Ahead of the final act of 2024, we’ve teamed up with Glenfiddich – Dufftown’s most famous family of Scotch makers – to celebrate the ‘Art of Hosting’.
Randy Lai, our drinks editor & ‘Liquid Intel’ columnist, distils the key takeaways you need to throw a properly enjoyable party.
It could be a new year’s soiree, intimate dinner, or 6-hour invite-the-neighbours-round type odyssey: no matter the setting, we’ll wager you’ll take something useful from our ultimate guide to hosting.
RELATED: The 11 Best Bits Of Barware Every Man Should Own
A Sense Of Occasion
I’m of the firm belief that even the shyest wallflower can give a good party by simply remembering that – above all else – you need to harness the appropriate sense of ‘occasion’.
Nailing the vibe invariably comes down to effectively juggling multiple, oftentimes clashing considerations. But whether you’re entertaining 6 guests or 60, don’t lose sight of the fact that a good host’s first priority is to facilitate a good time.
It’s why I’m so intrigued by the tact Glenfiddich has taken with its signature Grand Cru: a 23-year-old single malt, of impressive maturity and craftsmanship, tailored for celebratory moments. The kind where clinking your glasses together is always preferred over a half-hearted “cheers”.
Detour to the Grand Cru website and you’ll find that it’s not only about appreciating the art of distilling and cask maturation. It’s also a celebration of a diverse cast of drinkers – and ‘say less’ succinctness.
Colour? Deep gold. Nose? Apple blossom, lemon bonbons and fresh-baked bread. Flavour? Lengthy, rich layers of vanilla, pear and white grape – the telltale signs of a finish in rare French cuveé casks.
In a nutshell: the sense of ‘occasion’ we all strive for in delicious malty form. Fun, energetic, and just a wee bit subversive.
A Brief List Of Top Hosting Tips
Of course, we’re aware that what many BH readers really want is cliff notes – good, solid intel that will easily (and noticeably) lift your hosting game.
After leaning on the wisdom of our friends at Glenfiddich, below are 4 of the tips & tricks we deem essential to those hosting at home:
A Versatile Backbar: Take the time to ensure, a few days before your event, that the home bar is stocked with an even spread of wine & spirits most of your guests will actually enjoy drinking.
What that entails will naturally vary between hosts, however most occasions stand to benefit from a backbar stocked with gin, vodka, white rum, and crucially, a really versatile Scotch whisky.
Bonus points if these can be combined, together with aromatics like the humble Angostura bitters, to make cocktails.
On the whisky front, Grand Cru is a no-brainer though Glenfiddich’s 15YO expression is an absolute weapon if you’re angling to make whisky-based mixed beverages.
Quality Glassware: Trust me when I say (from personal experience) that nobody likes drinking drams out of a plastic cup. Ditto when it’s any other alcoholic beverage where colour and purity of flavour is crucial to one’s enjoyment.
Make sure you’ve got a decent quantity of drinkware. The sort that looks great, feels solid in hand, and that ultimately, one won’t be too devastated about when breakages occur.
My preferred vendors of solid glassware are Cocktail Kingdom and Luigi Bormiolo. Can’t go wrong.
The Right Records: Arguably as important to the success of your party as the food & drinks being served. Do better than the usual Spotify algorithm, and spend the week beforehand curating a playlist – or at least bookmarking a few.
When in doubt: read the room, check the vibe.
A houseful of youngsters probably don’t want to bop to Italo-Disco for 90 minutes straight; but equally, don’t assume your intimate dinner party – full of +1s and ‘work friends’ – have to listen to Kind Of Blue on repeat.
Foolproof Food Pairings: Even when you’re not drinking a chilled tumbler of Grand Cru or your favourite cocktail, there are a couple of fundamental principles worth writing into your food menu.
Ready-to-use products like pâté or salmon caviar give you precious added minutes to mingle among friends; while half an hour’s prep can turn a handful of prawns and oysters into a studio-ready seafood platter. Simplicity, as they say, is sophistication.
Give your guests the joy of Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky – available now at Dan Murphy’s.
This article is sponsored by Glenfiddich. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Boss Hunting.
