From sophisticated holiday soirees to casual gatherings, legendary nights require the right mix of fun, friends and spirits.

The pros at Southern Comfort and Finlandia Vodka offer some time-tested tips that will help ensure that your holiday get-together is the talk among your friends:

* Offer five to six appetizers per person if other food is available; seven to eight if it’s not.
* Have 2 to 3 pounds of ice on hand for every 10 people; double this amount if serving frozen drinks.
* Chill glasses by filling them with ice and water before making and serving drinks.
* Pour drinks immediately after blending to keep them from getting watery.
* Measure everything. Your drinks will taste better. One bottle of Southern Comfort or Finlandia Vodka provides, roughly, 10 1- to 1 1/2-ounce pours.
* Utilize fresh fruits and spices of the season for the perfect cocktail, from a caipiroska to a mojito to a martini.
* Keep up on the latest cocktail trends, but serve a few signature cocktails as well. Or, put a twist on classic drinks, such as these recipes for a Finlandia Cranberry Smash and a SoCo Eggnog Martini.

FINLANDIA CRANBERRY SMASH

1 1/2 ounces Finlandia
Cranberry Vodka
1 ounce lemon juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
8 to 10 fresh cranberries
12 spearmint leaves

Muddle mint, cranberries and simple syrup; add lemon juice, vodka and ice. Stir. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

SOUTHERN EGGNOG MARTINI

1 ounce Southern Comfort
3 ounces eggnog
Ground nutmeg

Combine chilled ingredients in a shaker (no ice). Shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with nutmeg.

(NewsUSA)