Full Bar

My catering clients (and myself!) are a very savvy bunch, but when it comes around to the conversation of stocking the bar, there’s always an awkward silence. What to serve, how much to have on hand, do I have to keep all the leftovers??
Well, now I’m getting it down on paper (computer) so there’s no more confusion!

I’ll start with the list for a full-bar’s needs for 50 guests for either a long cocktail party or dinner party. Keep in mind that this is a general list and you would alter it depending on your preferences or specialty drink ingredients. For 50 guests, just cut the numbers in half. If there’s only one of something, ya’ still need it! By the way, 1 liter of liquor makes about 25 drinks, 1 liter = about 4 cups; and 1 750l bottle of wine should give you around 5-6 glasses.

2 liters vodka
1 liter gin
1 liter Dewars
1 liter Jack Daniels
1 liter Crown Royal
1 750l Light Rum (Dark rum too if desired)
1 375l sweet Vermouth
1 375l dry vermouth
2 cases Red wine
2 cases White wine
1 cases beer- domestic
1 case light beer
1 case imported beer- like Heineken
12 l still water
12 l sparkling water
3 liters Coke, Pepsi
3 liters diet Coke, Pepsi
2 l Ginger ale
3 l Tonic water
3 l Club soda
2 25 oz. bottles Rose’s lime juice
2 qts. cranberry juice
2 qts. orange juice
1 qt. grapefruit juice
1 bottle cherries
1 bottle olives
1 bottle onions
6 each lemons and limes
90-100 lbs. ice for icing down beer and wine; and making drinks. Trust me you’ll need it!

Keep in mind that if and when you order this from a liquor store for delivery, most will come back for unopened bottles and credit you. Also keep in mind that if you ice EVERYTHING DOWN, they will not take bottles back that have been iced down, so throughout the evening, replenish your tubs and don’t ice everything down at once.

For a strictly wine and beer bar for a long cocktail party or dinner for 50:

3 cases Red wine
3 cases White wine
2 cases beer- domestic
1 case light beer
2 case imported beer- like Heineken
12 l still water (add more for seated dinner)
12 l sparkling water (add more for seated dinner)
3 liters Coke, Pepsi
3 liters diet Coke, Pepsi
2 l Ginger ale
2 qts. cranberry juice
2 qts. orange juice
6 each lemons and limes
90-100 lbs. ice for icing down beer and wine; and making drinks.

I’ll be posting more tips for: THE WELL STOCKED BAR soon.