15-Minute Snack and Cocktail Pairings for When You Forget Guests Are Coming Over

As a serial dinner party thrower who has hosted everything from a friend's backyard wedding to a moving-day pizza party, I can say with confidence that there's is one thing that separates a successful party from a bummer: snacks and drinks upon arrival. 

Perhaps your guests have endured two hours of sitting in traffic or ended the day on a long, boring work meeting. Whatever the circumstance, most people will welcome having something to munch on while you put the finishing touches on dinner. 

Depending on the setup of your dinner party, you can have either one main snack and beverage area to allure the crowd, or you can set up mini snack stations around the room to encourage people to sit down and get comfortable. 

One formula for excellent snack pairings has never steered me wrong. Simply pick three to four ingredients that speak to your taste buds — crunchy, salty, spicy, umami, and sweet — find the common ones that overlap between the drink and the snack, and you’ll be good to go.

The drink: classic Paloma

The pairing: Peanuts, mini pretzels and spicy corn nuts

The Paloma, a zesty grapefruit-forward classic, is a perfect companion to salty and spicy snacks. Sipping on this tangy cocktail between bites of peanuts, pretzels and zesty corn nuts will make the drink even refreshing. Looking for an even more enjoyable drinking experience for you and your guests? Throw the glass in the freezer before serving and garnish with a sprig of rosemary and a grapefruit wedge.

The drink: Txakoli wine

The pairing: Goldfish, honey roasted peanuts and pretzel sticks

This Spanish white wine is my absolute favorite for warm weather. It’s a little acidic, has a nice minerality to it, and is clean on the palate, making it ideal for salty snacks like goldfish and pretzel sticks. It’s also perfect with seafood, like a flaky white fish, oysters, or shrimp, if you’re planning on serving an entree after. 

The drink: sweet vermouth

The pairing: Castelvetrano olives, salted roasted almonds and manchego cheese

Sweet vermouth is one of the three main types of vermouth (a fortified wine) and it’s one of the easiest things to serve that’s guaranteed to make your guests feel like they’re on a mini European vacation. Though sweet, dry, and bianco vermouth are all made from white grapes, sweet vermouth gets its red color from caramelized sugar, and is one of the easiest to drink on its own. If you're looking for a simple way to serve it, try 2–3 ounces of chilled sweet vermouth, served neat, with a garnish of an olive and orange slice. It’s satisfyingly sweet with a delicate bitter finish, and works well with salted nuts, olives, and aged cheeses.

The drink: a Paper Plane cocktail

The pairing: Cajun spiced nuts, kettle corn and BBQ chips

In addition to being incredibly easy to make — just mix equal proportions of bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice, the Paper Plane is also perfect for snacking hour. Though the ingredients are bold on their own, together, they’re surprisingly balanced and refreshing, which means the drink can stand up to strong flavors in the food department. Sharp citrus cuts through distinctive flavors (think smokey, spicy, bbq), so each time you go back is as refreshing as the first.

The drink: Gin & Tonic

The pairing: Dried apricots, finocchiona salami, aged gouda, roasted walnuts

The Gin & Tonic is iconic for a reason, and remains one of the world's most popular happy hour cocktails. The botanicals in gin (juniper, anise, lavender, lemon, etc) make it a perfect spirit to pairing with all kinds of snacks, particular rich and fatty foods which gin has a knack for cutting through. The contrast of ripe, dried, and stewed fruits, alongside bitter tonic is a match that can't be beat. This combination and its aromatics go well with salty, savory charcuterie, and the gin’s herbaceous notes can enhance the earthiness in roasted nuts and aged cheeses.