How To Host a Cocktail-Making Date Night

There’s something wonderful about autumn evenings – the darker nights, the crisp air outside, and rain on the windows (love or hate, it makes it feel extra cosy!) – it’s the perfect excuse to not leave the house. One of our favourite ways to make the most of these evenings is with a cocktail-making date night at home. It’s fun, inexpensive, and a bit indulgent too. 

Read on for advice on creating the perfect cocktail-making date night at home.

 

1. Create a Cosy Ambience

A date night isn’t just about what you drink – it’s about the whole vibe. Think cosy and romantic:

• String up some fairy lights
• Light your favourite scented candle
• Put on a crackling fireplace scene on your TV or laptop (anyone else have these on almost year-round?!)
• Pile up soft throws and cushions

We also cleared our big coffee table to make space for nibbles, drinks, and games.

 

2. Prepare Some Nibbles

No cocktail night is complete without something delicious to eat (that’s the best bit IMO). You’ll want easy, bite-sized options that can be enjoyed alongside the cocktail-making (and sipping). We have loads of easy canape recipes on Savery Grazing, but a few of our favourites include:

• Honey-mustard cocktail sausages
• Crisps with caviar and sour cream
• Festive roasted nuts
• Homemade sausage rolls
• Spiced red onion tarts
• Smoky pancetta & waffle bites
• A cheese and charcuterie board (if you’re in the Sheffield/Derbyshire area, you could order your charcuterie board from us for hand delivery!)

The key is to keep it super simple but easy to eat over a few hours – not a full sit-down meal.

 

3. Make Your Favourite Cocktail (Or Three!)

Naturally, cocktails are the star of the evening. You could go for a firm favourite you both love, or challenge yourselves by trying something new. You don’t have to stop at one either – mixing up a couple of different drinks makes the night extra fun (and potentially messy – but you’re at home, so it really doesn’t matter!)

If you don’t want to buy lots of full-sized bottles and ingredients, a cocktail-making kit is a brilliant option. We tried an autumn cocktail kit from Enchanted Drinks (kindly gifted), and absolutely loved it. Everything comes perfectly measured for two Pumpkin Spice Martinis, making it super easy and stress-free. Whilst this one-off box is available until the end of September, they also offer other themed cocktail kits throughout the year!

All you need is a shaker, plenty of ice, and your favourite cocktail glasses (we used ours from Oliver Bonas, which also featured in our Cocktail-Lover’s Gift Guide). To make it extra special, the Enchanted Drinks kit included shimmers for a magical sparkle, an autumn leaf garnish to clip onto the glass, and even a pumpkin marshmallow drinks topper – so autumnal!

 

4. Add a Fun Activity

To keep the evening flowing (and avoid drinking too quickly), plan a little activity or two to enjoy between cocktails. We opted for a jigsaw with a cosy autumn scene, but you could also do:

• A couples’ quiz – test how well you know each other
• Board games like Logo, Tension, or Articulate
• Painting while you sip (think of it as your own “sip and paint” class at home!)

It’s an intentional way to spend time together and makes the night feel more like a full experience than just drinks at home.

 

Easy Hosting Ideas From Savery Grazing

Hosting a cocktail-making date night is a brilliant way to turn a wet, raining evening into a lovely date night with a partner or even girly-gettogether. With the right cocktails, cosy atmosphere, tasty nibbles, and a few fun activities, you’ll have all the ingredients for a perfect autumn night in!

For more date night ideas, tips, tricks, and delicious recipes, keep up to date with our blog. For more foodie inspo, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest.

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