Happy hour kit guide: 7 kits for remote teams, with or without alcohol
What a happy hour kit is, the seven kinds worth booking and how to pick one. Every kit type has an alcohol-free option, so the whole team can join.
A happy hour kit gives a remote team the one thing a video call can’t: something to open, make and share at the same moment. This buyer’s guide covers how hosted kits work, seven kit types and who each one suits (cocktail or mocktail, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, bubble tea, charcuterie and wine), a comparison table with live prices, how to choose for your team, a timeline and a do-it-yourself box you can pack for free. Drinking is never the point: every kit type here comes with an alcohol-free option.
What is a happy hour kit, and how does it work?
A kit ships to each person's home, and everyone opens it together on the call while a host leads. Here is how a hosted kit happy hour runs.
- Book and pick a kit. Choose the kit, the date and an estimated headcount. You can book with an estimate and confirm the final number when you send addresses.
- Send everyone's address. Each person gets their own kit at home. Addresses are due at least 14 days before the event.
- Kits arrive. Kits usually land at least 3 days before the event, so there's time to fix a missing box.
- Open them together on the call. A live host or instructor leads the session on Zoom by default (Teams, Google Meet or Webex on request), and everyone makes, tastes and compares at the same moment.
Not sure you want a kit at all? Our virtual happy hour guide covers formats with nothing to ship, and the virtual happy hour games work with any drink, or none.
7 happy hour kits and who they suit
Each one is described the way its kit page describes it. Every section names the alcohol-free option.
1. Cocktail or mocktail kit
The Mixology Cocktail Duo makes a Classic Daiquiri and a Paloma in 45 minutes with a live host. The kit brings 50ml bottles of white rum and tequila, simple syrup, lime juice, soda water and lime and orange wheels; guests add ice, glasses, measuring spoons and a shaker or any container with a lid. The Holiday-Themed Mixology class makes three seasonal drinks in an hour, and the Mixology Cocktail Trio mixes three cocktails, with alcohol-free kits for guests outside the continental US.
- At a glance: 45 minutes (Duo) or 1 hour · kits with alcohol ship within the continental US
- Alcohol-free option: The Duo and the Trio come as zero-proof kits for anyone who doesn't drink. For the holiday edition, ask about an alcohol-free kit, or non-drinkers can follow along with an ingredients list.
- Best for: A Friday wind-down or a client thank-you, when the team likes making something with their hands.
- Book it: Mixology Cocktail Duo, Holiday-Themed Mixology or all mixology classes
2. Coffee tasting kit
An instructor walks the team through three single-origin fair trade coffees, brewed in a glass pour-over carafe that comes in the kit, with a short background on the science of coffee, how regional coffees differ and different brewing methods. Guests need a way to boil water and two or three mugs.
- At a glance: 1 hour · ships worldwide (extra shipping outside the continental US)
- Alcohol-free option: Alcohol-free, so the whole team drinks the same thing.
- Best for: Morning time zones, a big all-hands, or any team with a lot of non-drinkers.
- Book it: Coffee Tasting
3. Tea tasting kit
Tea Garden & Tasting pairs a tea tasting with planting a mini tea garden: the kit includes a biodegradable coco peat pot for the seeds. Guests need a way to boil water, drinking glasses, a cup of clean water, a mixing bowl, paper towels and a covered work surface.
- At a glance: 1 hour · ships worldwide (extra shipping outside the continental US)
- Alcohol-free option: Alcohol-free, and everyone keeps the planted pot afterward.
- Best for: Wellness weeks and calmer groups who want to chat while they work.
- Book it: Tea Garden & Tasting
4. Hot chocolate bomb kit
Everyone makes and decorates their own hot cocoa bombs with Ghirardelli dark and white chocolate wafers, sprinkles and marshmallows, then finishes with a cup of hot chocolate. Guests need a microwave (or a stovetop with a pot and heat-safe bowl), a fridge or freezer, three small heat-safe bowls and glasses.
- At a glance: 1 hour · ships worldwide (extra shipping outside the continental US)
- Alcohol-free option: Alcohol-free and cozy; good for a winter or holiday happy hour.
- Best for: Holiday parties and teams that want something festive without a bar.
- Book it: Hot Chocolate Bomb
5. Bubble tea kit
An instructor guides the team from brewing to assembling two different bubble teas, with some boba know-how along the way. Guests bring milk or a non-dairy alternative, a way to boil water, three small heat-safe bowls and glasses. The kit is gluten-free but not made in a gluten-free facility, and opened items go in the fridge.
- At a glance: 1 hour · ships worldwide (extra shipping outside the continental US)
- Alcohol-free option: Alcohol-free, with a dairy-free option through the milk each guest picks.
- Best for: A playful afternoon session when an alcohol-free happy hour suits the team.
- Book it: Bubble Tea Making
6. Charcuterie board kit
Each kit holds premium cheeses with a meat or vegetarian option and seasonal add-ons, and an instructor shows how to build the board, with simple pairing tips. Guests need a knife and a cutting board.
- At a glance: 1 hour · ships within the continental US
- Alcohol-free option: The glass of wine that can come with it is optional, and the board goes with any drink, including sparkling water.
- Best for: Teams who would rather eat than mix, and end-of-year celebrations.
- Book it: Charcuterie Board Making
7. Wine tasting kit
A sommelier-led tasting of three wines, covering the grape, region, aroma and tasting notes of each, and which foods suit them. The wine ships to each guest; they bring their own glasses. Wine can't ship to Delaware, Utah, Mississippi, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia or Arkansas.
- At a glance: 1 hour · ships within the continental US, except those seven states
- Alcohol-free option: Guests in those states, or anyone who prefers, get a non-alcoholic kit.
- Best for: A client thank-you, an end-of-quarter toast or a leadership offsite where conversation matters more than competition.
- Book it: Wine Tasting or virtual wine tasting
More food kits, from cookies to charcuterie, are in our virtual cooking classes, and every kit workshop we run is on the team building kits page.
Happy hour kits compared
Live prices from each kit's page. Every kit includes a live host and shipping within the continental US.
| Kit | Length | Price | Ships to | Alcohol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee Tasting | 1 hour | $89/person + $379 base fee | Worldwide | None |
| Tea Garden & Tasting | 1 hour | $69/person + $379 base fee | Worldwide | None |
| Hot Chocolate Bomb | 1 hour | $74/person + $379 base fee | Worldwide | None |
| Bubble Tea Making | 1 hour | $78/person + $379 base fee | Worldwide | None |
| Charcuterie Board Making | 1 hour | $109/person + $379 base fee | Continental US | Optional glass of wine |
| Mixology Cocktail Duo | 45 min | $89/person + $379 base fee | Continental US | Yes (21+ signature); zero-proof kit available |
| Holiday-Themed Mixology | 1 hour | $99/person + $379 base fee | Continental US | Yes (21+ signature); alcohol-free kit on request |
| Wine Tasting | 1 hour | $119/person + $379 base fee | Continental US, not 7 states | Yes (21+ signature); non-alcoholic kit available |
How to choose a happy hour kit for your team
Six questions settle it. Start with the alcohol policy, because it rules options in or out.
- Your alcohol policy. Check it first. If alcohol is out, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and bubble tea kits contain none. If it's allowed, virtual happy hour cocktail kits work well, but still give everyone an easy alcohol-free option and never make anyone explain why they chose it.
- Where people live. Shipping within the continental US is included on every kit. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and bubble tea also ship to Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, US territories and other countries for an extra fee. Kits with alcohol stay within the continental US; outside it, the Duo, Trio and holiday class go as alcohol-free kits for an extra fee. Wine and charcuterie ship within the continental US only.
- Headcount. Kit workshops are priced per person plus a base fee, so cost grows with the team. For a very large group, or a mix of kits and no kits, a hosted game with nothing to ship can be simpler.
- Dietary needs. Charcuterie comes with a meat or vegetarian option, bubble tea uses each guest's own milk or non-dairy alternative, and every kit page lists what's inside. Ask about allergies when you collect addresses.
- Time of day. A 5 pm happy hour on the East Coast is 2 pm on the West Coast and morning in Asia. Coffee and tea work at any hour; save cocktails for teams in one or two time zones.
- Budget. Compare the live prices in the table above. Remember the base fee when you work out a per-person figure for a small team.
Timeline and logistics
Kit workshops need about 3 weeks, or about 5 with international addresses. Count back from your date.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 5 weeks beforeInternational addresses | Book now if anyone lives outside the US. International kits need 3 to 4 weeks for customs and delivery. |
| 3 weeks beforeUS-only teams | Book the kit workshop and start collecting addresses. An estimated headcount is fine at this point. |
| 2 weeks beforeAddresses due | Every address is due at least 14 days before the event. Ask about allergies and who wants an alcohol-free kit at the same time. |
| 1 week beforeInvites | Send the calendar invite with the video link, what to have ready (ice, glasses, a way to boil water) and, for kits with alcohol, that an adult 21+ must sign for the box. |
| 3 days beforeKits land | Kits usually arrive at least 3 days ahead. Ask people to open the box and check it, without starting on the contents. |
| Event dayShowtime | Open the call five minutes early. Hybrid teams: put the host on a room screen the office can see and hear, and test the link beforehand. |
A DIY happy hour kit you can pack yourself
No budget for hosted kits? Pack an alcohol-free box yourself. Stick to sealed, shelf-stable items so nothing spoils in the mail, and let people buy fresh limes and mint locally.
What to put in the box
- Two cans of sparkling water or tonic per person
- A small bottle of flavored syrup, like ginger, lavender or simple syrup
- A recipe card with two drinks and the call link
- A reusable cup, a metal straw or a small jar with a lid for shaking
- A sealed snack, like popcorn or pretzels, with the allergens printed on it
- One small treat that says thanks, like a sticker or a handwritten note
Two mocktails for the recipe card
- Ginger lime fizz. Juice half a lime into a glass of ice, add 15 ml (half an ounce) of ginger syrup and top with about 120 ml (4 ounces) of sparkling water. Stir and add a lime wheel.
- Virgin mojito. Muddle six mint leaves with 15 ml of simple syrup and the juice of half a lime, fill with ice and top with sparkling water. Stir and garnish with a mint sprig.
Run it like a hosted session: one person demos each drink on camera, then the group moves to a game. A quick round from our fun Friday ideas fills the rest of the half hour.
Book a hosted happy hour kit
Pick a kit and we ship it to every home, then a live instructor runs the session on Zoom by default (Teams, Google Meet or Webex on request). See every option on our virtual happy hour page, browse mixology classes, or get a free quote with your date and headcount.
Six kits, each with an alcohol-free option, with today’s prices.
