Summer is the perfect time to entertain at home: backyard picnics, festive lunches, courtyard dinners and parties just for the sake of it. Preparing a welcome drink is a generous and thoughtful way to greet your guests at the door. It primes the palate and sets the tone for the rest of the party. And if it’s your signature cocktail, well, aren’t you an impressive host?

We want to see the welcome drinks you create over summer. The creator of our favourite welcome drink will receive a cocktail master class with 2015 Australian World Class Bartender of the Year Jack Sotti.

You’ll be in your own home with 10 friends, learning Sotti’s cocktail secrets while eating food from one of our favourite restaurants. We’ll provide the spirits, cocktail ingredients, glassware, food and music. All you have to do to enter is share a photo of your welcome drink on Instagram with the hashtag #welcomedrink and tag @broadsheet_syd.

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Need some welcome drink inspiration? What about the not-so-humble gin and tonic by Gin Palace in Melbourne, made with Pimm’s and laden with fruit and vegetables?

If there are some coffee aficionados amongst your friends, the Espresso Martini from Bulletin Place is an option. If you’re after a classic cocktail, you can’t overlook this Martini recipe. Once this old favourite is mastered you can add your own personal twist.

It can be tricky to have 20 or so cocktails ready on arrival if you’re expecting a lot of guests. Our tip: you can batch cocktails in advance, which will save time and ensure consistency and quality. The Bundaberg Rum Doctor Funk and the Ketel One Pale Rider are two of our favourites, especially for lazing about on a picnic rug.

Look through our World Class cocktail recipe guide for welcome-drink inspiration, or create your own from scratch.

How to enter
1. Upload a photo of your welcome drink to Instagram
2. Tag @broadsheet_syd and #welcomedrink in the caption
3. Make sure you follow @broadsheet_syd

Please note: Your Instagram must be public for us to see your entry.

This competition runs until January 8, 2016. View the terms and conditions here.