So you’ve decided to host a game night - great! Inviting a few friends round to play games can be a fun, entertaining way to spend an evening. Whether you’re enjoying party games, video games, or exploring online casino games for a chance to win some money, you’re sure to have a wonderful time.

Of course, no social gathering is complete without drinks. If you’re not sure what drinks to offer your guests, we’ve listed a few suggestions below. These drinks can help you and your guests relax and make sure everyone has a memorable time. 

Cocktails

Cocktails are one of the best options for a game night. They’re easy to make (and can be bought pre-made in batches) and look appealing and appetising thanks to the endless range of colours they come in. There are loads of options, but for a game night it’s best to offer cocktails that aren’t too strong and can be enjoyed gradually over the course of an hour or so, not just a few minutes. Here are a few ideas:

• Margarita - A classic cocktail, the margarita consists of three ingredients: tequila, orange liqueur and fresh lime juice, with an optional salt rim and lime wedge on the glass.

• Gin and Tonic - Another popular cocktail is the gin and tonic, or G&T. To make it, all you need is gin, tonic water and ice. Again, a lime wedge is an optional extra.

• Mojito - To make a mojito, you need white rum, fresh lime juice and mint leaves, along with soda water and sugar. You may want to add some ice and possibly a mint garnish to enhance the concoction.

• Martini - The classic martini cocktail is made of vodka or gin along with dry vermouth and an olive or lemon for garnishing.

• Daiquiri - The key ingredients of a daiquiri are white rum, fresh lime juice and some sort of sugar syrup. 

• Pina Colada - If you want to make a pina colada, you’ll require white rum, fresh pineapple juice and cream of coconut. The drink’s often mixed with ice and has a wedge of a pineapple or a cherry as garnishing.

Mocktails

While alcohol can lift people’s moods and help them let their guard down, it’s always good to have some drinks that are alcohol-free. After all, some people don’t drink alcohol for various reasons. Even those who do might fancy a break from it once in a while. 

Mocktails are a great alternative to alcohol. They look just as appealing as cocktails and taste just as good. Some might even say they’re better than regular cocktails because they lack the bitter taste and burning sensation that alcohol can have. Here are a few examples of mocktails that should go down a treat:

• Blue Hawaii - A delicious-looking non-alcoholic drink that’s made with pineapple juice, lime juice, cream of coconut and blue curacao syrup.

• Cranberry Juice - To make this mocktail, you just need some cranberry juice, orange juice and ginger beer.

• Shirley Temple - This popular mocktail is made of three ingredients: ginger ale, grenadine and fresh lime juice.

Pitcher Drinks

If you’re inviting a large number of people over for a game night, you might want to consider making pitcher drinks. Prepare a large batch beforehand so your guests can help themselves as they please. 

Rum punch is a great example of a pitcher drink that always goes down well at social gatherings of any size. It consists of rum, grenadine and a selection of tropical fruit juices (e.g. pineapple, orange, lime and mango) that come together to make a sweet and enjoyable beverage.

Another pitcher drink you might want to think about is Sangria. Made with red wine, orange juice, lemonade and ice, it’s topped with an assortment of chopped fruits (such as lemons, green apples and oranges) to give it an edge.

If you want something non-alcoholic to go in a pitcher, you can easily prepare an alcohol-free sangria. Simply replace the red wine with more fruit juices. Or take any classic cocktail recipe and swap out the alcohol for something suitable that complements the other ingredients. 

Experimenting With Your Drinks

It’s easy to purchase pre-made drinks or follow set recipes if you decide to prepare your drinks yourself. Why not push the boat out and experiment with your drink-making? For all the drinks we’ve listed, we’ve listed the traditional ingredients. But for pretty much every drink, there are many different ingredients you can use as alternatives.

 Sticking to popular recipes is sure to go down well. But, being a bit adventurous and putting some sort of spin on your drinks might go down with your guests even better. Just remember not to be too generous with the alcohol!

Sources:

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/top-10-most-popular-cocktail-recipes

https://mindfulmocktail.com/easy-mocktails/