I enjoy hosting holiday parties. I enjoy opening my house to friends and family. I don’t mind decorating, delegating the tasks, and preparing the main meal. What I fail at is being a guest at a holiday party.

I can cook. I can bake. I just don’t enjoy it. I always end up buying things at the store; which would be fine if my friends were not excellent cooks and bakers. So I have found my solution: I can bring the alcohol! No, I am not talking about beer or wine. No…no…bring the bar. Here are a few drinks you can make at a Friendsgiving without missing the party.

Moscow Mule:
What To Bring:
1 bottle of vodka (or 2 depending on your group)
Ginger beer
Shot glasses
Ice (or ask your host to have plenty of ice)
Limes
Cups (don’t ask your host to have extra cups for the drinks.)

How To Make It:
Squeeze lime juice into a Moscow Mule mug, (seriously it’s a Friendsgiving, no one is going to hate you if you make this is a plastic cup) and then drop in the lime.
Add 2 or 3 ice cubes, then pour 2 ounces of vodka (or two shots) and fill with 6 ounces of cold ginger beer (not ginger ale).
Serve!

Irish Coffee:
What To Bring:
Coffee (either bring the materials to make coffee at their place, so it’s hot or just bring a container from Starbucks.)
Irish Whiskey
Shot glasses
Mugs (I suggest you go to the dollar store or Wal-Mart and purchase about 10 or so cheap mugs)
Brown sugar
Whip cream

How To Make It:
Fill mug with hot water to preheat it, then empty.
Pour piping hot coffee into warmed glass until it is about 3/4 full.
Add the brown sugar and stir until completely dissolved.
Blend in about 2 shots of Irish whiskey.
Top with whipped heavy cream by pouring gently over the back of a spoon.

French 75
What To Bring:
Brut Champagne (1 to 3 bottles, depending on your friends)
Plastic champagne flutes or just plastic cups
Gin (1 bottle)
Lemons
Simple syrup

How To Make It:
Shake 1-ounce gin, 1 ounce of simple syrup and juice of 1 lemon with ice and pour into a glass
Add 4 ounces champagne
You may add ice

Before you decide to make these drinks or any other drinks, know the group dynamic. Figure out what they would and would not drink. There is nothing more embarrassing them coming to a party with cocktails ingredients and everyone just prefers beer.

So jump in your car one hour before the event, buy the ingredients and go to the party.