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Game day drinks
Pitchers and big batches that keep up with the crowd, so you never miss a play refilling glasses.
Think big batches
Game day crowds drink steadily for three hours or more. Make bases in big dispensers or several pitchers, and keep the bubbles in a cooler on ice so guests top off their own.
Grapefruit rosemary spritzBubbly and bright, make-ahead baseCranberry orange muleHoliday favorite with ginger fizzSpiced apple cider punchServe warm from a slow cooker
How much to make
A football game runs about 3½ hours, and people arrive early. Plan for 4 hours in the party calculator. If you're outside or tailgating, add 25% more drinks and double the ice.
Setup tips
- Put the drinks where the TV isn't. Keep the drink station out of sightlines so nobody blocks the screen.
- Use a cooler as your bar. A big cooler of ice with the bubbles inside is easier than a bucket you keep refilling.
- Match your team. Cranberry mules for red teams, spritzes for orange or pink, and a color-coded garnish for each side if it's a rivalry game.
- Refill at halftime. Mix a second batch of base before the game and swap it in at the half.
Cups with names: Sturdy reusable cups and a marker cut down on trash and on "whose cup is this?" at the fourth quarter.
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