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With the holidays upon us, it’s time to crack open the liquor cabinet for that Weller special reserve bourbon and start mixing. After all, we’re lucky enough to have friends and family over for Thanksgiving and Christmas, so why not take advantage of that? With an abundance of food, drink, and people, the holiday season is a great time to throw a party. However, hosting guests can be challenging when it comes to serving drinks they’ll enjoy. Regardless of whether you live alone or with roommates, there’s no reason you can’t throw a great winter cocktail party this year as long as you keep things simple and stock your bar accordingly. Here are some tips for stocking your liquor cabinet so guests will be coming back for seconds—and thirds—of your hospitality.
Johnnie Walker Collection
If you’re looking for a high-end Scotch to serve your guests, look no further than the Johnnie Walker Collection. This collection includes three high-quality Scotch whiskies: Johnnie Walker Blue, Johnnie Walker Black, and Johnnie Walker Gold. The Blue and Black are great sipping spirits, while the Gold is great for mixed drinks. While each of these whiskies is high-quality, the Blue is the standout of the three. Reviewers frequently compare this high-end Scotch to a fine tumbler of scotch and frequently note that it’s a great choice for drinking neat. You can expect to pay about $130 for a 750-millilitre bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue.
Buffalo Trace Blanton
If you’re looking for a bourbon that packs a punch, check out Buffalo Trace Blanton. This bourbon is aged for 15 years, which gives it a strong, full flavour that’s not usually associated with its lighter counterparts. While Blanton is great for sipping on its own, it also performs remarkably well in cocktails, making it a great choice for parties. You can expect to pay about $50 for a 750-millilitre bottle of Blanton.
Old Van Winkle 10 Year
If you’re looking for a high-end sipping whiskey, look no further than Old Van Winkle 10 Year. This whiskey is a staple in high-quality liquor collections because it’s an excellent example of what a sipping whiskey should taste like. Old Van Winkle 10 Year is a wheated bourbon, meaning that it uses wheat as the primary grain in its mash, rather than rye. This gives the whiskey a smooth, sweet finish, as opposed to the spicier tasting rye-based bourbons. You can expect to pay about $250 for a 750-millilitre bottle of Old Van Winkle 10 Year.
Add Some Sweetness with Brandy and Rum
If you’re hoping to add some sweetness to your holiday party, rum and brandy are the perfect liquors to stock. Brandy is a spirit that’s distilled from red wine grapes and is frequently aged in oak barrels, giving it a strong, woody flavour. Brandy is often served straight up or on the rocks, but it also works well in cocktails, particularly the Hot Toddy and Whiskey Sour. Brandy is a versatile liquor that’s great for both sipping and mixing. If you’re looking for a sweeter tasting brandy, you can’t go wrong with a V.S.O.P. (very special old pale) like the Hine brandy. V.S.O.P. brandies are aged for at least 5 years in French oak barrels before being bottled, which gives them a rich, complex flavour. You can expect to pay about $30 for a 750-millilitre bottle of Hine brandy.
Mix up Some Strong Drinks with Dark Liquor
If you’re looking for strong drinks that are perfect for sipping while you enjoy your holiday meal, dark liquors are the way to go. Two excellent choices for a strong liquor are scotch and bourbon. Scotch is frequently aged in barrels that have been used to age bourbon, giving it a strong flavour that’s perfect for sipping. Scotch can be served neat, but it also works well in cocktails, particularly the classic scotch and soda. Bourbon is often aged in new oak barrels and frequently uses a mash bill that’s made of at least 51% corn, giving it a strong, rich flavour that’s perfect for sipping. Bourbon is usually served neat, but it also works well in cocktails, particularly the Old Fashioned and Boulevardier.
Wrapping Up: The Bottom Line
The holidays are a great time to gather friends and family and celebrate with a party. However, hosting guests can be challenging when it comes to serving drinks they’ll enjoy. The best way to make sure everyone has a great time is to choose high-quality liquors that everyone can enjoy. From a smooth scotch to a strong bourbon, there’s something for everyone this holiday season.
