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What drinks to bring when you’re told to bring nothing

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 27 Sep 2023

By
Emily Reed

Just bring your lovely self? No way, man. We won’t be showing up empty-handed. Instead, we’ll spring one of these tasty beverages on our gracious host.

If we had a dollar for every time a friend or family member exclaimed “Don’t bring a thing!” when extending a dinner-party invite, we’d be, well, there’d be no shortage of change for the laundromat, that’s for sure. It’s the age-old scenario; they don’t expect you to show up with a gift, but you don’t want to turn up empty-handed. Why do you think that Cadbury Favourites ad really hit home? We don’t blame you if you hate the idea of rocking up with just “yourselves” – sometimes it feels like a cop out. With that in mind, we’ve pulled together a quick hit list of the best drinks to bring to your next social engagement when you’re explicitly told to bring nothing. It’s like the drink version of Cadbury Favourites – sans fighting over the Crunchies.    
Heaps Normal non-alcoholic beer six-pack

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1. A tasty option for the guests who don’t drink alcohol

Amid all the thrill of planning the wine list, sober guests sometimes get left behind at dinner parties. Bringing along a delish non-alc option that can cater to all adults, drinking or not, is an excellent idea. Thankfully there’s about a zillion zero% drinks these days, but some are classics for a reason. Heaps Normal is all over it, normalising mindful drinking by brewing beer that tastes so good you won't miss the alcohol. Their full-flavoured Quiet XPA is a crowd favourite. It has that unmistakable beery finish and a tropical-meets-citrus aroma; your tastebuds will believe you’re drinking a traditional beer, not one that’s less than 0.5% alcohol. 

2. Something that saves the host precious time

Ready to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes? When you rock up to the dinner party, flash this bottle to the host (so they know you haven’t shown up empty-handed, obviously) and then hide it from your fellow guests. When dessert is served (a tiramisu or choc pudding is ideal), grab some glasses, fill them with ice and pour over Starward’s Coffee Old Fashioned Cocktail. Got an orange handy? Cut that baby up and garnish each drink with a slice and serve. Proceed to have all the dinner party guests assume you were working your ass off in the kitchen shaking cocktails, and swipe a digestif off the host’s to-do list. Starward really nails this bottled cocktail – it’s textural, intense yet well balanced; a classic cocktail recipe with a typically Melburnian caffeinated kick. 
Starward's Coffee Old Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail is ready to drink

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Lillet Blanc – the backbone to The Vesper cocktail

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3. A classic gift for the host’s backbar (that can be served multiple ways)

A little French aperitif before the first course lands? How civilised. What about a Martini to round out the night? Sign us up. If you bring a bottle of Lillet (pronounced lee-lay) Blanc you’ve got options galore in the drinks department, and it’s one of those bar staples people forget to stock up on. If a Martini wets your whistle, enjoy it the way James Bond does with Lillet Blanc, gin, vodka and a lemon peel garnish – he invented it and named it The Vesper in Ian Fleming's 1953 novel Casino Royale. Lillet Blanc has been kicking around since the 1800s, originating in Bordeaux and one of the first tonic wines on the market, it became increasingly popular around the turn of the 20th century when tonic drinks were touted as good for your health. Flash forward to the ’50s and ’60s, and Lillet Blanc became the centrepiece of a number of drinks served in the hip bars and restaurants of NYC, where it was sometimes served flambé (on fire!). Maybe try your hand at flambé during the dinner party? Or just serve it over ice with a slice of either orange, lemon or lime if you want to avoid setting off the smoke detector.

4. A slick (and arty) conversation starter

If you’re one of those people who picks a bottle of wine based on how good-looking the label is, we totally get it. Luckily for you, this wine not only looks beautiful but tastes unique as well. The artwork on Serafino’s Orenji Project McLaren Vale White Blend is a collaboration between the family-owned winery in the heart of McLaren Vale and Sarah McDonald, a local SA artist known for her richly textured and evocative oil paintings. It depicts the rugged coastline of the Fleurieu Peninsula using layering techniques to capture colours, light and freshness. This is a vibrant addition to the 'new wave' wine landscape and a great one at that; gewürztraminer, pinot grigio and vermentino grapes give it a fresh and energetic vibe with layers of flavour including mandarin, orange zest and ginger. Between its unique orange hue, unusual yet refreshing taste and striking artwork on the bottle, the conversation will be flowing just as much as this wine.
Serafino Orenji Project White Blend has striking artwork on the label

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Looking to stick to a budget this season? Check out these party-perfect wine ideas for under $15. 
Shop related products
Heaps NormalQuiet XPA Can 375mL
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Quiet XPA Can 375mL
$64.99 case (24)
 
StarwardCoffee Old Fashioned Cocktail 500mL
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Coffee Old Fashioned Cocktail 500mL
$42.45 each
 
LilletBlanc Aperitif 750mL
Blanc Aperitif 750mL
$41.99 each
 
SerafinoOrenji Project McLaren Vale White Blend
Orenji Project McLaren Vale White Blend
$29.99 each
 
image credits: Shelley Horan (photography), Bridget Wald (styling).
Authour image
Emily ReedEmily is a Melbourne-based writer partial to a good pét nat. Her hobbies include lining up songs on Spotify at house parties and hovering near cheese platters.
Tags
Hit ListAperitifsBeerEntertainingZero% (non-alc)Pre-batched cocktailsWhite WineWine
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