Hosting a luxury dinner party can be an overwhelming prospect. Providing your guests with an unforgettable dining experience involves meticulous planning and a keen eye for detail. Along with creating the perfect ambience and arranging your seating plan, deciding on the right selection of drinks to complement your courses can be tricky. However, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered with some fantastic drink ideas to kickstart your preparations.
Welcome Fizz
It wouldn’t be a dinner party if you didn’t greet your guests with a frosty glass of champagne, prosecco or cava. Champagne and other sparkling wine varieties have long been associated with special occasions and celebrations and have come to symbolise all things congratulatory. As such, you can kick off your dinner party with an air of sophistication by opening a bottle of Prestige Cuvée. For guests who don’t particularly enjoy the taste of sparkling wine on its own, consider offering extras, such as flavoured syrups or fruit puree, that they can add to their welcome beverage.
Cocktails
If champagne isn’t to your taste, consider offering your guests a delicious cocktail upon their arrival. Offering a selection of cocktails can cater to different palates and add a touch of excitement to your evening. You can also theme your cocktails to your menu. For instance, if you’re taking inspiration from French cuisine, consider greeting your guests with a French 75, a classic sparkling cocktail made with gin, lemon juice and simple syrup, topped with champagne. Alternatively, if you’re planning a Spanish-inspired menu, you’d be missing a trick by not making a big pitcher of traditional Sangria.
Water
Forgetting to put a jug of cool water on the table is a rookie mistake. Having water readily available on the table ensures that guests can easily quench their thirst throughout the dinner without having to request it separately or consume excessive amounts of alcohol. Furthermore, drinking water between courses can help to cleanse the palate, so your guests can fully appreciate the flavours of each dish without any lingering tastes from previous courses.
Beer And Cider
Not all guests may find the usual dinner party beverages of wine and cocktails to their liking. However, as the host, it is your responsibility to ensure that everybody is thoroughly catered for and enjoying their evening. To accommodate diverse preferences, it’s a good idea to include some high-quality beer and cider in your beverage selection, ensuring there’s something enjoyable for everyone. You can truly impress your guests by sourcing locally-brewed craft ale as well as cider made from locally-grown apples.
Wine
Wine is the quintessential dinner party beverage. Selecting the perfect variety of wines to complement each course can be a tricky endeavour. However, a good wine pairing rule to remember is to match flavour, intensity and character. In other words, pair mild flavours with lighter wines and intense flavours with robust wines. For example, if you plan on serving a charcuterie board, choose a wine that pairs well with salty cured meats and savoury cheeses, such as medium-bodied Pingus and light-bodied Pinot Noir. Above all, ensure you have a variety of wines for your guests to choose from, including reds, rosés and whites.
Non-Alcoholic Options
When it comes to hosting numerous guests, keep in mind that you may need to cater to non-drinkers. There are several reasons why a guest might choose to decline alcohol, and it is essential to respect their decisions. Ensure you have alternative beverages to offer non-drinking guests extending beyond tap water. For instance, if you plan on serving cocktails, you can ensure your non-drinkers feel included by making them a mocktail with similar ingredients sans alcohol. You could even source some delicious non-alcoholic wine, which is a surprisingly interesting subject.
Digestifs
A digestif is an alcoholic beverage typically consumed after a meal, with the purpose of aiding digestion and providing a pleasant conclusion to the dining experience. Digestifs are often served neat or on the rocks alongside coffee or espresso. Popular digestifs include spirits such as brandy and whiskey, as well as fortified wines like port and sherry. You could even theme your digestifs with your menu by serving limoncello after a delicious Italian-themed meal.
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