“This post has been sponsored by Brown-Forman on behalf of Korbel California Champagne. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Party Season!

It’s officially party season, and I have partnered with Korbel to show you how to set up a simple yet stunning champagne bar. Bar or cart not needed.

Here at our house, we celebrate with a mix of Filipino and traditional holiday flare. One of the dishes we always cook during this festive time is Lechon (crispy pork belly). I was speaking to one of my Sommelier friends and asked him what is the best to have with Lechon, and his super fast response was bubbly.

Host Not Needed

Which got me thinking, I love me some bubbly—but I don’t want to stand around to serve people as they arrive. Setting up a champagne bar ahead of time is a definite game changer. It helps break the ice and keeps guests busy while you are still prepping some last-minute things in the kitchen.

What You Do Need

As I said before, you don’t need to go out and get a bar cart or a bar. All you need is a small console table or do what I did: get a folding table, cover it with some linen, and you have a makeshift but stylish “bar.”

The best thing about this setup is that the guests can pour and mix their own concoctions with the juices and syrups you give them. Here are some mixers and garnishes that you can lay out on the table.

You can even have a little cocktail contest to find out who made the best Korbel mix. To give you some ideas on what to serve, have a look at this pinterest board for some inspo.

Mixers

• Orange Juice
• Mango Juice
• Apple Juice
• Grape Juice
• Pomegranate Juice
• Cranberry Juice

Syrups

• Date Syrup
• Maple Syrup
• Pomegranate Syrup

Herbs and Fruit

• Fresh Mint
• Fresh Sage
• Fresh Thyme
• Fresh Rosemary
• Star Annise
• All Spice
• Cinnamon Sticks
• Cloves
• Blood Orange Slices
• Pomegranate Seeds
• Apple Slices
• Persimmon
• Figs

Drinks

• A few bottles of Korbel
• Sparkling Water
• Tonic Water

Honestly, the possibilities are endless. Whatever juices, fresh fruits, and herbs you can find will do. This bar also works for those looking for a non-alcoholic option. Don’t forget to put out some sparkling water and juices as well. Having some mocktail options is also a must at parties.

Set It Up, Sit Back and Relax

Put out a glass per guest. Use wine glass markers so that no one loses one. Then, line up the chilled bottles of Korbel and mixers.

The fruits and herbs can just be strewn about as they are pretty enough to double as decor around the bar. There you have it. Every time someone arrives, direct them to the bar and leave them instructions to do the same for the next guest.

Just be sure to remember that everyone has a safe ride home set up, and then it's time to enjoy your hard work!