Advice on Holiday Drinking from a Bartender

New Years is everyone's favorite day to consume alcoholic beverages. As a bartender, I know a fair amount about concoctions. These are my recommendations for your New Year's Eve party.

First, Keep it simple. I have been to many New Year's parties, and for some reason everyone feels the need to make incredibly complicated concoctions. Punches are wonderful for parties. Things that require a muddler, a strainer, a shaker, a jigger, and a spoon are not. This goes double for drinks requiring mint leaves and large quantities of cordials. I know that everyone likes to play bartender, but unless you are hiring one keep it simple. Mass quantities of alcohol get dumped on New Years because of people's experimentations. Additionally, when you get over involved in your drink making you end up with a lot more mess.

Second, You need less Champagne than you think. Champagne is the drink of choice at midnight on New Year's and everyone races out to but dozens of bottles. Stop, and think before you do the same this year. Many people don't enjoy Champagne, and often times it all goes to waste. I know that there is the alternative sparkling grape juice, but in general people will be just as content to continue on with their drink of choice. If you are determined to go with tradition, and why not -- then on average buy a third less than you want to buy.

Third, You do not need every liquor money can buy. I suppose this goes along with keep it simple, but you don't need to go bankrupt to have a New Year's party. BYOB (Bring your own bottle) is the easiest way to make sure that everyone gets what they want, but if you are the generous sort keep this in mind. Cheap liquors do not get consumed. So that liter, plastic bottle of Barton's is better used in Jello Shooters than it is left out for martini mixing. Additionally, people tend to drink more or less the same things. As a bartender I make the same things all day: rum and coke, cape cod, basic margarita, and vodka/gin martinis. Buy several two liters of different sodas and a couple of Cranberry juice, and keep to the basic rum, vodka, whiskey, and maybe a small bottle of tequila. Most people that want more complicated things are more than willing to bring it themselves.

Fourthand Final, Have a place you can 'hide' alcohol. All of us love our guests, but I have experienced a few times people going overboard at holiday parties. Have a back up plan for this. Make sure their are places for someone to sleep, and a place to hide that bottle of vodka they keep reaching for. After all, we all just want to have a good time right?