How Much Alcohol Do You Need for a Party?

Plus, recipes for our favorite winter cocktails. [START FREE TRIAL]( or [LOG IN]( [America's Test Kitchen: Notes from the Test Kitchen]( [America's Test Kitchen: Notes from the Test Kitchen]( [FIND RECIPES ›]( December 16, 2022 [A collection of recipes from this newsletter]( [A collection of recipes from this newsletter]( What’s New at ATK [Bottles of Alcohol]( How Much Alcohol Do You Need for a Party? Use our master formula to avoid guesswork and make sure the party doesn’t run dry.[Read about how much alcohol to buy for a party. →]( Make the Winning Recipe from Episode 1 of America’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generation “Winning with this recipe . . . It made me feel like I could really do this.”[Make the sizzling dish that won over the judges. →]( A Note From Our Test Cooks [Holiday Punch for a Crowd; Christie Morrison’s Headshot]( Winter Cocktails From Christie Morrison, Executive Editor, Video and Cooking School Just like white jeans, tank tops, and daylight saving time, cocktails have a season. The boundaries might be more elastic than they are with fashion and time, but they’re there nonetheless. The demand for cooling gin-and-tonics recedes once the mercury drops, and a gin-based Negroni often gives way to a spicier, heavier whiskey-based [Boulevardier]( to ride out the winter months. Now that we’re in the cozy zone of sweaters and fuzzy blankets here in New England, it’s time to change up the cocktail menu to follow suit. While I think a classic [Gin Martini]( is as timeless as a little black dress, I tend to push dark spirits to the front of the liquor cabinet come fall. I’m a sucker for a rye-based [Manhattan]( for postwork cocktails. The spicy rye keeps the drink from becoming too sweet, even with a cherry garnish. When I’m in the mood for a little sweetness, the combination of smoky bourbon and apple cider (with a muddle of fragrant sage) in an [Autumn in New England]( fits the bill. An [Old-Fashioned]( is as straightforward and simple as cocktails come: bourbon plus sugar (or simple syrup) plus bitters gently stirred with ice (for a little dilution) and served straight. However, I like them with one of those big, fancy ice cubes that keeps the drink cold without watering it down. You can easily change up this formula and end up with newfangled Old-Fashioned cocktails. Start with brandy and add a splash of [Spiced Syrup]( and an apple slice and you have a [Fireside](. And rum isn’t off the table after mojito season is over. Use the Old-Fashioned formula with aged rum and dark chile liqueur with lime peel for a slightly smoky-spicy [Old Poblano](. After dinner, there’s nothing like an [Espresso Martini]( to satisfy your sweet tooth and your coffee craving. After rising to popularity in the 90s, this cocktail fell out of fashion for a while. But like platform sandals, hair scrunchies, and Brendan Fraser, it’s having a comeback. Expecting company? Make a batch of warming [Brandied Mulled Cider](. It’s fragrant with cinnamon, clove, coriander, and black pepper and makes enough for a crowd. It’s also just as good without the brandy if you’re looking for a nonalcoholic treat. Joe Gitter walks you through the steps below in [a course he taught for our online Cooking School](. Along those lines, you could make some [Cranberry Shrub Syrup]( with your extra bags of cranberries from Thanksgiving. Shrub is a sweet, tart, tangy syrup made with vinegar that adds a bright splash to cocktails or club soda for nonalcoholic drinks. It will last in your refrigerator for weeks. Cheers! The recipes in this newsletter are free for two days Get access to every recipe, review, and video, plus free shipping on books and merchandise from our shop. [Start your 2-week free trial]( → Christie’s Cocktail Recommendations [Get the recipe for Autumn in New England →]( [Get the recipe for Fireside →]( [Get the recipe for Espresso Martini →]( Drinks to Serve at Your Holiday Gatherings [Get the recipe for Brandied Mulled Cider →]( [Get the recipe for Boulevardiers for a Crowd →]( [Get the recipe for Holiday Punch for a Crowd →]( Our Favorite Equipment for Cocktails [Read the review of Muddlers →]( [Buy the winner →]( [Read the review of Ice Molds for Cocktails →]( [Buy the winner →]( [Read the review of Jiggers →]( [Buy the winner →]( [For the Love of Cooking, Try Digital All Access: 12,000+ Reliable Recipes, Free Shipping in Our Shop, Mobile App, 8,000+ Product Reviews, Cookbook Collection. Get 14 Days Free.]( [Or give a gift they’ll unwrap again and again. Gift a Membership.]( [Joe Gitter Making Brandied Mulled Cider]( From Our Online Cooking School Cocktails with Friends: Brandied Mulled Cider In this course, Joe Gitter shows you how to make Brandied Mulled Cider, a cozy winter drink perfect for hosting. [view course]( Try Another Newsletter [How to Bake Newsletter Preview]( [Sign up for How to Bake →]( Your introduction to all things baking, with recipes and how-tos plus exclusive discounts on our baking books. [Shortcuts to Dinner Newsletter Preview]( [Sign up for Shortcuts to Dinner →]( Get out of that cooking rut with six weeks of Shortcuts to Dinner in your inbox. 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