Hosting & Cocktail Pairings
A good game night is part cards, part conversation, and part what is in the glass. Here are four easy pairings, one for each way to use your table. Everything here is for guests of legal drinking age, and non-alcoholic options are included for every setup.
Texas Hold’em: Bourbon & Old Fashioneds
Old Fashioned: 2 oz bourbon, 1 sugar cube or 1 teaspoon simple syrup, 2 to 3 dashes aromatic bitters, orange peel to finish. Stir with ice in a short glass until chilled, strain over a large cube, and express the orange peel over the top.
Without alcohol: cold-brewed tea with a splash of maple syrup and a few dashes of non-alcoholic bitters over ice.
Blackjack: Martinis & Champagne Flutes
Classic Martini: 2½ oz gin or vodka, ½ oz dry vermouth, lemon twist or olive. Stir with ice until very cold, strain into a chilled glass, and garnish. Pour sparkling wine into flutes for guests who prefer bubbles.
Without alcohol: sparkling water with a splash of white grape juice and a twist of lemon in a flute.
Board games: Craft Stouts & Pretzels
Long games call for easy sipping. Keep a few dark stouts or ales on ice and put out soft pretzels with mustard, plus bowls of nuts. Cups in the rail keep cans and glasses off the board.
Without alcohol: a non-alcoholic stout or ginger beer.
Cocktail lounge: Charcuterie & Single Malts
Serve a single malt neat or with a little water, and let people help themselves to a board of cured meats, hard cheeses, dried fruit and nuts. Small plates and napkins at the rail keep things tidy.
Without alcohol: a pot of strong tea or sparkling apple cider.
Hosting tips
- Set up drinks and snacks at a side table so the playing surface stays clear.
- Offer water and a non-alcoholic option, and make sure everyone has a safe way home.
- Use the cup holders. That is what they are there for.
- Wipe spills right away. The mats and rail wipe clean with a damp cloth.