Holiday season is quickly approaching and that means one thing: parties! Holiday hosting can be a lot, Tippler Nation, but we are here to help. We’ve compiled our 5 fave pro tips for stress free holiday hosting that will help you throw a fabulous soiree. Follow our lead and spend more time with your guests and less time playing bartender (unless that’s what you’re into).
From things you can prep ahead of time to drinks easy enough for your guests to execute a la minute, even fun active and virtual options–we’ve thought out all the party hosting logistics so you don’t have to…now get ready to party!
1. Have a list and check it twice.
Before you can host a party, you must prepare!
Step 1: decide what sort of holiday party you are hosting. Is it cocktail heavy? A potluck? Full on Thanksgiving for the whole family and then some? Make a list of how you envision your holiday party to flow and what you’d like for your spread.
Once you have a clear vision, you are ready for step 2: invite folks! After you have your guest list, it is important to make a note of everyone’s dietary restrictions, allergies, and whether or not they imbibe. We like to ask people as they RSVP to please include any dietary concerns so that we can plan accordingly.
Step 3: make your shopping and prep list. Things that you can prep or make ahead are clutch when it comes to holiday hosting. Always make or buy more ice than you think you’re going to need. When prepping for drinks, a good party rule is 1 drink per guest, per hour. Depending on your guests you might want to scale that up…we sure do. Plan for hydration options: easy access to pitchers of water or cans of seltzer come in very handy. Do you have enough cups, plates, or silverware? Think about where the trash and recycling will be–can folks easliy find the bins?
If at anytime you feel overwhelmed, refer to your list and let it be your guide.
2. Batch, Batch, Baby!
Sure, we love to make cocktails and put on a show for our friends, but when it comes to party hosting, we are in it for the quality company (and ok, maybe the compliments). The easiest way to ensure you don’t get stuck playing bartender while holiday hosting is to prebatch your cocktail and non-alcoholic options and then bottle and label them. Punches, freezer martinis, bottles of Negroni or Boulevardier are all great ways to make sure hosting is a piece of cake! Want help scaling your recipes up? Check out this batch calculator .
Should you have leftover batched cocktails, please note that full spirited recipes like Manahttans and Negroni will be fine to keep on hand (we recommend the fridge door), while puches and recipes with citrus typically have a 24 hour shelf life before they start to get funky. Making a punch? It’s always fun to get creative with your ice molds!
3. Set Up Your Bar For Easy DIY Drinks.
Hankering to host a holiday party that will be talked about for years? Allow us to introduce you to one of our favorite holiday hosting hacks: DIY bar. Create an easy to access cocktail and beverage area with an array of craft spirits, bitters, beers, wines, ciders, mixers, and garnishes that can be used in a myriad of ways. Make sure there is easy access. to glassware, ice, and hand towels just in case! Pre-cut citrus twists, lemon and lime wedges and wheels, lay out an array of fresh herbs and spices to be used for garnishing next to simple syrups, fresh juices, and and sodas.
The key with a DIY Drinks Bar is to make things easy: spritzes, Old Fashioned, Negroni and other cocktails that can be built in the glass. If you have mixing glasses, perhaps set up a Manhattan and Martini station. Want signature cocktails? Lay out the ingredients next to a framed recipe and guests can assemble at their leisure.
4. Let Us Do It For You. No, Seriously.
We would love to be invited to your holiday party! Thank you for asking! Our virtual holiday events can bring all of your special guests together, no matter where they may be, and our tasting kits can be shipped throughout the US! Let us cater a virtual cocktail class, whiskey, wine, cider, sake, or beer tasting and do all the work for you! Looking for a fun in person holiday party activity? Order our SipScout tasting kits to do a fun spirited exploration with your guests and our companion videos and digital resources on your own! We love sharing the world of craft alcohol and we are fantastic virtual party hosts. But don’t take it from us, check out our reviews!
5. Potluck.
Do you have the perfect space for holiday hosting but lack the will to do all of the work that comes with it? We hear that. Create the vibe, fling open your doors to welcome your friends, and tell them to bring all the things! Create an RSVP invite that lets people share what items they are bringing, leave out cards and markers so dishes and beverages can be clearly marked, and enjoy just being. Take the checklist we mentioned at the beginning, share it with your most organized friend or loved one (who will make sure it is followed to a T), and then chill the F out. You’ve opened your doors, you are hosting the holidays, crack a craft beer and toast to your friends’ collective prowess in the kitchen. Stress free holiday hosting at its finest!
Happy Holiday Hosting!
May your holiday hosting be merry, bright, and stress free this year! We hope our five easy tips for stress free holiday hosting empowers you to throw the best party of the season–one where everyone gets to spend time together. Holidays are really all about the people you choose to celebrate with, a sentiment near and dear to our hearts since we choose to work with craft spirits for the same reason: the people. Every time you choose a local craft beer, spririt, cider, or wine you are supporting local agricuture and giving someone a big reason to smile this holiday season. Cheers to you, Tippler Nation!
Jena is an event host & contributing writer for The Crafty Cask, as well as an award-winning bartender, cocktail educator, Cicerone Certified Beer Server, and Executive American Whiskey Steward. Based in NYC, Jena has been working in the craft alcohol world for the last 15 years with recipes appearing in Manhattan restaurant/bars & multiple publications. She is the 2019 Nikka Perfect Serve Global Runner Up and a 2020 Cognac Connection winner.
