Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Mixologists Share Tips for Setting up a Home Bar for the Holidays

Expert advice from these cocktail connoisseurs will have holiday
hosts feeling at home behind the bar

MIAMI & DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#bar—Southern
Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (“Southern Glazer’s”) — the largest
North American wine and spirits distribution company — tapped into the
expertise of its top mixologists to offer some tips for setting up a
home bar for holiday entertaining. From the latest holiday cocktail
trends to tricks of the trade, these tips will help any host tend bar
like pro and impress holiday guests.

Stock Up on Staples

Make sure to have a selection of base spirits, as well as modifiers and
mixers, to satisfy the diverse taste of your holiday guests.

• Spirits that go down smoothly when the temperature drops, such as aged
  rum, mezcal, cognac, and rye whiskey, are popular during the holiday
  season.
• Keep a few good basics on hand like bourbon, scotch, vodka, light rum,
  tequila and gin, as well as standard mixers like lemon, lime and
  cranberry juice, club soda, and tonic water.
• Modifiers in the form of fortified wines, like sherry, and bitters add
  dimension and uniqueness to make a cocktail special.
• Don’t forget to choose a few holiday-inspired favorites, like
  peppermint schnapps, pumpkin spice, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and
  apple cider.

Do the Math and Don’t Run Out

Proper planning and a bit of math will prevent guests from going
thirsty. Follow some of these basic guidelines to help keep the party
going.

• Five liters of spirits works for 25 people, then double accordingly
  for parties of 50 or 100.
• One pound of ice per person is a good rule of thumb.
• One 750ml bottle will make 12 to 15 cocktails.
• When making a punch, 25 guests will require 200 to 250 ounces of
  liquid.

Bring the Hottest Bar Trends Home

Homemade punches and classic holiday cocktails are all the rage.

• With a large format punch, guests can serve themselves so the social
  host doesn’t get stuck behind the bar. Try this formula for mixing up
  a unique batched concoction – four parts strong (base spirit), three
  parts weak (ice for diluting), two parts sour (something acidic like
  citrus), and one part sweet (sugar or alternative). Then top off a
  punch with sparkling wine or soda to meld all the flavors and maintain
  the cocktail’s integrity even when filled with ice.
• A traditional Tom and Jerry cocktail or eggnog will put guests in the
  holiday spirit. Or surprise and delight guests by using an alternative
  spirit in a classic recipe like substituting brandy for whiskey in an
  Old Fashioned or Manhattan.

Raise the Bar with the Right Tools

A basic bar kit and the right mix of glassware is key to setting up a
home bartender for success.

• The following are the essentials to execute any kind of cocktail:
  shaker, strainer, bar spoon, jigger, mixing glass, muddler, ice tongs
  or scoop, ice bucket, peeler, paring knife, cutting board, and bar
  towel (things get wet!).
• Every type of drink requires the right vessel to maximize its
  potential. These glassware types will cover most home bartenders’
  basic needs: Rocks, Double Rocks, Highball/Collins, Coupe, Martini,
  and of course, wine glasses and flutes.

Impress Your Guests with Tips from Our Pros

The more adventurous home bartender can try one of these inside tips
from Southern Glazer’s mixology team to hit a home run with holiday
guests.

• Make a unique homemade cocktail syrup out of a tea instead of simple
  syrup. Steep a favorite flavor in hot water for 5 minutes, remove the
  tea bag and add an equal amount of sugar to water.
• Serve guests a vermouth over a large ice cube before the meal or
  during appetizers as an aperitif (and remember to refrigerate vermouth
  or it will turn into vinegar if left out!).
• Try barrel aging or bottled cocktails with equipment easily available
  for purchase online.
• Freeze edible flowers in ice cubes for a festive punch bowl
  presentation.
• Consumers can mimic new ice formats available in the hippest bars –
  from large cubes to spheres – by purchasing different molds and using
  quality water. For crushed ice, invest in a Lewis Bag and mallet.
• Making flavored ice, by freezing juices like watermelon or
  pomegranate, or freezing mint or cucumber in ice cubes, adds an
  element of craft bartending to a home party.
• Always have one or two large format prepared cocktails (punch, batched
  margarita, etc.) prepared for guests as they arrive so they don’t have
  to wait for a custom drink if the host gets busy.

The Number One Tip

As holiday party hosts are making merry, always remember to enjoy
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits products responsibly and encourage
guests to do the same.

Southern Glazer’s employs 15 Master Mixologists across North America,
responsible for educating bartenders, beverage buyers, and corporate
clients about the latest trends in cocktail culture. Michelin star
chefs, national restaurant chains, international hotels, and top spirits
brands rely on Southern Glazer’s expert Mixologists to help them develop
world-class beverage programs that raise the bar for today’s demanding
consumers. Southern Glazer’s Mixologists hold multiple certifications
from accredited organizations such as the U.S. Bartenders Guild,
BarSmarts, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, Society of Wine Educators,
and the Cicerone Certification Program, to name a few.

About Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is North America’s largest wine and
spirits distributor, and the preeminent data insights company for
alcoholic beverages. The Company has operations in 44 U.S. states and
the District of Columbia, Canada, and the Caribbean, and employs more
than 20,000 team members. Southern Glazer’s urges all retail customers
and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products
responsibly. For more information visit www.southernglazers.com.
Follow us on Twitter
and Instagram
@sgwinespirits and on Facebook
at Facebook.com/SouthernGlazers.

Contacts

Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, LLC
Lee Brian Schrager, Office:
305-625-4171, ext. 1040 or Mobile: 786-417-5164
Senior Vice
President, Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility
leeschrager@sgws.com
or
Cindy
Haas, Office: 305-625-4171, ext. 1166 or Mobile: 786-498-7640
Senior
Director, Public Relations
cynthia.haas@sgws.com