These Are The Perfect Holiday Food and Cocktail Pairings To Serve At Parties

Cocktail and Festive Feast Pairing Considerations

To impress friends and fam, let’s cover a few basics. Here are a few things to have in mind when curating the best pairing:

• Look for balance: Good food and cocktail pairings are about complementing and contrasting flavors. Lift one-dimensional rich or heavy foods with lighter, zesty or fruity drinks.
• Equal the texture: Match the texture (or mouthfeel, if you want to be fancy) of the sip to the bite. The gentle fizz of a Champagne cocktail (think Kir Royale or the trendy Hugo Spritz) is a perfect sip to lighten a buttery pastry bite. Choose the bolder bubble of a John Collins or Passionfruit Gin for a heavier or crunchy dish with roast potatoes.
• Align the taste: Punchy, strong or spicy flavors like morsels with smoked bacon need a zingy citrus cocktail to match their strength. Choose a partner like a Vesper Martini, a Sidecar or a Rob Roy.
• Match the size: Pair shorter cocktails served in a coupe or martini glass with small plates of appetizers and desserts. Slip longer cocktails in a highball with the main course. Enjoy both at the same pace.

A Drink for Every Occasion

Over the festive season, our calendars get jammed with every kind of get-together! We’re talking cocktail parties, holiday dinners, end-of-year drinks and the all-important long lazy brunch. Here are a few winning combos to ease you through it all:

• Low ABV drinks for the chef: If the kitchen is your happy place, there’s no shame in enjoying a low alcohol cocktail while you’re planning and prepping. Pick a long pour like a Hugo, John Collins or Moscow Mule.
• Neighborly nibbles: Add sparkle to the neighborhood with a Strawberry Champagne cocktail or a Pink French 75 for folks to sip slowly. Pair creamy smoked salmon treats with a light and zesty Lemon Drop or Vesper Martini. Get a little naughty with the on-trend Pornstar Martini, which pairs nicely with rich or spicier bites. For a more relaxed vibe, get creative with charcuterie and cheese boards, accompanied by a Maple Bourbon Smash or Negronis.

• Appetizer appeal: A silky-smooth aperitif like a French Manhattan is the perfect match for beef carpaccio topped with parmesan shavings. The gentle botanicals of gin cocktails are ideal for delicate fish plates or light salads.
• Cozy cocktails: Greet your loved ones with a warm and welcoming cocktail such as the Hot Buttered Rum or Hot Apple Cider cocktail. Enjoy fireside with puff pastry pinwheels.
• Christmas dinner and all the trimmings: When it comes to the main event, choose cocktails that won’t overshadow the delicate flavors of a roast turkey. Enjoy Champagne cocktails, soda highballs (try a Vodka Collins) and most gin cocktails for a perfect pairing.

• Sweet endings: Lovers of liquid desserts need to try a rich Hot Pumpkin Pie cocktail, Tom and Jerry or a slightly lighter Mexican hot chocolate or Eggnog Martini. Not ready to give up your showstopper dessert? Don’t! Cut through the richness of baked desserts with a tangy Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour or choose these classics: Irish coffee, Espresso Martini or White Russian.
• Bravo-ho-ho: End your Christmas meal with something light and fruity, like a Strawberry or Mango Mojito, and raise a glass to toast the hosts and guests. Standing ovation, essential!
• Boxing Day brunch: Just because the formalities are done and dusted, doesn’t mean cocktails aren’t on the menu the next day! Fizzy cocktails like a Raspberry or Peach Bellini and Mimosas are always firm favorites with a classic cooked breakfast. If you’re dishing up something spicy, go big and try a Mexican cocktail like a grapefruit Paloma or a Watermelon Mexican Candy.