Jennifer Peeples, creator of The Perfect10 Mixology Service, is a vital figure in The Takeover, an annual holiday giveback in Detroit being held on Dec. 21. This year, proceeds will benefit The Detroit Boys Mentoring Club.
At the fifth annual The Takeover, guests can savor unique cocktails from the Lockeroom called The Perfect 10, The Speak Easy Detroit and What’s the Current. Each drink is named after individual businesses from founders Nik Cole, Kenzie Current and Peeples.
The mixologist described the best holiday drinks and understanding one’s limits.
What made you start The Perfect10 Mixologist Service?
I was in college, and I started bartending. I took a bartending class because a good friend of mine was like, “Let’s just do it. It costs like 200 bucks.” In college, $200 is a million dollars, but we scrounged up the money and took the class. Our first event we worked on was a huge party here in Detroit, and I made triple the amount I paid for the class. After that, I was hooked. After a while, my thought was to give people the opportunity to learn how to make great cocktails, taste great cocktails and learn some things about them.
What should attendees expect at this year’s Takeover?
The Takeover is in its fifth year. It started as an opportunity for us to come in and have fun behind the bar but in addition, it’s a way for us to give back. We started with the organization Toys for Tots and then Identify Your Dream Foundation. Now, we’re doing one for the Detroit Boys Mentoring Club.
Did you create any signature cocktails for the event?
We’re going to name our cocktails after our business names. For The Takeover, we name them after our businesses. We have the SpeakEasy Detroit, What’s the Current and The Perfect 10. We also have a cocktail named The Takeover, and one that’s just going to be called The Shot, which is for a cause. We’re pulling from the menu of the hosting bar Lockeroom. We’re just going to rename those and serve them for the evening.
What does The Perfect10 have going on during the holidays?
Right now is our super-busy season, with corporate events, team building, team holiday parties and people hosting their holiday functions. When it comes to different events, we love to create holiday cocktails. We have one called White Christmas, which is infused with coconut milk, vodka or tequila. We add some bitters and orange bitters to give it a warming yet refreshing taste. During the season, you often crave warm drinks, so my favorite go-to is mulled cider.
What safety precautions should people practice when consuming alcoholic beverages at holiday parties?
I like to tell people to hydrate and make sure they’re eating well. When you have a lot of sugar from cocktails that’s when you get the aftereffects. Monitor how much sugar you’re taking [consuming] that day. Drink responsibly, know your limits and call an Uber if you need to.
