How to Make Your Holiday Party Stress-Free

Raise your glass and toast the holidays! November and December signify the holiday entertaining season, and for any successful gathering, creating a festive atmosphere with the right décor, a gourmet spread, and the right drinks is absolutely imperative.

Without a doubt, one of the most important elements of a holiday party is the bar. To save yourself some time and to prevent headaches, instead of having one large bar with a full setup, decide on a few drinks to entice your guests, such as a traditional holiday brew, a cocktail of the evening, a choice or red or white wine, and perhaps even a keg of ale or stout to even out the beverage selection. Here are a few holiday drink suggestions:

Hot
Mulled Cider: "Mulled" means heated and spiced, and is a technique used with wine and cider. Make this drink extra soothing by adding cinnamon, lemon, and fresh nutmeg to the mix.

Cold
Martinis: These are always a crowd favorite. To add a holiday twist to the ubiuitous gin and vermouth combo, try using one part vodka, one part flavored liqueur (such as Apple Schnapps), and one part fruit juice.

Sparkling Wines: Refreshing and festive, sparkling wines such as Roederer Estate Non-Vintage Brut Anderson Valley or Mionetto Prosecco di Valdobbiadene, can be made even more special with a splash of Chambord and cranberry juice.

Of course, when deciding on your chilled cocktail choices, don’t overlook the importance of ice! Instead of running to the store every hour for more ice, consider purchasing a portable ice maker like the Newair AI-210SS. These relatively inexpensive units can be a lifesaver, as they can produce ice in as little as six minutes and in different sizes. Also, because they do not need to be connected to a water source or drainage line, they can be brought to any holiday gathering.