There are 4.5 glasses of wine in each bottle. If you’ll be serving other alcoholic drinks, bank on one bottle of wine serving two people. These days, you should buy equal amounts of red and white wine (adjust accordingly depending on your menu or if you know guest preferences.) That means, if you have 40 guests, purchase 15 bottles of white and 15 bottles of red. Yes, you’ll have leftovers. But it’s better than running out and you can use the leftover wine for your next event.
If you don’t have the money to offer a full bar, create one or two signature cocktails and serve them in fancy pitchers or dispensers. You can also find great buys with case discounts on wine. Again, depending on the occasion and time of day you’re hosting your bash, you can create clever mixed drinks that look expensive but actually aren’t. Inexpensive Prosecco mixed with pomegranate or cranberry juice makes for a beautiful champagne cocktail. Or, you can create a self-serve Bloody Mary Bar using inexpensive vodka and tomato juice bought in bulk from Costco. Simply mix the base drink in a pitcher and then present beautiful garnish options and spice sauces so guests can make their own Mary. I offer Bloody Mary bars at a lot of my parties because Bloody Mary cocktails are versatile and pair with everything from tacos and burgers to seafood, appetizers, or flatbread pizzas. Garnishes can include: celery, olives, lemon wedges, lime wedges, cocktail onions, carrots, bacon (yes, bacon!), cucumber slices, pineapple, pickles, mushrooms, shrimp, baby potatoes, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, and basil leaves. Punch is another way to save on liquor costs. If you’re having a Christmas cocktail party consider having a punch bowl with a signature cocktail made from inexpensive liquors and juices. And don’t forget! Eggnog is not just for the geezers anymore! Dressed up with nutmeg and spiced rum, it’s a delicious holiday drink!
2 lbs. per person for serving and chilling and more if you need some to keep food cold. Get it delivered AT LEAST 1 hour before the party begins, but not too long before because you don’t want it to melt. Just give them a little extra cush in case they’re late getting to your house. You’ll want your ice cubed or crushed, not liquid, so keep it out of the sun and store it in a cool place if there are no extra freezers.
When it comes to stocking your bar with beer, pick one regular and one light beer. Choose beers that are universally popular and count on 1 bottle per person.
We usually go with the usual cast of characters everyone knows: Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite. Sometimes we add in Orange Crush or Root Beer for a retro cool factor if it’s a casual event. One 2-liter bottle serves 10-12 people. This assumes you’re not stocking your bar with 20-oz. glasses and that people will be drinking other beverages as well. If all you’re serving are three types of soda (and OMG why would you do that?!), increase this amount!
When it comes to stocking your bar, you’ve also got to take into consideration the location of the bar. Will it be indoors or outdoors? Figure in the preferences of your friends and clients. If you know you’ve got some serious boozehounds attending, stock up on a little extra. If you want to make the liquor last longer, place the bar in the back of the room. If you know your friends love martinis, buy more olives. Experience is the best teacher, so pay attention to what’s left at the end.
When it comes to stocking your bar with beer, pick one regular and one light beer. Choose beers that are universally popular and count on 1 bottle per person.
Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Serve straight up (without ice) with a twist of orange or lemon.
