Friendsgiving and game night go hand in hand if you ask me. Celebrating gratitude with the greatest people I know, with a side of old school games and cocktails is how I like to party! The best part? It’s a really simple party to host if you’re not into going all out, yet it’ll be an evening your friends will appreciate for months to come. I love the idea of mixing a left overs party, with a whiskey tasting and healthy dose of competition. Here are my tips for a fabulous friendsiving party.
Ambience. Since it’s Thanksgiving weekend, no need to decorate beyond fall foliage, pumpkins, and a fire going in the fireplace. It’s important to keep the ambience comfy, warm, and casual so keep decor minimal and ensure friends will feel at home at your place. Music is an important detail and mood setter. I always like to plan ahead and create a playlist that will play for the duration of the party. I start off the playlist upbeat and welcoming as guests being to arrive. Planning about 30 minutes before the party should end, the playlist slows down to easy going music. It sends the message that the party is wrapping up but allows for guests to linger as long as they want.
Cocktails & Drinks. When hosting a party of any size, it’s great to keep cocktails and drinks to the basics so you don’t spend the entire party mixing drinks and refilling empty glasses. A whiskey tasting is a great alternative to the traditional wine tasting fete and feels autumnal and pairs well with Thanksgiving leftovers. I researched a variety of whiskeys ranging from bourbon, rye, and single malt on TheBar.com. It’s my trusted source for new cocktail recipes plus a good rundown of different types of spirits. It’s a good rule of thumb for any type of tasting to make selections for both guests who are beginners as well as guests who are connoisseurs. I offered guests Pie Hole Apple Pie, Pie Hole Cherry Pie, George Dickel Whiskey, Bulleit Bourbon, and Johnnie Walker Black Label for the whiskey tasting. I rolled out some craft paper and listed out all the bottles and blends for guests. It protects surfaces from spills, plus tells your guests about the whiskey they’ll be tasting.
Tip: Set up a water bar to keep guests hydrated!
Food. Who doesn’t love Thanksgiving leftovers? Now imagine a potluck of leftovers! Not only is it a great way to get rid of leftovers but it keeps the mood of party really relaxed. It also makes for a great sampling of food from pumpkin pie to homemade cranberry sauce to Chinese takeout!
Games. Do you remember the last time you had a game night? For most people it’s been years which is why a game night with friends is so much fun. I love mixing in old school favorites like Monopoly and Scrabble with some new favorites like Cards Against Humanity. You can have multiple games going for a larger party, or play one game at a time for a group smaller than 8 people. For a fun prize and extra competition, gift left over bottles of whiskey to the winners of the game.
