5 Bar Strategies for a Fabulous NYE Party

For the past few years, Covid has stopped many from celebrating New Year’s Eve like we used to. This year, we predict parties on parties. Ring in the New Year by hosting your own! Follow these tips to make sure your bar is stocked and the drinks keep flowing all party long.

Stock up. It’s going to be a long night ahead if you want to make it to see the ball drop! Make sure you have more than enough drinks, straws, lemons, limes, chasers, etc. for everyone to last the entire night, or ask your guests to bring something!

Streamline. Offer a single house cocktail. Supplement with wine, beer, and sparkling water. *Being in the real estate industry, we always lean towards lighter-colored drinks, so save your interiors and opt for perhaps a champagne cocktail or winter white sangria.

Uncork the Wine Ahead of Time. The first thing guests do is head for the drinks. Uncork wine before the party starts to eliminate the kiss-Larry-on-the-cheek-while-struggling-with-the-bottle two-step, and to let the wine breathe. Put wine and beer in an ice bath a half hour before guests arrive. Fill a pretty galvanized bucket with ice, water, and a handful of salt.

Stock up on ice. In addition to the ice for the bucket, “you’ll need at least one 10-pound bag for every four guests,” says Mindy Kobrin, the founder of Mindy’s Meals on Heels, an event-planning company in New York City.

Make enough to drink. When whipping up batches of your house drink, “assume guests will consume two cocktails in the first hour and one drink an hour after that,” says Meghan Andalman, the owner of Lovebird Events, in Chicago.

Have a variety of glasses on hand. Mismatched vessels look great. Figure each guest will use at least three glasses.*If you're worried about glassware breaking, opt for plastic champagne flutes, like these from Amazon.