Plan on throwing a Christmas party? If you’re playing host to a Christmas party this holiday season, then you might be racking your brain right now, trying to figure out which drinks to prepare and serve to your guests. Well, we personally prefer sticking to one alcohol base like whisky (we discovered an awesome yet ultra affordable one called Andy Player) and then dashing things up more with decorations and cutesy Christmassy stuff galore. This way, you won’t have to worry too much about buying a bunch of different types of alcohol just to keep everyone happy (though having some beer handy won’t hurt, just in case).
Naturally, your choices should generally depend on you and your guests, but if you are panicking at the last minute and are on a strict budget, then here’s a guide of drinks that we’d recommend. Trust us: there’s something here for everyone.
10 Ways to Nail Your Christmas Drinks List Planning
10. Have something unique to offer.
The Irish Redhead isn’t something that people would normally order at a bar nor will everyone know what it is. Impress your friends by serving something they might not be familiar with and introduce them to a new drink they may end up loving and talking about for a long time to come.
Ingredients:
- 3 ounces of Andy Player
- 1 ounce of grenadine
- 5-6 ounces of clear soda
- Lemon and lime juice
Instructions:
- It’s super easy. Just mix all of the ingredients and serve over ice. Props if you can find cute ice shapes to use for your party.
- Garnish with a lemon or lime wedge.
- Add Christmas-colored straws for fun!
Best to serve when: the party is just getting started and you’re not too busy with anything else yet. Get your guests to help out, too, and make it a group affair. Trust us: everyone appreciates learning how to make a new drink that they can show off in the future!
9. Know at least one easy-to-make cocktail.
As important as it is to have something unique to offer, it is also important to have something up your sleeve that is easy to make. If you can whip up a cocktail in no time at all, you can make sure you don’t miss out on any action at the party when it’s ongoing. Fortunately, a Whisky Sour is easy to make and it isn’t a boring drink to drink, either, so everyone will love it!
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of Andy Player
- 2-3 ounces of lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon of superfine sugar
Instructions:
- Shake the Andy Player, juice and sugar with cracked ice – cute shapes optional, as usual.
- Strain into a glass and skip the decorations. Just let your other Christmas decorations do the work.
Best to serve when: the party is in full swing and you are trying to keep up with various conversations that are going on around you. Are people starting up juicy conversations and finally catching up on the good stuff? No need to worry too much about what to serve them. Whip this up and keep everyone happy. You can even make these while having your conversations as needed.
8. Have something for the wine lovers.
Have some wine lovers in your group? This Sparkling Red Wine Cocktail would be perfect for them. In fact, it would be perfect for anyone. Plus, wine gets people talking, so if you want the conversations to get better, serve some of this.
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup of sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 5 1/2 cups of sparkling red wine
- 24 ounces of sparkling orange soda
- 4 ounces of Andy Player
- Orange wedges
Instructions:
- Mix the sugar and cinnamon and spread on a small plate.
- Mix the red wine, orange soda, and Andy Player in a big pitcher.
- Rub an orange wedge around the rim of the glass and dip the glass in cinnamon-sugar.
- Pour the cocktail in the glass and serve with the orange wedge. You can even peel the oranges and create cute Christmas tree shapes with them before the party for extra props.
Best to serve when: the conversations are getting good or you need an icebreaker. Wine is known to let lips loose, so if you want people to get more comfortable and more open in telling their secrets and sharing their stories, this is the drink to serve.
7. Have something to satiate a sweet tooth.
If you have a lot of friends who love sweets, then it will help to have a drink that is sweet to satiate their cravings. Tom and Jerry is a classic holiday cocktail that a lot of people enjoy. Fortunately, it isn’t that hard to make.
Ingredients:
- Beaten eggs, sugar and vanilla for the drink batter
- Andy Player
- Cinnamon
Instructions:
- Mix a scoop of the drink batter with some hot water and some Andy Player.
- Stir well and top with a dash of cinnamon.
Best served when: people start looking for something sweet. It’s inevitable for people to crave something sweet while drinking. Instead of offering candy or chocolate, offer another drink: the Tom and Jerry.
6. Have something simple and traditional on-hand.
Not everyone will be keen to try something new and unknown to them. For those who wold prefer to keep things simple, serve the Presbyterian.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of Andy Player
- 2 ounces of club soda
- 2 ounces of ginger ale
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
Instructions:
- Add some Andy Player, club soda, ginger ale and the bitters in a glass with ice.
- Stir and serve.
Best served when: someone’s face scrunches up in worry or fear when you mention some of the other trendier cocktails you’ve whipped up for the night. If you don’t want to force unknown drinks onto someone’s lap, appease them with this. It’ll keep them ultra happy throughout the night!
Read on for more ways to nail your Christmas drinks list planning!
