Cocktail hour is more than just the time of day when you order—or mix—yourself your favorite drink. It’s the ritual of letting go, releasing your cares and worries for a moment and giving yourself over to the pleasures of a well-mixed intoxicant (or a mocktail, if that’s your preference). It’s a time for chatting with friends conspiratorially, for trading gossip, and offering commiseration over life’s slings and arrows and global pandemics. And who couldn’t use some of that right now?
Thanks to the wonders of technology, we can still honor the ritual, even while adhering to social distancing rules. So get ready to raise a glass—we're bringing you everything you need to throw the most spectacular virtual cocktail party of 2020.
Step 1: Pick Your Platform
The most important element of a virtual cocktail party is, of course, the people, so deciding how everyone is going to connect is essential.
FaceTime
Apple users, you're no doubt already familiar with this one. A straightforward service that can take on more than 30 participants at once, it comes pre-equipped on iPhones and iPads so you don't need to download anything new.
Skype
This crowd-pleaser was one of the first well-known video calling programs. Calls can loop in up to 50 participants and carry on for up to four hours, because the night shouldn't end until you say so.
Google Hangouts
Built into Google products like Gmail, this video chat service lets you talk to as many as 10 people simultaneously on your phone or computer for an intimate at-a-distance party.
Zoom
If you're throwing a serious soiree, this telemeeting service can handle up to 100 participants at once (or 500 if you opt for the paid service.) The basic plan tops out at 40 minutes, so don't plan for a lingering cocktail hour.
Zoom
If you're throwing a serious soiree, this telemeeting service can handle up to 100 participants at once (or 500 if you opt for the paid service.) The basic plan tops out at 40 minutes, so don't plan for a lingering cocktail hour.
“You need talkers and listeners, if you know what I mean. A great party comes down to choosing a great guest list.”—Event Planner Bronson Van Wyck
Step 2: Choose a Cocktail
Whether your tastes run toward the classics or you're looking to expand your palate, now is the perfect time to go all out with your nicest glasses, most elaborate garnishes, and professional techniques. Start with your favorite spirit (or go spirit-free), choose a cocktail recipe, and share it with the group an hour (or more) in advance, so everyone can gather the ingredients and mix their drink together.
Vodka
Think of vodka as the spirits world's best supporting actor—it can transform even the most basic of ingredients into a cocktail. Channel your inner James Bond with a classic vodka martini, shake things up with your favorite mixers, or brew up an espresso martini to keep the party going into the night.
Tequila
Tequila has a reputation for being the natural-born life of the party. From margaritas to palomas to smoky mezcal drinks, cocktails made with tequila always feel celebration ready; just what you need when you want to turn up the volume on a good time.
Whiskey
If sophistication is the by-word of the evening, whiskey is the spirit you need. Stir up an Old fashioned, Manhattan, or Sazerac for a swanky, roaring '20s style tipple or lighten things up with a classic mint julep or whiskey sour. No matter what you choose whiskey will add a dose of old school elegance.
Gin
Gin is a bar cart hero for making mixology easy. Add dash of vermouth and you have a martini, swap in citrus juice and it's a gimlet; dress that up with an artfully shaken egg white for a showstopping fizz. Or, simplest and most classic of all, pour in some tonic and congratulate yourself on a job well done.
Rum
Ready for a mental getaway? Give your party a taste of the tropics with a rum-based cocktail like a mojito, daiquiri, or painkiller. Really want to go over the top? Buzz up some fruit, rum, and ice for a frozen cocktail that will taste like a vacation in a glass—drink umbrella, non-negotiable.
Champagne Cocktails
Popping a bottle of bubbly is a celebration in and of itself, but to go the extra mile cocktail-wise, mix yourself a champagne cocktail. Stud your glass with a bitters-soaked sugar cube for a classic champagne cocktail, dose it with gin for a French 75, or raspberry liqueur for a Kir Royale.
Quarantinis
Never one to let a moment pass them by, portmanteau-loving cocktail fans have taken the opportunity of self-isolating to come up with a special new category of cocktails to imbibe: quarantinis—martinis to drink while you're quarantined, of course!
Mocktails
Abstaining from alcohol shouldn't mean being stuck with a boring drink. Luckily there are lots of alcohol-free concoctions that look and taste just as good as their boozy counterparts. Jazz things up with a non-alcoholic spirit like Seedlip, thoughtfully made syrups and flavorings, and gorgeous garnishes.
Step 3: Set the Scene
Lighting
For an in-person cocktail hour, mood lighting is fantastic. When you're trying to see the faces of your nearest and dearest across the internet, not so much. Whether it's overhead lights or artfully placed lamps, make sure that there's enough wattage that you won't look like an anonymous source on the news once the party starts.
Music
In video chats, conflicting sounds can cause confusion, which makes ambient music a challenge. To minimize this issue, assign one guest from your group to be the DJ and have them send around a playlist for everyone to enjoy pre-party to get into the mood or, once everyone logs on have them listen to the songs through a single earbud.
Decor
Regardless of what video connection you choose, the area directly behind you will be visible during your party, so choose a spot you don't mind showing off. Bookshelves work beautifully, as does wallpaper. Pick up any clutter that might have accumulated in recent days and embrace your artistic side to prop it out.
Regardless of what video connection you choose, the area directly behind you will be visible during your party, so choose a spot you don't mind showing off. Bookshelves work beautifully, as does wallpaper. Pick up any clutter that might have accumulated in recent days and embrace your artistic side to prop it out.
Regardless of what video connection you choose, the area directly behind you will be visible during your party, so choose a spot you don't mind showing off. Bookshelves work beautifully, as does wallpaper. Pick up any clutter that might have accumulated in recent days and embrace your artistic side to prop it out.
“When you're on screen, have something that is attractive behind you—a cheery color, a piece of art, flowers or a plant. That way you and your home are at your best.” —Interior Designer Alex Papachristidis
Step 4: Get Dressed
A wardrobe change will help get you in the party mood and the convenience of your own home means you've got the perfect excuse to serve up some serious looks.
Cocktail Attire
Getting all done up in your fanciest duds is just the fashion palate-cleanser you need after days (or weeks!) of living in your most casual clothes.
Loungewear
Not ready to give up your PJs? Go glam with a dress code of luxurious robes and lounge like Old Hollywood starlets.
Jewelry
A virtual cocktail party is the perfect time for a maximalist jewelry moment. Pile on all of your most dramatic baubles and shine like the diamond you are.
Hats
When you're only being seen in a square on a screen it's not enough to be fashionable, you've also got to be highly visible. May we suggest a dynamic and eye-catching hat?
Beauty
It's not about how it makes you look; it's how it makes you feel. So swipe on red lipstick, fix your hair, or spritz on your "special occasion" scent.
Step 5: Make a (Pantry Friendly) Snack
Parmesan Crisps
This is a two ingredient appetizer. Just bake little piles of grated parmesan cheese—with a tiny bit of ground pepper—in a 375-degree oven for 10 minutes. That's it, and they taste like fancy party food. (Because they are.)
White Bean Dip
Wondering what to do with all the white beans you stocked in a panic? Mix a few cups of beans with a small clove of garlic, a glug of olive oil, the finely grated zest of one lemon, and a tablespoon of chopped rosemary in the bowl of a food processor.
Fancy Grilled Cheese
Caramelize some onions and nestle between two pieces of bread with slices of the best melting cheese you can scrounge from your fridge. Cook in a pan with a lot of butter, and cut into quarters. Sandwiches feel like cocktail food when they're tiny!
Some Recipe Inspiration
Toasted Ravioli with Marinara Sauce
A decadent snack you can make with frozen ravioli, a jar of pasta sauce, and the hunk of parmesan in your fridge. Plus what better words are there in the English language than "breaded and fried"?
Get the Recipe
Deviled Eggs
These can be made in an almost infinite number of ways, but the principle is simple: Hard boil eggs, slice in half and remove the yolks, then mash them up with mayo, salt, pepper, and extras of your choice—herbs, scallions, pickles, smoked salmon, paprika.
Step 6: Enjoy Yourself
Remember, a virtual cocktail party is all about connecting with people you care about, so even if you don't manage any of the steps on this list, your party will be a success if you share a laugh or a note of encouragement. Let go, have a good time, and enjoy each other's company. You deserve it.
Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and cocktails.
