The Right People to Invite
Cheerful people.
Lots of young people.
The guest with a car.
The Enterprising Girl.
The Elderly Woman who can tell fortunes.
The Elderly Man (if red-faced and jolly).
The Handy-Man (issue invitation early, as he is in great demand).
Anybody good with children.
The Unselfish Friend.
Rose Henniker Heaton, The Perfect Christmas, 1932
Hello Darling! We have come to the most wonderful time of the year, and with a Happy Friendsgiving, Merry Hannukah, and Joyful New Year on the horizon, the chances are you’ve got a two- or three-day holiday hosting marathon in your future. With gift-giving, decorations, and meals all to plan, you need a proven menu of cocktails on standby that can be turned around on a dime while guaranteed to delight all who come through the door. Whether serving up a prescient aunt, merry old uncle, or enterprising young niece, the stars align in this holiday menu that is perfectly brilliant for all. Gin-Gin!
THE WELCOME COCKTAIL
The first important sip of any holiday get-together is the Welcome Cocktail. Ideally, this should be a drink that is buzzy and full of good feeling, just like the atmosphere in your living room as it starts to brim over with new arrivals and the chatter of news and family gossip. In this moment, you can never go wrong with the cocktail party classic, the Bee’s Knees. This failproof mix can be batched ahead of time, making it easy for you to fill and refresh glasses while still attending to all the other last-minute details of the day.
BEE’S KNEES
2 oz Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur
¾ oz lemon juice
¼ oz honey
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and stir briefly to disperse the honey. Add ice and shake for 15-20 seconds to chill. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist.
Hosting Tip: For a deeper lemon flavor, make a simple syrup using the zest of some lemons and equal parts honey and warm water, steeping together while you juice the remaining lemons. Don’t forget to double the honey proportion in batching the cocktail with this mixture. An optional sprig of thyme also makes for a festive and aromatic garnish to the finished drink.
THE CELEBRATORY TOAST
Now that the excitement of arrival has peaked, it’s time to get into the meat of the occasion. The centerpiece of every holiday gathering is surely the big meal. However, the centerpiece of the holiday meal is, of course, the Celebratory Toast. When raising your glass to the occasion and the good health of your guests, you’re going to want something commemorative and sparkly. And what could be more befitting of the occasion than the classic Jubilee Spritz?
JUBILEE SPRITZ
2 oz Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur
2 oz dry sparkling wine, chilled
lemon twist
Stir the Pomp & Whimsy in a mixing glass with ice to chill. Strain into a coupe and top with sparkling wine. Twist the lemon peel over the drink’s surface to express the oil and release it into the glass.
Hosting Tip: Keep the Pomp & Whimsy in the freezer for a ready chill and, instead of premixing the cocktails, simply invite your guests to add a dash or a splash to their bubbly at the table. Pass around fresh cranberries for a bright and festive finishing touch.
THE SERVE YOURSELF
Finally, once the big meal is over, let the guests take over the show. No need for formalities now. As the excitement of the occasion starts to simmer over the course of the next few hours (and days), it’s perfectly apropos to let your guests fend for some drinks for themselves. Leave out the basics for a simple highball on a tray with fresh ice for guests to mix to their liking. Good gin, a quality mixer, and citrus for garnish will do the trick. And make one for yourself while you’re at it – you deserve it.
POMP & TONIC
1 ½ oz Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur
3 oz tonic
lemon slice
Serve over ice in a tall glass, finishing with a squeeze of the lemon.
Hosting Tip: Fill small dishes with dried garnishes like spices, berries, and citrus peels to spark your guests’ curiosity while imparting a pleasant potpourri to the room.
Until next year, darling!
