Holiday Hosting Survival Guide: From Thanksgiving to New Year's

Between late November and early January, you're hosting more gatherings than the rest of the year combined. Thanksgiving dinner, office parties, family celebrations, and New Year's Eve all demand your attention. 

But don’t worry, you don't need to reinvent your beverage plan for every gathering on your calendar. Here’s why:

Plan Your Quantities (No Guessing)

Running out of drinks at your holiday party ranks high on the list of hosting anxieties. 

Plan for one drink per guest per hour, multiply by the length of your event. For a four-hour Christmas Eve gathering with 15 guests, that's 60 drinks total.

Break it down into thirds. About one-third of your guests will gravitate toward beer, one-third toward wine, and one-third toward cocktails or spirits. For those 15 guests, stock 20 beers, 3-4 bottles of wine, and enough spirits for 20 cocktails. A great idea when you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner or a New Year's Eve bash.

Don't forget the non-drinkers at your gathering. Stock sparkling water, quality ginger beer, fresh juices, and cranberry juice. These mixers double as cocktail ingredients and stand-alone refreshments. This way it feels festive and keeps everyone included.

Make-Ahead Strategies 

Doing as much as possible before guests arrive helps create a relaxed holiday hosting. Batch cocktails are your best friend.

Cranberry Bourbon Punch (Serves 8-10)

• 2 cups Burning Chair Bourbon
• 4 cups cranberry juice
• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• ½ cup fresh lemon juice
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• Orange slices and fresh cranberries for garnish

Mix everything except garnishes in a large pitcher the morning of your event. Refrigerate until guests arrive, then pour over ice and add garnishes. This ruby-red punch works for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any holiday gathering in between.

For wine lovers, create a self-serve station. Chill whites like Cathedral Creek Cabernet Sauvignon the night before your event; then set out bottles with a wine opener, glasses, and a simple card noting tasting notes. Guests pour their own, and you stay present for conversation.

Spiced Moscow Mule Bar (Serves 1, multiply as needed)

• 2 oz Gray's Peak Vodka
• ½ oz fresh lime juice
• 4-6 oz ginger beer
• Cinnamon stick for garnish

Set up a mule bar with all ingredients, copper mugs, and ice. Label each component so guests can build their own drinks. The interactive element becomes a conversation starter, and this setup works beautifully for office parties and casual gatherings.

Versatile Drinks For the Whole Season

Choose recipes that travel well through the entire season. This simplifies shopping and builds your confidence with a few tasty recipes.

Old Fashioned (Winter Spiced)

• 2 oz Old Overholt Rye
• ¼ oz simple syrup
• 3 dashes aromatic bitters
• Orange peel

Build over ice in a rocks glass. This classic adapts to any holiday gathering. Serve it at Thanksgiving dinner, pour it at your Hanukkah celebration, or sip it on New Year's Eve. The recipe stays the same, but the setting changes.

Hot Toddy (Serves 1)

• 1½ oz Burning Chair Bourbon
• 1 Tbsp honey
• ½ oz fresh lemon juice
• 6 oz hot water
• Cinnamon stick and lemon wheel for garnish

Combine bourbon, honey, and lemon juice in a mug. Top with hot water and stir. Add garnishes. Keep a kettle warm during parties for guests who want something cozy. This works for outdoor gatherings, tree lighting parties, or simply warming up after a cold Minnesota evening.

For those preferring wine, sparkling options feel celebratory without being occasion-specific. A good Prosecco or Cava serves equally well at brunch, dinner parties, or midnight toasts. Keep a few bottles chilled throughout the season.

Pomegranate Sparkler (Non-Alcoholic)

• 2 oz pomegranate juice
• 4 oz sparkling water
• Fresh mint
• Pomegranate seeds

This beautiful mocktail looks elegant in a wine glass and requires minimal effort. Guests who aren't drinking alcohol appreciate having something more festive than water.

Your Shopping Timeline

Start your holiday beverage shopping early. Three weeks before Thanksgiving, stock up on spirits that won't go bad—like bourbon, rye, vodka, and tequila. These bottles last and can be used across multiple events. 

Two weeks before your first event, buy mixers that have longer shelf lives: bitters, simple syrup ingredients, tonic water, and ginger beer. One week out, purchase wine and beer. Save fresh ingredients like citrus, herbs, and garnishes for three days before your event.

For larger gatherings or multiple events close together, think about delivery. Having your beverages delivered means one less errand for an already busy time, allowing you to focus on food preparation, decorating, or even enjoying time with family.

Ready for Whatever the Season Brings

The six weeks from Thanksgiving to New Year's can feel like a marathon of hosting duties. Now, you now have a framework that works across every gathering on your calendar.

Your guests will remember the warmth of your home and the quality of your company, not whether you served ten different cocktails. Stock your bar thoughtfully, prep what you can in advance, and give yourself permission to keep things simple; that's what great holiday hosting looks like.