5 tips for hosting a memorable party

Author: The Bar Team

Two people sit at a table with a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label, two mixed drinks, a glass of whisky, and a plate of chocolate-drizzled popcorn.

Whether you're hosting an elegant cocktail party or laidback get-together, check out these five tips and tricks for hosting, from drink tips to appetizers.

How good is that feeling? When you’ve got your favorite people over for dinner or a get-together, the good vibes are flowing and there’s a sense of excitement in the air. But throwing any party always comes with some pressure. Making sure the cocktails are tasty, the energy is right, and everyone is vibing takes a lot of time and can be hard to pull off. That’s why we’ve put together 5 simple tips and tricks to level up your party, so you can have as much fun as everyone else. Here’s how to get the party started...

Batch Your Cocktails

No one wants to be stuck in the kitchen for long, slaving over cocktails. That's why the key ingredient when hosting a party is batching. Prep all serves the night before, so you have more time to celebrate with your guests. You can multiply the quantities in most cocktail recipes to create a batch version. If in doubt, always increase your batch cocktail with more mixers. Punch is always a sippable hit for any occasion. It can be chilled in advance, served in large quantities and poured into pitchers or bowls for guests to self-serve throughout the night.

Get the Guide

Three glasses of apple cocktails garnished with apple slices, cinnamon sticks, and herbs sit beside a bottle of Crown Royal Regal Apple whisky, with pinecones and cinnamon sticks on the table.

Make the cocktails

A bottle of Zacapa rum and three glasses of orange-pink cocktails with ice are arranged on a table with party snacks, confetti, and a punch bowl.

Holiday Rum Punch

A bottle of Bulleit Bourbon, a pitcher of iced tea, two glasses with lemon and mint, utensils, and a citrus squeezer on a yellow table with a checkered cloth.

Ingredients 9 oz. Bulleit Bourbon24 oz. Unsweetened Peach Tea4.5 oz. Lemon Juice4.5 oz. Honey Syrup*Peach Slices to GarnishLemon Wheels to GarnishMint Leaves to Garnish Instructions Combine all ingredients, besides garnishes, in a punch bowl over a large block of ice.Stir to mix, then garnish with peach slices, lemon wheels and mint leaves.To serve, ladle into Mason jars filled with ice and garnish each serving with a peach slice, lemon wheel and mint sprig.

A bottle of 21Seeds Valencia Orange tequila, a pitcher, and three glasses of a red-orange cocktail with orange garnishes are arranged on a light wooden table; whole oranges are in the background.

Ingredients 1.5 oz. 21Seeds Valencia Orange Blanco Tequila0.5 oz. Italian Bitter Aperitif0.5 oz. Sweet Vermouth0.5 oz. Fresh Orange JuiceOrange Rind Garnish*Approximate serving size is 1.26 servings. Please enjoy responsibly. Instructions Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass filled with ice.Stir the ingredients for around 20-30 seconds until thoroughly mixed and chilled, and then strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.Garnish with an orange rind.

A bottle of Crown Royal Salted Caramel whiskey, three glass mugs of hot drinks with cinnamon sticks, a red fondue pot, pie, and a vase of red flowers on a festive table.

Salted Caramel Hot Toddy

Ingredients 3¾ cups Water9 oz. Crown Royal Salted Caramel Whiskey2 Oranges15-20 Cloves12 tsp. Brown Sugar6 Cinnamon Stick Garnishes6 Orange Peel Garnishes Instructions Using a sharp knife and a cutting board, peel 2 oranges leaving as much pith behind as possible. Stick the cloves in the orange peel. Repeat 6 times for each serve. Set aside.Slice the peeled oranges in half and juice until you have 1.5 oz. of fresh orange juice. Set aside.Boil the water in a pot and, once boiling, turn off the heat and add brown sugar to the hot water, stirring until dissolved.Stir in orange juice and whiskey.Pour mixture into 6 ceramic mugs, stir each with a cinnamon stick and leave in as garnish along with the orange peel with cloves.

A green bottle of Tanqueray gin next to a gin and tonic garnished with grapefruit slices and thyme, on a dark marble counter with grapefruit and a wooden tray.

Get creative with your garnish

Sure, you want your cocktails to taste good, but they need to smell and look good too. The goal is to serve cocktails that will impress your guests and get all the likes on the 'gram. Take a classic G&T from simple to wow by infusing the gin and creating unique garnishes on the cheap. If you've got fresh mint sitting in the fridge or garden, use a wooden spoon to mash up the leaves. That leftover cucumber you know you won't use, dig out your vegetable peeler and create thin slices to use as a garnish. Or gather any flowers from your garden and make pretty ice cubes. Get creative. Experiment with it. Have fun. There are no rules. Want to add more fun and excitement to your party? Set up a DIY garnish bar with various fresh fruits, herbs, and other ingredients for guests to customize their drinks.

Make a Gin & Tonic

Make the cocktails

A glass of red cocktail with ice, garnished with an orange peel and star anise, sits on a stone countertop with lime slices and greenery in the background.

Winter Spiced Negroni

A cocktail in a glass rimmed with chili powder, garnished with a cucumber slice and a whole jalapeño, sits on a white surface next to cucumber and jalapeño slices.

Ingredients 1.5 oz. Blanco Tequila0.75 oz. Fresh Lime Juice0.25 oz. Simple Syrup1 Jalapeño Slice, to MuddleCucumber Wheel GarnishJalapeño Slice Garnish Instructions Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, and gently muddle.Add ice.Shake vigorously and fine strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.Garnish with a cucumber wheel and a jalapeño slice.

A bottle of Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit & Rose vodka stands next to a glass of cocktail with ice and a grapefruit slice, set on a decorated table with flowers.

Ingredients 1.5 oz. Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit & Rose3 oz. Club SodaGrapefruit Wedge Garnish Instructions Fill a white wine glass with ice.Add all ingredients and stir gently.Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

A bottle of Ketel One vodka, a red cocktail with a lemon twist, and lemon slices on a wooden table with a leafy plant in the background.

Ingredients 1.4 oz. Ketel One Vodka0.68 oz. Orange Liqueur1.5 oz. Cranberry Juice0.7 oz. Lime3 oz. Sugar SyrupOrange or Lemon Twist Garnish*Approximate serving size is 1.25 servings. Please enjoy responsibly. Instructions Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.Shake to blend and chill and strain into a chilled martini glass.Garnish with a lemon twist.

Impress with glassware

Never underestimate the importance of barware and tableware when throwing a party. Going all out with the fine details will definitely get everyone talking. Plus, getting creative with glassware and tableware is so much fun. Try serving your cocktails in uniquely colored glassware.

Get the Recipe

A bottle of Tanqueray No. Ten gin on a marble surface next to four coupe glasses filled with a red cocktail; gold star-shaped cookies are on a plate nearby.

Create the vibe

Two empty, light green stemmed glasses are side by side on a transparent background.

Estelle

Coupe Glasses, Set of Two

Mint

Other Colors Available

Four ribbed glass tumblers in varying shades of green are arranged side by side against a plain background.

LSA International

Gems Tumbler, Set of Four

Jade

Other Colors Available

Estelle

Wine Stemware, Set of Two

Coral Peach

Seven colorful reusable glass straws, each with a bent neck, are arranged side by side against a plain black background.

Our Dining Table

Reusable Colored Glass Straws, Set of 8

Other Colors Available

Seven identical white rods with green circular ends are arranged in a fan shape against a black background.

The Bar

Glass Cocktail Picks

Green

Other Colors Available

Two short, wide, transparent drinking glasses with a slightly tinted hue, placed side by side against a black background.

Estelle

Hand-blown Colored Rocks Glass, Set of Two

Gray Smoke

A clear martini cocktail in a coupe glass, garnished with a single green olive on a metal pick, set against a dark background.

The finishing touches

The most memorable parties are never just about the cocktails. Think of the theme, have fun with it and then think of those extra finishing touches such as lighting, decorations and music. Make sure you have a quality playlist ready to go. You can ask your guests to add to the playlist ahead of the party. Think of it as the playlist of all playlists. One that captures the night perfectly and you and your guests will want to listen to it days, weeks, and months after the party is over to remember how amazing the night was.

Create the vibe

Two embroidered gray rabbits face a cocktail glass with an olive, above green text reading “Drinking Bunny” on a white cloth background.

August Morgan

Cocktail Napkins, Drinking Bunny

A black ceramic vase with a rounded, dual-chamber base, two small side handles, and a narrow neck.

Nordic Peace

A Cheeky Vase

Two empty, clear martini glasses with a slight pink tint are standing side by side on a white background.

Caskata

Quinn Rose Martini Glasses, Set of Two

Palate cleansers

A good spread goes a long way. Whether it's just small bites, a bit of everything or a big feast. Serve food that complements your cocktails. Charcuterie boards were made for sharing, IRL and on Instagram, and they pair well with G&T as the gin emphasizes the floral notes of the cheeses, with the bitterness of the tonic cleansing the palate. Likewise, rich meats go well with Old Fashioned cocktails. When in doubt, stick to classic pairings like a shrimp cocktail with a vodka martini. Remember, you will need to ensure the vegans, gluten-free and dairy-free people in your crew are also covered.

A table with assorted cheeses, meats, cocktails, bottled spirits, and drinking glasses; two people are seated, each holding a drink.

Make the cocktails

A glass of cocktail garnished with an orange peel and cherry sits in front of a bottle of Casamigos Añejo Tequila on a glass coaster, with purple flowers nearby.

Ingredients 1.75 oz. Casamigos Añejo Tequila0.25 oz. Vanilla Syrup3 Dashes Lemon BittersOrange Peel-Wrapped Cherry Garnish*Approximate serving size is 1.42 servings. Please enjoy responsibly. Instructions Combine ingredients in a mixing glass or cocktail shaker with ice.Stir for at least one minute and strain into an old fashioned or rocks glass over a large rock of fresh ice.Garnish with an orange peel wrapped around a cherry.

A bottle of Aviation American Gin stands next to a cocktail garnished with a rosemary sprig on a green table, accompanied by napkins and pretzels.

Ingredients 1.5 oz. Aviation American Gin2 oz. Orange Juice1 oz. Simple Syrup2 oz. Club SodaRosemary Sprig Garnish Instructions Cut an orange in half and add juice from half the orange to a cocktail shaker.Add a fresh sprig of rosemary and muddle.Add gin and simple syrup, and gently stir to combine.Strain into a rocks glass with ice and stir until chilled.Top with club soda and add two rosemary sprigs.

A bottle of Tanqueray No. Ten gin next to a cocktail glass filled with ice, garnished with grapefruit slices and thyme, on a dark marble countertop with grapefruit halves nearby.

Ingredients 1.5 oz. Tanqueray No. TEN GinTonic WaterGrapefruit Wheel GarnishThyme Sprig Garnish Instructions Pour Tanqueray No. Ten Gin into a goblet or wine glass over ice and top with tonic water. Express grapefruit twist over the glass and stir well. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit and a sprig of thyme.

A bottle of Bulleit Bourbon, three glasses with bourbon and orange peel, a jigger, a bowl of mixed nuts, and a cigar cutter on a blue speckled table.

Bourbon Old Fashioned

The Bar Team

The Bar Team is a group of behind-the-scenes writers, bartenders and drinks lovers who share tips, trends and easy how-tos. We mix real bar experience with a love of great drinks to help you try new ideas, learn and get inspired.