In the quest to create the perfect margarita, Ashley Benson just had to go on a taste-testing spree with her friends Rosario Dawson and Vanessa Hudgens. “We’d go into different restaurants and bars and try everything!” she explains. “Then we’d take notes and give opinions. We wanted to create the best drink possible.”
That drink would be their ready-to-drink Margalicious Margarita, which the three actresses created in partnership with luxe craft cocktail brand Thomas Ashbourne. “I jumped on the opportunity and it’s been a fun ride so far,” says the “Pretty Little Liars” alum, who is thrilled about taking the journey with Dawson and her “Spring Breakers” co-star, Hudgens. As she tells it, “Vanessa and I have been friends for so long and then you add Rosario to the mix? She couldn’t be more of an angel to work with.”
Beyond all that experimental sipping — “Who’s ever going to complain about that!” — Benson stresses that the three are hands-on with their refreshing libation creation. “We didn’t want to just put our name on something and show up to events and smile,” she says. “We agreed on that early on.” That means they’ve contributed to everything from the design of the bottle to the marketing campaign.
Ahead, Benson lists her dinner party essentials for CNN Underscored.
Benson likes to set the mood by lighting several candles and placing them around the dining area. “I’m a big fan of dim lighting because it’s super romantic,” she says. She’s also a big believer in color palettes, often opting for either all white or all black or coordinating the lights to a holiday (think orange and black for Halloween). Create a similar look by picking up these tapered, dripless wax candles that are available in various colors.
Benson doesn’t just stop and smell the roses — she also buys them by the dozen and displays them in her dining room. “Roses always add a really nice charm to any setting,” she says. “Any room is better with flowers in it!” And because her dining area is drenched in black (with a gold-tinted fireplace), she goes beyond the standard red via pops of deep purple, pink and white.
Related: Ina Garten’s 10 must-haves for throwing a great dinner party
It’s not a true dinner party without some delicious beverages for your guests! Benson shares that this 40-proof, gluten-free margarita “is refreshing and tastes good any time of the year and anywhere you go.”
Fancy napkins aren’t just for nice restaurants! Benson, in fact, shares that she just ordered a bunch of boldly colored ones off Amazon. “I got one in emerald green, blue, a canary yellow and this summery orange that I really like,” she says. “I just think it’s nice to have a little accent throughout the house. It adds to the charm of a dinner!” To “spruce up” the look, Benson wraps each napkin in a crystal ring holder. For a similar look, why not grab these colorful cloth ones?
Not to brag, but Benson can prepare an award-worthy charcuterie spread. “My friend showed me a way to make your salami look like little roses,” she says. “I put them next to all the cheese and grapes and crackers. It looks so cute!” For A-list occasions, she’ll lay it all out on a vintage silver tray. Otherwise, she opts for a durable, rustic-looking platter.
Related: The essentials list: Nina Dobrev and Julianne Hough share their holiday party must-haves
She raves about the Seletti houseware collection, which offers a unique artistic spin on staples such as cutlery, plates, candlesticks and more. “The brand is very eclectic and kind of weird and makes everything in the room look elevated and chic,” she says. Benson singles out these irregular-looking wineglasses, which are free-blown by an artisan glassmaker: “I’m just obsessed!”
A little night music, anyone? The actress loads up a playlist for each entertaining occasion — including a jazzy mix that features Etta James, Chet Baker, Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra — and plays the soundtrack through her smooth-sounding wireless Sono speakers. “It’s very important to have the right music while people are eating because it makes the experience more enjoyable,” she says. “It’s really a go-to whenever I have people over.”
Related: The best Sonos speakers to buy now, from portable to soundbars
In between dinner and dessert, Benson loves to play barista. “Everyone needs a good pick-me-up, so an espresso shot is perfect,” she rations. (During the pandemic, she also learned how to craft a wicked espresso martini.) This sleek machine pre-infuses coffee grinds for extraction to allow rich flavor, while its steam wand heats and froths milk for silky lattes.
Related: The best espresso machines in 2023