Holidays & Entertaining Entertaining 22 DIY Drink Station Ideas (Cheers!) By Sarah Martens Sarah Martens Instagram Sarah Martens is the Senior Editor overseeing food at Better Homes & Gardens digital. She has been with the BHG brand for over 8 years. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on August 16, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: 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! 01 of 22 Bloody Mary Station Kat Teutsch Rise and shine! Greet the day with a DIY Bloody Mary station 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. Download Our Bloody Mary Bar Checklist 02 of 22 Sangria Station 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. 03 of 22 Classic Cocktails Station 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. 04 of 22 Strawberry-Smash Station 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). 05 of 22 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. 06 of 22 Fresh-Fruit Mimosa Station Adam Albright Toast your guests with a girly mimosa station complete with all the mix-ins. Stock a bar cart with all the ingredients and serve up bubbly champagne drinks at your next summer pool party. You'll Need: Champagne or prosecco, varieties of juice (we used grapefruit, orange, and guava), fresh-cut fruit, rock candy sticks, champagne glasses, and straws. 07 of 22 Pisco Sour Station Beat boring margaritas with a fully stocked pisco sour drink station 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. 08 of 22 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. 09 of 22 Easy Agua Fresca Station Blaine Moats 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. 10 of 22 Infused Vodka Station Helen Norman Skip expensive store-bought flavored vodkas and make your own! Simply soak herbs in vodka and serve! For a fun and interactive drink station idea, let friends mix their signature cocktail with custom infusions like ginger, coffee, and spices. You'll Need: Infused vodka, fresh limes, assorted mixers, glasses, napkins, and stirring sticks. Ginger-Infused Vodka 11 of 22 Mimosa Station Andy Lyons Gathering for breakfast or brunch? A build-your-own mimosa station is perfect for greeting your guests (and the day!). You'll Need: Champagne, fresh juice (such as orange and grapefruit), limeade, sugar cubes, bitters, glasses, and spoons. 12 of 22 Mojito Drink Station 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. 13 of 22 Hard Tea Drink Station 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 blueberries), vodka, ice, glasses, and straws. 14 of 22 Gimlet Station Adam Albright We love a lime gimlet—sometimes, making one classic cocktail is the best drink station idea to get the party started. You'll Need: Vodka or gin, bottled sweetened lime juice, fresh lime wedges, ice, glasses, and a cocktail shaker. Add ice cubes, 3 tablespoons gin or vodka, and 1 tablespoon bottled sweetened lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Shake well to mix. 15 of 22 Custom Cocktail Station 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. 16 of 22 Flavored-Lemonade Drink Station 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. Lemonade Basil Lemonade Strawberry Lemonade 17 of 22 Margarita Station 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 drink station idea. 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. 18 of 22 Hot Cocoa Station 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. 19 of 22 Labeled Drink Station 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. 20 of 22 Punch Bowl Station 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. 21 of 22 Pitcher Party Station 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. 22 of 22 Craft Beer Station 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit