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Here’s the thing about hosting: Once guests start arriving, you don’t want to be doing much of it. The best-case scenario is lots of mingling, very little taking of drink orders. One of the simplest ways to set yourself up for success is making a big-batch, serve-yourself cocktail ahead of time. I’ll let you decide what to stir up; what matters to me is the vessel you put it in. Although sweetly nostalgic, a punch bowl is a mess waiting to happen. A glass drink dispenser, on the other hand, takes up little space, typically holds more, and is just as fun to use, without the high risk of spillage. Not that you need to be sold on its virtues—hundreds of you have already been eyeing McGee & Co.’s seagrass-sleeved version this month. In case that style isn’t for you, though, here are 15 more strong contenders.
Woven
Drink dispensers with beachy, au naturel details like seagrass and rattan scream summer soirée.
Wood
Chunky wood bases and lids balance out the inherent daintiness of a raised glass receptacle.
Metal
The simplest of the bunch, these beverage dispensers get their personality mostly from their silhouettes. Psst: a leggy stand allows you to store cups right underneath.
Something Special
Can a drink dispenser also be decor? A marble, ceramic, or a one-of-one Fiestaware base blurs the line.
