Cheers! Holiday Entertaining and the Well-Stocked Bar

Martha Stewart

Are you entertaining in your home this holiday season?

You know the familiar saying "If you as the hostess are relaxed and happy, your guests will be, too!" One of the easiest things you can do as a good hostess is to set-up a well-stocked bar in the most warm and welcoming room in your home. Your guests will be comfortable helping themselves to their favorite cocktail and the bar alone will help keep your guests out of the kitchen. I love mixing a seasonal concoction or signature cocktail that is pretty and a little exotic. Freezing the vodka with seasonal greenery or cranberries is such a beautiful touch!

To create your own bar at home you will need the basics - stylish stemware and tumblers, a small flower arrangement, an ice bucket, essential bar tools, a pitcher of water, lemons and limes and basic mixers such as tonic water, cranberry juice, club soda, and Coke. For a simple bar start with vodka, rum, whiskey, wine, and beer. The experts say to plan on two drinks per person for the first two hours, one drink per person for each extra hour. Assume 40% drink beer, 30% use hard liquor, and 30% sip wine.

Be sure to make something special for guests looking for a non-alcoholic drink.

"Mix fresh-squeezed orange or grapefruit juice with a splash of seltzer to make a light cocktail. Also try sweetened, diluted lime and lemon juice served over crushed ice, or whip fresh or frozen berries in a blender with ice and a dash of lime." from Party Planning Guru Martha Stewart  Here is the link to some of Martha's favorite non alcoholic drink recipes.

Cheers!

{from And George}

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Phoebe Howard

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Steven Gambrel

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Phoebe Howard

Phoebe Howard

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