The holiday season is upon us—and there’s no better time to throw a party! As we wrap up 2024 and look forward to the year ahead, it’s the perfect time to come together and celebrate. But let’s face it: planning the perfect party can be stressful. From choosing the right food and drinks to setting the atmosphere, it can feel like a lot to juggle.
This season, keep things simple with these easy tips. Skip the hassle of obsessing over every detail, and focus on what matters most—being a fantastic host and enjoying the moment with your loved ones. After all, isn’t that the true spirit of the season?
Whip Up An Easy Cocktail (Or Three!)
When it comes to the drinks on the menu, keep it simple yet stylish—something that’ll delight your guests without the hassle of complicated prep. This festive season, we suggest a quick and easy cocktail that you can whip up in minutes, so everyone can raise a glass without the wait.
Our top choice for celebratory cocktails is the Cranberry Fizz, made with Hendrick’s Gin. For this effortless concoction, all you need to do is mix Hendrick’s Original Gin, cranberry juice and your bubbly choice of sparkling wine or soda water in a glass with cubed ice. Stir lightly before topping it all off with cucumber slices and festive garnishes, like cranberries and a sprig of mint in each glass, and voilà!
We love the Cranberry Fizz for its refreshing flavour profile that practically sings of Christmastime, all while taking just minutes to put together. The fresh and floral notes from Hendrick’s Gin brighten up the palate, while the sparkling wine or soda water add a touch of festive effervescence on the tongue.
If you’re feeling fancy and festive, look no further than the French 75. To create this gin-based cocktail, combine Hendrick’s Gin, sugar syrup, lemon juice and ice in your cocktail shaker and shake away. Then strain your mixture into a flute glass, before topping it off with some champagne and a slice of cucumber (can you tell we love cucumbers with our Hendrick’s Gin?).
Fit for all seasons of revelry, you can’t go wrong with a classic gin and tonic. Simply pour one part of Hendrick’s Gin and three parts of tonic water into a highball glass and stir. Here, we would recommend you add three slices of Japanese cucumber, to really bring out the right flavours in this cucumber-infused gin. Bonus: the grand empress of refreshment turns effortlessly festive with a few garnishes of cranberry and rosemary!
Spread The Festive Cheer With Easy DIY Decor
One of the easiest ways to add some quick festive cheer to any party space is through the decor. And you can’t have a holiday gathering without some sprightly Christmas decorations. No need to spend a small fortune on decorations that you won’t use for most of the year, though—there are plenty of easy DIY crafts that you can try your hand at to liven up a space. You can even make it a fun party activity with friends and family, so each guest has their own party favour ready to go.
Create a curiously-whimsical tablescape with playful accents. While it may seem intimidating, tablescaping is a simple way to transform a plain white tablecloth into something lively, without adding much to your party prep. Try pairing flowers like red roses with peculiar touches—cucumbers, anyone?—for a festive twist this Christmas. Get creative: stack different elements together and weave in tinsel or ribbon to amp up the holiday cheer.
Alternatively, you can also engage in some easy DIY crafts with your loved ones. Whether it’s putting together a simple bauble with roses—plain, customisable baubles are an easy find at most craft stores this time of year!—or engaging in some painting together, it’s more about the fun and less about the artistic skill. You can also easily upcycle empty Hendrick’s Gin bottles (from your cocktails), and turn them into creative canvases. Just let your imagination go wild, and you’ll end up having a ball of a time.
Curate A Playlist To Set The Mood
Every party needs a banging playlist. Whether you’re into Christmas classics or prefer a contemporary take on festive tracks, putting together your own playlist will transform your next hosting experience.
When you’re choosing the songs to go into your curated lineup, just keep these tips in mind. What type of mood do you want your party to have? Is it a more mellow get-together or do you want a more upbeat feel? Would your friends and family prefer to have songs they can sing along to, with artists they are probably already familiar with? This would also be a great opportunity to mix in songs from artists you admire, so your loved ones can relish in the music with you. That’s what’s going to set your party apart, rather than just tapping into the first Christmas playlist on Spotify. Trust us, the personal touch that comes with a curated list of songs will add even more character to your stunning soirée.
Full cocktail recipes can be found here.
Drink responsibly. Please visit DrinkIQ.com to find out more.
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