What drinks should I have on hand for dinner party?

[Anonymous]

I am throwing a dinner party for some work colleagues, and I need to know what people think is normal to have on hand. At our house, we are pretty specific about our vices. We have wine and single-malt scotch. I am sure this isn't going to cut it!

What do people generally expect you to have on hand for their "opening drinks" for a dinner party?

[Anonymous]

Red and white wine, vodka, bourbon and mixers. Unless you just want to buy a bottle of everything. I just found that people drink vodka over gin and bourbon over rum.

THis is just from my experience...I'm sure people will have other opinions!

[Anonymous]

Beer. Most Americans who drink prefer beer. I'm sure that and your wine (and scotch if you want to offer it) would be great.

[Anonymous]

i think even having just a red wine and a white wine option is just fine. you don't need to have a full bar at home.

[Anonymous]

Beer and wine. Keeps people from getting shitfaced, which is best when having WORK people over!! You do not want people glugging whiskey....oy.

[Anonymous]

Wine and beer. And if you want to have a hard liquor option without stocking a full bar, how about making a special cocktail--Mardi Gras is coming up--I believe there is a signature cocktail for that (forget the name).

[Anonymous]

Good wine, interesting (microbrew) beer, sparkling water, good bottled flat water, and decaf coffee. That's all I serve and I've never had a complaint!

[Anonymous]

Beer, wine (I would do Cabernet and Chardonnay.), soda including coke and diet coke, and bottled water. I don't think you need to have any hard liquor on hand, but I like the idea offering the single malt scotch, since it is something you personally enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Always verbally offer nonalcoholic drinks along with the alcohol.

I'm a recovering alcoholic and it is always awkward when the host (someone I don't know well) only offers me a choice of alcoholic drinks. I don't want to embarrass them by telling them I don't drink so then I ask for water. But it may be that they have soda or juice they are perfectly willing to give me but it hadn't occurred to them to offer it and I don't want to be rude and ask.

[And on that very rare occasion when the smell of alcohol is tempting (very rare these days and only in the presence of specific items such as Guinness), it helps to have a nonalcoholic drink with flavor and sugar to distract me. But I wouldn't be coming to your party if I thought it was going to be a real problem so I can deal with just water.]

And some nights you may have drinkers who want something nonalcoholic as well.

[Anonymous]

Make sure that you have non-diet soda too. Consider iced tea.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the suggestions, and for assuring me I don't have to become a Martini-mixing margarita-making afficianado! I think I'll stick (on the alcoholic side) to beer, wine and DH's scotch. I will be drinking some of the other stuff, too, so hopefully no one will feel awkward. I have to watch the calories these days so unsweet ice tea is right up my alley!

[Anonymous]

bump

[Anonymous]

As well as beer, wine, scotch, gin, tonic, OJ, Coke, diet coke, I would have cider, hard cider, absinthe, and limoncello.

[Anonymous]

No offense, but I hate _uckin parties where you gotta have _uckin alcohol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No offense, but I hate _uckin parties where you gotta have _uckin alcohol.

Why? If you don't want to drink, don't drink. Seems your reaction is a little extreme.