DIY Drink Stations (Cheers!)

By Sarah Martens
Updated May 30, 2019
Credit: Matt Armendariz
Our favorite party trend? Creative DIY drink stations that let party-goers play mixologist. We're sharing our favorite beverage stations, including an infused vodka station, a mojito station, and more. Once you set out the listed supplies, you're all ready to party!
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Bloody Mary Station

Credit: Kat Teutsch

Rise and shine! Greet the day with a DIY Bloody Mary station complete with all the must-have mix-ins.

You'll Need: Bloody Mary mix (mild and spicy), vodka, ice, lemons, limes, olives, pickled vegetables, celery, cocktail onions, peppers, hot sauce, and salt.

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Sangria Station

Credit: Rebekah Photography

Pitchers of fresh and fruity sangria star in this summer party idea. Whip up a few simple sangria recipes and serve them with creative toppers like fresh fruit, herbs, and sliced cucumber.

You'll Need: Pitchers of sangria, mix-ins, glasses, and ice.

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Classic Cocktails Station

Credit: David Tsay

Party-goers will feel like true mixologists when you give them all the makings of a classic cocktail.

You'll Need: Vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, tequila, tonic water, soda water, soda, simple syrup, fresh fruit, fresh citrus, olives, cocktail shakers, ice, stirrers, and glasses.

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Strawberry-Smash Station

Credit: David Tsay

Stock your drink station with the essentials to make one signature cocktail like our bourbon strawberry smash.

You'll Need: A pitcher of strawberry-smash cocktails, fresh mint, extra bourbon, ice, glasses, and rose (for the non-bourbon drinkers).

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Boozy Float Station

Beat the summer heat with a garden party that stars a do-it-yourself float station. Pre-scoop the ice cream into individual cups and freeze until ready to serve. A copper bucket filled with ice keeps the frozen treats extra-cold.

You'll Need: A variety of bottled soda (we like Izze), pre-scooped ice cream, champagne or prosecco, glasses, spoons, straws, and an ice bucket.

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Fresh-Fruit Mimosa Station

Toast your guests with a girly mimosa station complete with all the mix-ins. Stock a bar cart and serve up bubbly champagne drinks at your next summer pool party.

You'll Need: Champange or prosecco, varieties of juice (we used grapefruit, orange, and guava), fresh-cut fruit, rock candy sticks, champagne glasses, and straws.

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Pisco Sour Station

Beat boring margaritas with a fully stocked pisco sour drink station. It's time for a modern Mexican fiesta!

You'll Need: A pitcher of pisco sours, colorful soda (like Jarritos), ice, lime wedges, fresh mint, glasses, and bright drink stirrers.

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Spa Water Station

Hydration station! Infuse water and tea with fruit and herbs for summer's most refreshing drink. Our favorite combination? Fresh strawberry and mint.

You'll Need: Party pitchers filled with iced tea and water, fresh fruit and herbs for infusing, and vintage crystal glasses.

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Easy Agua Fresca Station

Perfect for your next fiesta, agua fresca is a sweet nonalcoholic beverage made with fruit and water. Set up this DIY drink station with homemade rhubarb agua fresca, fresh lemon slices, and cut rhubarb. Add a signature cocktail (like this Burnt-Orange Anejo Sour!) and you're ready to party.

You'll Need: Agua fresca, fresh fruit, a signature cocktail, ice, and glasses.

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Infused Vodka Station

Credit: Helen Norman

Skip expensive store-bought flavored vodkas and make your own! Simply soak herbs in vodka and serve! Let friends mix up their own signature cocktail with custom infusions like ginger, coffee, and herbs.

You'll Need: Infused vodka, fresh limes, assorted mixers, glasses, napkins, and stirring sticks.

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Mimosa Station

Credit: Andy Lyons

Gathering for breakfast or brunch? A build-your-own mimosa station is a perfect way to greet your guests (and the day!).

You'll Need: Champagne, fresh juice (such as orange and grapefruit), limeade, sugar cubes, bitters, glasses, and spoons.

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Mojito Drink Station

Credit: David A Land

The ultimate hands-on drink station—a muddle-your-own mojito bar! We like to start with the original (lime and mint) and experiment with flavored syrups, fresh fruit, and herbs.

You'll Need: Rum, fresh mint, lime wedges, fresh-cut fruit, flavored simple syrups (such as ginger), club soda, glasses, and a muddler.

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Hard Tea Drink Station

Credit: David Tsay

Is there a more refreshing summer drink than iced tea? Set out big containers of brewed tea and let guests mix in fruit, mint, and booze (or not!).

You'll Need: Freshly brewed iced tea, fruit (such as raspberries, lime, lemon, and blueberrries), vodka, ice, glasses, and straws.

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Gimlet Station

Credit: Adam Albright

We love a lime gimlet—sometimes the making of one classic cocktail is all you need to get the party started.

You'll Need: Vodka or gin, bottled sweetened lime juice, fresh lime wedges, ice, glasses, and a cocktail shaker.

In a cocktail shaker, combine ice cubes, 3 tablespoons gin or vodka, and 1 tablespoon bottled sweetened lime juice. Shake well to mix.

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Custom Cocktail Station

Credit: Matt Armendariz

Start with one great homemade mixer and let party-goers create their own custom cocktails. Blend fresh strawberries and basil with a bit of lemon to create a bright base. Set it out on your bar station with assorted spirits and sparkling water.

You'll Need: A mixer, vodka, tequila, rum, sparkling water, fresh lemon slices, basil, sliced strawberries, ice, and glasses.

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Flavored-Lemonade Drink Station

Credit: Ray Kachatorian

Nothing says summer like freshly squeezed lemonade. Put a signature twist on it with fresh infusions like lavender, berry, and mint.

You'll Need: Fresh lemonade, fresh herbs, fresh fruit, ice, and glasses.

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Margarita Station

Credit: Sheri Giblin

On the rocks with salt? Frozen and topped with beer? There are plenty of ways to enjoy a margarita. Let guests do their own thing with a make-it-mine margarita bar.

You'll Need: Classic margaritas (we like to have a pitcher on ice and a pitcher of frozen), fresh lime wedges, coarse salt, beer, stirring sticks, and glasses. Bonus points for a sombrero.

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Hot Cocoa Station

Credit: Bryan E. McCay

Winter is the perfect time to party! Celebrate the season with a hot cocoa station complete with homemade marshmallows!

You'll Need: Homemade hot chocolate, marshmallows, whipped cream, stirring sticks, and insulated cups or mugs.

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Labeled Drink Station

Credit: Blaine Moats

Stock your drink station with premixed drinks and take the guesswork out of entertaining. Here, we used a variety of drinks, including purchased lemonade, mojitos, and citrus-berry punch.

You'll Need: Large drink dispensers, the cocktail of your choice, purchased lemonade, glasses, and straws.

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Punch Bowl Station

Credit: Greg Scheidemann

It's ok to spike the punch! Get the party started with a big bowl of punch. Here, we whipped up a boozy mint julep punch—1 cup bourbon, 2 cups mint simple syrup, and 4 cups chilled club soda over ice.

You'll Need: A punch recipe of your choice, punch bowl, cups, and napkins.

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Pitcher Party Station

Credit: Andy Lyons

Pitchers make the party! These four pitcher cocktail recipes are big-batch and ready in less than 15 minutes—perfect for impromptu entertaining!

You'll Need: A pitcher cocktail recipe, ice, and glasses.

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Craft Beer Station

Credit: Ray Kachatorian

This is as easy as it gets! Please the beer-lovers in your life with an icy bucket of chilled craft brews. Or, try mixing up a festive beer cocktail.

You'll Need: A large drink bucket, ice, a variety of craft beers, and glasses.

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By Sarah Martens