What You Need to Entertain at Home This Summer

This article was produced in partnership with Basil Hayden

The recipe for a perfect summer afternoon is fairly simple: Mix equal parts good company and great drinks. You don't even need to venture far. Your backyard is arguably the best place to entertain. You can set the scene to support both leisure and some good-natured debauchery. 

Contrary to popular belief, hosting doesn't have to be a harebrained endeavor. It’s all about preparation. Once you have the necessary elements to throw a backyard party, it’s smooth sailing.

We've created a starter pack for entertaining guests al fresco this summer, from essential home goods to top tips, including the best batch cocktail recipe.

A Party-Worthy Punch

A batched cocktail saves you the hassle of spending the afternoon shaking and stirring bespoke cocktails for your guests. Let Basil Hayden Bourbon be your sidekick and stir up Fool’s Gold Punch.

The small-batch bourbon has notes of vanilla and charred oak, a perfect complement to zesty lemon and fizzy soda water. Assemble it in a glass bowl or pitcher before your guests arrive for a fool-proof punch that's festive and refreshing. 

Fool’s Gold Punch

Ingredients:

• 12 oz (375 ml) Basil Hayden Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• 6 oz (1/2 cup) limoncello
• 12 oz (1 ½ cups) simple syrup
• 12 oz (1 ½ cups) lemon juice
• 24 oz (3 cups) soda water

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients except soda water in a large pitcher with ice and stir to fully combine.
2. Top with more ice as necessary and add soda water just before serving.
3. Garnish with lemon and orange wheels, or fresh mint.
4. Serves 12 guests. 

Share generously. Drink responsibly. Basil Hayden® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 40% Alc./Vol. ©2023 James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, KY.

Arrange the Space

When it comes to intimate parties, garden-level and first-floor apartments with outdoor patios actually benefit from the confined space. It encourages guests to commingle effortlessly. 

If you have a sizable backyard, you want to chunk the space into areas for friends and family to coalesce. The easiest way to do this is by investing in modular furniture you can rearrange, break apart, and even add onto should you move someplace with more outdoor space one day.

We're big fans of West Elm's Remi Lounge Collection. The pieces are durable, timeless, and minimal in styling so you can add punches of color with pillows or other decor depending on the event, season, or your changing preferences. 

This helps keep people from crowding around the grill master or from breaking off into pods, which can throw off a convivial dynamic. 

Speaking of multi-functional pieces, Outer Fire Pit Table provides nighttime ambiance and warmth once the sun dips, and works overtime as a cast iron grill and outdoor coffee table. It's crafted from glass fiber-reinforced concrete cement, making it extremely durable. Attractive ceramic spheres keep the flame centralized, while directing heat out to those seated around it. Use it to cook sausage and hot dogs if the grill is overcrowded with burgers and wings, reserve it for nighttime s'mores, or merely keep it as a center piece with which to circle around. 

Set the Table

Paper plates and napkins work fine during the week, but when you're entertaining you want to up the ante. Invest in tableware within a cohesive color scheme and incorporate similar shapes to make your setup look put-together. A general rule of thumb is to pick a palette of two or three colors and stick within that family. Bed Threads Mineral, Sage & Olive Table Bundle is a great example.  

Once you have a color scheme going, it’s easy to incorporate other practical, aesthetically pleasing elements onto the table. Mociun Wave Pitcher is the perfect vessel for your Fool's Gold Punch. It lends visual interest to the setup and ties the theme together. 

Another hot tip for outdoor summer hosting: Keep mosquitoes at bay with a multi-pronged approach. There are loads of high-tech gadgets on the market now, but another smart way is to wipe tables down with vodka (mosquitoes are deterred by the smell), and light citronella candles before nightfall.

Incorporate Easy Entertainment

Music is a must. It's the easiest way to influence the mood of your get-together—from a leisurely dinner to a riotous party. Pony up for quality speakers that aren’t an eyesore and can stand up to the elements. A duo of Bose Portable Smart Speakers checks both of those boxes. The water-resistant design won’t have you stressed if a little rain comes your way or things get rowdy in the pool. 

Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa are both built-in, making it easy to skip a song, change the volume, or switch up the music hands-free.

Don't forget one or two of your favorite compact lawn games to have available to guests. Gidget Cornhole Boards are a perfect choice. There's practically no learning curve, games have a quick turnaround, and it's a great icebreaker if not all your guests know each other.  

You've got your batched cocktail at the ready, but it's also important to keep a selection of sparkling water and other canned beverages  available to guests. Permasteel Rolling Cooler keeps bevs cold for up to 36 hours, with a handy bottle opener on the side should you need it, and a range of colors to complement your home. 

Pro tip: Make an extra batch of Fool's Gold Punch and stash it in the cooler in a sealed container. Just wait to add the soda water and ice until you're ready to serve so it doesn't dilute the cocktail.

Congratulations, your place is now the summer's hottest new haunt.