As we bid farewell to another year and embrace the joyous spirit of the holiday season, the art of hosting takes center stage. Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or grand celebration, the success of your event hinges on thoughtful preparation and execution. Our team of SGWS experts have compiled a list of essential tips to guide you through the intricacies of hosting, ensuring that your festivities are not only memorable but also seamlessly orchestrated. So, as you embark on the journey of creating unforgettable moments, let these insights be your trusted companions in hosting an event that truly shines.
Plan Ahead
“Offer some select spirits to enjoy over ice or in a simple drink like bourbon, vodka, and gin with some mixer. Pick a seasonal cocktail and pre-batch them in resealable 750ml bottles. For wines, be sure to keep all the whites on ice so they’re nice and cold, but don’t forget about the reds. ALL reds should have a little chill to start the party so no wine is hot! Chill all wines in the fridge the night before, pull out the reds 30 minutes before folks arrive and pull and put the whites in a cooler or large wine chiller bucket.” – Brian Masilionis, Sr. Director Customer Development, National Accounts On Premise
Calculate Bottles
“Estimate 1 bottle of wine per 3 guests and 1 bottle of spirits for every 5 guests, adjusting based on guest preferences and drink durations. An average bottle of spirts is 750ml or 1 liter. Cocktails typically take up to 2 oz per drink, so you can potentially get about 16 cocktails from a one liter bottle of liquor.” – Carla Rivera, Director of Product Education South Florida
Make Time to Mingle
“It’s important for the host to have the opportunity to mingle and enjoy their company. To do that, set up a self-serve wine station. You can make small tags for descriptions of your wines (similar to a place card) to help inform your guests and have wine glasses set up on either side of the wines. Don’t forget to include some nonalcoholic options. With a wide range of NA wines on the market, you can offer several options to those who choose not to consume alcohol.” – Jessica Taylor, Beverage Specialist and Manager of Organizational Effectiveness, Indiana
Get Creative
“Creating a menu of different specialty cocktails is a great way to offer some customization and creativity to your holiday party. You’ll also want to offer guests proper glassware such as rocks glasses for cocktails and flutes for champagne.” – Scott Moore, SVP National Retail Sales
Glass Customization
“One of the best hostess gifts I’ve ever received were glass magnets with family and friends’ names printed on them. They snap on a wine glass and will stay on all night. I use them every holiday. This cuts down on multiple or “lost” glasses and leaves less clean-up work when the evening ends.” – Laura DePasquale, SVP, Sales & Commercial Operations, Artisanal Wine Division
