate the crazy world of social, and make every day count.

They pay it forward, entrepreneurial style.

And it’s a day where you get to grab the bull by the horns. Some people roll solo. Others roll with their BFF or biz partner at their side. But everyone comes to get inspired, collaborate, and create relationships that count.

So if you’re rolling to C&C NYC, here are a few of hacks we recommend.

PRINT OUT THOSE BUSINESS CARDS

Get ready to shake hands. Lots of hands. And despite what you might think, business cards are still an amazing way to make a great first impression. A speaker or mentor will be way more likely to take your card than they will put your info in their phone. There are a lot of people to meet and being aware is part of the networking game.

HASHTAG #CREATECULTIVATENYC & SHOUTOUT TO OTHER ATTENDEES

Want to take this a step further? Search the hashtag and DM people who are also attending. See someone you want to meet up with? Go for it. This is the new frontier. Be bold and be brave. It will make your day more meaningful.

FOR THOSE BRAVE SOLO ROLLERS -- NOMINATE A FRIEND TO COME WITH

We see you and we love you for making the investment in you. Which is why we want to give you the opportunity to bring your BFF along. We know it’s not easy to network. So with the help of our friends at Crown Royal, we’re offering you the opportunity to #creategenerously and nominate a friend to join you for the day. Those entrepreneurs aren’t the only ones who get to pay it forward.

Here’s how it works:

Crown Royal, AKA the world’s most generous whisky, is offering you the chance to win a VIP ticket for a friend to attend #CreateAndCultivateNYC with you! If you’re 21+ live in the Tri-State area and have purchased a GA ticket, comment on our Instagram here,  and tag a powerful and independent friend who wants to attend using #Contest. To enter for a chance to win them a VIP ticket because you’re the best friend they’ve ever had.

For full official rules click here.

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3 Cocktails to Help You Unwind This Weekend

photo credit: Isha Gaines 

Directions:

TO RYE FOR

1.5ox Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice

3 oz. Ginger Beer

2 Dashes Bitters

Garnish with Lime Wheel

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SXSW DELUXE

1.5 oz. Crown Royal Deluxe

.75 oz Honey Syrup 

.75 oz Lemon Juice

1 dash bitters 

Garnish with twist of lemon

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VANILLA SO SMOOTH

1.5 oz Crown Royal Vanilla 

.25 oz simple syrup,

2 dashes bitters

Garnish with orange peel

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Have an amazing weekend and cheers to all the amazing ladies in your life! 

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BTS: Our #CreateCultivateATL Speaker Dinner with Crown Royal

We can't believe it's almost been a week since we sat down to delicious cocktails from Crown Royal Vanilla and even more delicious convo at our speaker dinner at the W Atlanta in Downtown. Is it possible to FOMO post event? We think so. 

So we're throwing it back to a night of "bests." Where Sarah Michelle Gellar called the night's specialty Vanilla Fashioned cocktail the "prettiest drink ever" she's ever seen. Where the Beckerman Twins, Cailli and Sam deemed their personalized monogrammed bags, "the best takeaway ever." (Which, we'd have to agree.) And countless boss ladies from Nicolette Mason to Adrianna Adarme of A Cozy Kitchen and Ingrid Nilsen raised a glass and toasted to being in a room filled with amazing female energy.  

The Crown Royal Vanilla Fashioned is "the prettiest drink ever."
- Sarah Michelle Gellar

Tweet this.

Jaclyn Johnson, founder of Create & Cultivate addressed the speakers, telling them that the kick-off dinner is an event that she looks forward to every year. "It is an honor to have each and every one of you here tonight," she said, "and I am so excited for you guys to experience the conference tomorrow."

Click through the gallery below and enjoy the night's cocktail recipe from Crown Royal!

Vanilla Fashioned

1 sugar cube soaked in orange bitters

2oz Crown Royal Vanilla

Frozen flowers

Flamed orange zest

Place the sugar cube in a rocks glass with orange bitters, top with 2oz Crown Royal Vanilla. Once the sugar dissolves you put in your ice (containing frozen edible flowers) and stir! Orange peels are a great garnish (and you can even ignite the citrus oil when you squeeze the peel by a lit match).

Cheers! 

Photo by Eugenie Grey

Photos by Morgan Alligood, Eliza Kennard, and Eugenie Grey

 

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