Festive Cocktails for Hosting Guests at Home

The festive period can be a very busy time for those in the bar industry, but if you do manage to get a day off, you may find family and friends knocking on your door for a festive cocktail!

Don’t just turn to the standard and boring mulled wine and Egg Nog, showcase your amazing skills and choose some inventive and exciting serves to impress them.

Australian World Class Winner, 2021, Evan Stroeve gives his top tips for hosting and shares his special festive Bramble recipe for you to try.

If you’ve found yourself hosting during the festive season, here are some tips to improve the overall experience and make your drinks the star of the show.

• Pair your drinks with complimentary food and create a flavour experience. For example, seafood like prawns and oysters work well with crisp lager or dry champagne.

• Think about the fullness of your food and drink when pairing. Fatty dishes go well with light drinks, whereas lighter salads can be served with something creamier.

• Pair contrasting flavours when serving drinks with food. Contrasting flavours are different tastes that go well together, such as banana and parsley.

• Festive occasions can often last longer than other celebrations, so keep your drinks low alcohol to encourage responsible drinking.

• When making cocktails, pre-dilute and batch them to help you save time and effort while making them easier to serve.

Try Evan's Christmas Bramble. It's the perfect cocktail to serve on the big day. It uses seasonal fresh cherries to create a sweet and homely drink. See recipe.