5 Ways to Impress Your S.O. On Your Next Evening In

A memorable date doesn’t have to be as extravagant as a fancy candlelit dinner at the hottest neighborhood bistro. There are plenty of ways to show your partner you care, all in the comfort of your own home. And, no, we’re not encouraging another round of streaming roulette before calling it a night. We’re talking about truly fun and innovative ways to spend time together—right in your backyard, living room, or kitchen.

Partake In a Friendly Cocktail Contest

A little healthy competition is always a good time—and so is a tasty drink. Why not marry the two and challenge each other to a mixology competition? Choose a single spirit, like Johnnie Walker High Rye, then assemble two identical baskets of ingredients. Turn on some tunes and get mixing, each of you creating a unique cocktail for the other. Trade drinks, give a little cheers, take a sip, and rate each other’s beverages on a scale from 1 to 5 for presentation, creativity, and taste. Whoever wins is exempt from cleanup duty.

Play—or Learn—in Cyberspace

Board games can wait. There’s an emergence of online experiences that will make you feel like you’ve been transported well beyond your four walls. Take a peek at a virtual event platform where you’ll find all kinds of games—murder mysteries, trivia, Bingo, escape rooms—as well as classes such as whisky tastings and chocolate making. Choose an activity and spend some quality time making memories with your boo. For even more fun, make it a double (or triple) date, and invite some friends to join you.

Set Up A Spa Night

For something a little more low-key, turn your bedroom into the ultimate spa experience. Go all out in terms of setting the mood—don your coziest robes, turn down the overheads, light lots of candles, and turn on some new age music. Break out your essential oils and give each other sultry massages, run a bath, set up a home pedicure station, or lie back on the couch with homemade face masks on your skin and cucumbers over your eyes. Use this time to relax together at the end of a long week and reconnect with your partner.

Host a Staycation

Don’t bother jetting to the tropics for the weekend—bring the island to you! Pick a destination, then go all in on it. “Travel” to Hawaii and dress up like you’re heading to a luau—even though you’re just rolling into the living room. Whip up cocktails made with Johnnie Walker High Rye and tropical favorites like pineapple and coconut, turn on some yacht rock, and lounge in beach chairs set up right on your carpet. Make like a tourist and embrace those steamy, shore-front feels.

Go Camping…

…in your backyard, that is! On a clear, balmy night, there’s nothing better than spending the evening under the stars with your partner, complete with a romantic campfire to cozy up around. Pitch a tent stocked with lots of fluffy pillows and blankets, then mix yourselves a pitcher of your favorite cocktail made with Johnnie Walker High Rye. Set up a s’mores bar, light your bonfire, then sit back and relax. For bonus points, drape a white sheet over a low-hanging branch and project your partner’s favorite rom-com onto it for a movie under the stars.

Contributing Writer

Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.