Basic Necessities for Hosting a Holiday Cocktail Party

Hattiesburg, MS

The holiday season is here, and that means your calendar might be filling up with get-togethers. If you’re feeling particularly jolly, you might be planning a cocktail party for your nearest and dearest during what Andy Williams sang about as the most wonderful time of the year. Whether you’re an experienced entertainer or hosting a cocktail party for the first time, Lincoln Road Package Store can help. That’s why we came up with this guide of necessities for your holiday cocktail party.

Stick to the basics

A cocktail party can be a great event during the holidays. Spiked cider and eggnog are mainstays during this time of year, and additions like persimmons and sugared cranberries add a dash of festive fruity flair. Unless you plan on stocking a widespread bar and turning partygoers loose (which could be risky), it’s best to have a pre-planned menu.

So, what makes a good cocktail party menu? You want to come up with drinks that will be palatable for most people and use minimal ingredients. You also want to keep things fairly simple.

A well-rounded cocktail menu can be accomplished in as few as three drinks:

• A cocktail made with light liquor
• A cocktail made with dark liquor
• A bubbly cocktail

This incorporates the taste preferences of those who like light liquors and those who like dark liquors. As for the bubbly selection, well, who doesn’t like a little fizz with their alcohol?

Your cocktail party shopping list

Make sure you have some good bar glasses—a combination of champagne flutes, hurricane glasses, and rocks glasses. You also will want a large glass pitcher and a carafe if you don’t already have these items. From there, a little décor such as holiday-themed napkins is all you need. After all, your guests likely are not coming to gaze at elaborate place settings.

Now, what about the drinks?

You’ll want a solid supply of each of the following:

• A light liquor, such as vodka, gin, or light rum
• A dark liquor, such as bourbon or whiskey
• Some bubbly, whether it be champagne, sparkling wine, anything with fizz

Now, you’ll want the mixers. Eggnog and apple cider are great choices for the holiday season, with flavor accents such as cinnamon sticks and mulling spices. Add some assorted winter fruits, such as apples, persimmons, pomegranates, cranberries, and grapes. If you’re looking to add a decadent element, consider St. Germain, a delicious elderflower liqueur, which is a key ingredient in one of the recipes that follow.

Three recipes to spice up your holiday cocktail bash

• Bourbon Spiked Cider: Take one red apple and one persimmon each and cut them into thin slices. Make sure to remove any seeds you encounter. Place the fruit in a large pitcher. Add the seeds from half a pomegranate, and a cup of red grapes cut lengthwise in half. Now add six cups of apple cider, a couple of tablespoons of mulling spices, and 1 1/2 cups of bourbon. Stir and serve over ice.
• Eggnog White Russian: A White Russian is a classic cocktail, but you give it a holiday twist by substituting eggnog for milk or cream. Take that large carafe of yours and combine 4 cups of eggnog, and either a cup of vodka or a half-cup apiece of vodka and your coffee liqueur of choice. Break up one cinnamon stick per glass and pour the concoction over the pieces, then sprinkle some ground cinnamon for garnish.
• Elderflower Champagne Cocktail: For the next beverage, you’ll want to make some sugared cranberries, which is easier than it sounds. Put 1/3 cup of water and 1/3 cup of sugar in a small saucepan and bring the contents to a boil. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add a cup of fresh cranberries. Let the mixture cool to room temperature, add an additional cup of sugar, and mix well. Spread the berries on a large plate and put them in the freezer until you’re ready to serve.

From there, this is probably the easiest thing on the menu once the cranberries are prepared. For each champagne flute, combine four ounces of champagne with two ounces of your St. Germain elderflower liqueur. Top each glass with frozen cranberries.

Holiday Cocktail Needs in Hattiesburg

The holiday season can be full of fun but also stressful if you’re entertaining. Lincoln Road Package Store is here to help. We have everything you need to make any of the above recipes. If you have any questions, call us at (601) 268-3677 or send an e-mail to jamie@lincolnroadpackagestore.com. And feel free to visit our location at 2800 Lincoln Road, Suite A, in Hattiesburg, MS.