‘Tis the season to be jolly!—and nothing is jollier than a festive feast with friends! That's why we've put together a few tips to make sure there are plenty of Christmas 'Cheers!' to go around.

Let's start with the obvious—drinks. Every man, woman, and elf has a taste for different tipples. With that in mind, be sure to offer a wide selection of drinks—beers, wines, cocktails, and, of course, soft drinks. Check out our new Christmas catalogue to see what specials lie in wait at your local Cellarbrations. For something a little special, though, we've got a few holiday-inspired cocktails to get people in the spirits at your next Christmas shindig.

Aussie Christmas Storm

• 30ml Bundaberg Black 12 Year Old Rum
• 4 fresh lime wedges
• 2 fresh ginger slices
• CAPI Flamin’ Ginger Beer
• Sprig of mint and bird’s eye chilli, to garnish

In a cocktail shaker, muddle together the lime wedges and ginger. Add the rum and fill the glass halfway with ice. Put the lid on and shake everything like your presents depended on it. Strain into a short glass and top up with ginger beer. Add a sprig of mint and bird’s eye chilli to garnish.

Summer Sangria

• 1 bottle of red wine (try Hardys 'Tintara Geology')
• 1 cup of Sierra tequila
• ½ cup of freshly squeezed orange juice
• ¼ cup of freshly squeezed lime juice
• ½ cup of brown sugar
• Sliced watermelon, to taste

This is the perfect drink to share with friends. In a large punch bowl, add all of the ingredients and stir well. Finally, add as much watermelon as you want and stack plenty of cups or glasses nearby. This one won't last long!

Spiced Apple Fizz

• 50ml Gordon's London Dry Gin 
• Juice of half a lemon
• 4 tbsp cloudy apple juice
• 2 pinches of ground cinnamon
• A handful of ice
• 200ml Champagne (try Mumm NV) or sparkling wine (try Chandon NV)
• ½ small apple, cored and thinly sliced

Pour the gin into a cocktail shaker or large jam jar. Add the lemon juice, apple juice, a pinch of cinnamon, and the ice. Pop on the lid and shake it like you mean it, baby!

Strain into flutes and add a spritz of the bubbles. Sprinkle the remaining pinch of cinnamon over the apples and thread them onto two cocktail sticks. Balance the sticks across the rim of each glass and serve with a 'Ho! Ho! Ho!' Watch their little faces light up as snow angels are made in their mouth!

Beer

No party—Christmas or otherwise—would fly without a solid supply of coldies. Few beers set the summer mood like Corona; it's a surefire crowd pleaser that'll keep your guests satisfied round the clock. Just remember to pile them into an ice filled esky for polar cold refreshments.

Wine

Wine is another obvious consideration when planning your drinks selection. We suggest something you can keep chilled, to cool people off in the hot weather. A longtime favourite of Marlborough lovers is Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc, with a tropical palate including passionfruit and citrus notes to give it some fresh acidity. It's a full and juicy white which goes down a treat.

Champagne

Whether it's a Champagne reception or an apéritif before the main course, a few bubbles never go amiss at Christmas. For something with a summery twist, try Mumm NV, a bonafide French sparking wine from the Champagne region. It has a fairly dry, savoury palate which is perfectly suited to the delicious food we're about to share!

Dessert

Who says you can’t start with dessert?! The sweet stuff is always the star on the gourmet Christmas tree, so do yourself a favour when planning your main and entrées and work backwards from the dessert.

We heartily encourage you to go all out on the dessert front. Think ice cream bombs covered in crushed Malteasers, pavlovas brimming with fruit compote, and anything with the word 'sticky' in it!

Entrées

While people swap the goss and get into the swing, you'll need to keep their hunger at bay. We recommend things like a hearty tray of homemade fennel sausage rolls, mini chicken fajitas, or antipasto skewers. (Or all of the above!)

Mains

For a fabulous festive feast, seafood is a must for the menu. Keep it simple with grilled prawns and mango mayonnaise or baked salmon and marinated crayfish tails. You'll have people salivating from the moment you tell them what's on the menu.

Music

A perfectly crafted playlist can be the difference between a festive bash and a festive crash. Good music is non-negotiable, and that means it has to suit the occasion. So, dust off your Michael Bublé and Maria Carey’s 'Greatest Hits'—this thing is going OFF! Sneak in a few Christmas classics with your Hottest 100 predictions and, as you roll into a not-so-silent-night, you can always appease your neighbours by going acapella with some angelic carol singing.

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We hope these tips help you have a cracking Christmas celebration. So, before you put on ‘Love Actually’ (for the 257th time) to get yourself into the holiday mood, remember your local Cellarbrations is there to help plan a festive season party to remember. You can also find our new Christmas catalogue, packed with cheerfully good deals on all your favourite drinks.