It was was the perfect summer day at Maple Shade; the historic Hamptons home of KDHamptons founder Kelli Delaney Kot and Dr. Mark Kot. Hosted by KDHamptons, the Luxury Lifestyle Diary, LUX Lifestyle Magazine and Bed Side Reading, the exclusive “Books, Bubbly, and Blooms Garden Party” was held on July 2, attracting invited Hamptons influentials, tastemakers, writers, and passionate readers who came to celebrate the holiday weekend. A dynamic group of selected authors signed their hot new summer reads, and guests toasted with Kelli’s favorite cocktails, including 21 Seeds Tequila, while being served artisanal summer bites.

The consummate Hamptons hostess, Kelli (above, center) is known for always adding a fun party trick to all of her gatherings. Guests swooned over Kelli’s jaw-dropping BLOOM BAR filled with over 1,000 fresh cut floral stems from Island Time Farm of Shelter Island. Farm owners Kelci McIntosh and Chris DiOrio arranged beautiful custom bouquets sweetly wrapped in burlap and sealed with a pink pin for each guest to take home – a flower lovers dream. Weston Table Founder and CEO Dianne O’Connor curated the BLOOM BAR design to look like a French flower market.

The event was hosted in the Kot’s gorgeous blooming gardens which featured charming conversation tables and sitting areas styled with Weston Table decor including French table linens, Arte Italica Scalloped Pitchers filled with layers of peonies and pink Chinese forget-me-nots, and pastel pink and white Mosser Glass cake stands that served as pedestals for locally-made Sundae Donuts and sensational Oishii strawberries.

Twenty authors were selected by Kelli and Jane Ubell of Bedside Reading which places books by the bedsides, poolsides, firesides and in the hands of VIPS through their partnerships with luxury and boutique hotels.

Guests toasted with tequila cocktails by 21 Seeds infused with cucumbers, jalapeños, oranges, and grapefruit. Founder and CEO Kat Hantas shares, “I created 21SEEDS because it’s what I wanted to drink – something smooth, simple, and casual with a fresh, natural flavor that made drinking infused tequila as approachable as a glass of wine. Before it was a brand it was just a couple of bottles infused in my kitchen with things I had on hand. Cucumbers, jalapeños, oranges, and grapefruit all worked in flavored tequila cocktails, so why not just add them straight to the tequila? I’d bring a bottle to a party, and before long we’d all be sitting around the table drinking our infused tequila spritzes in our beloved wine glasses, sharing stories and laughing at old jokes.”

Hantas adds, “What began as one bottle turned into dozens…and eventually a new beginning. So, I knew I had to think bigger. I called my sister Nicole and our friend Sarika, and we started talking about the possibilities. We found a female-led distillery– a perfect fit. We worked on different infusions and got each recipe just right. We came up with a name. Two sisters and one friend: 21SEEDS was born.”

Aside from the delicious, female founded, tequila, another one of Kelli’s party tricks included serving mouth-watering Oishii Strawberries which are the summer hit of TikTok and Instagram. These “Omakase” and “Koyo” supermodel strawberries are vertically grown and can be delivered to your door through FreshDirect.

KDHamptons hopes you enjoy these party details and cocktail recipes! To pick up 21 Seeds in The Hamptons visit Watermill Wine and Spirits at 760 Montauk Hwy, Water Mill, and to see more information on 21 Seeds Tequila, click HERE. 

Written by Nicole Vawter
Photos by Eric Striffler