How to Stock a Bar
Tips and Charts
For a personal bar, the question of "how to stock a bar" is easy: stock what you like. But for an open bar, a party bar, guests order whatever they like or would like to try so you basically need to stock plenty of everything: wine, beer, spirits, mixers, garnishes, sodas, water, and bar tools, a full bar.
There are a couple of nifty ways around that, though. Either option makes stocking a bar simpler:
And don't forget a bartender or two.
A
good professional bartender can handle up to 75 guests for a full bar event or
125 guests for a partial bar event. But for a no-waiting, everybody's-happy
experience figure one bartender per 50 guests for a full bar and one per 75
guests for a partial bar.
How to Stock a Bar
Banquet? Wedding reception? Theme party? Size up your crowd and your event. Determine what kind of bar you want. Follow the charts below for stocking the bar.
The charts are figured for a 3 to 3 1/2-hour party. The "For 50 Guests" figures can be halved, doubled or tripled, etc., as the need may be.
Full Bar
|
Item |
For 12 Guests |
For 50 Guests |
|
White wine |
4 (750ml) bottles |
18 (750 ml) bottles |
|
Red wine |
3 (750ml) bottles |
14 (750 ml) bottles |
|
Beer |
6 (12-ounce) bottles |
24 (12-ounce) bottles |
|
Vodka |
1 (750ml) bottle |
6 (750 ml) bottles |
|
Gin |
1 (750ml) bottle |
4 (750 ml) bottles |
|
Rum |
1 (750ml) bottle |
4 (750 ml) bottles |
|
Scotch |
1 (750ml) bottle |
2 (750 ml) bottles |
|
Bourbon |
1 (750ml) bottle |
2 (750 ml) bottles |
|
Tequila |
1 (750ml) bottle |
2 (750 ml) bottles |
|
Brandy |
1 (750ml) bottle |
1 (750 ml) bottle |
|
It's a good idea to include a few flavored liqueurs for mixing cocktails such as Triple Sec, Kahlua, and Peach Schnapps. |
||
|
Bottled water |
4 (1-liter) bottles |
12 (1-liter) bottles |
|
Sprite, 7-Up |
1 (2-liter) bottles |
4 (2-liter) bottles |
|
Cola |
1 (2-liter) bottles |
6 (2-liter) bottles |
|
Diet cola |
1 (2-liter) bottles |
6 (2-liter) bottles |
|
Club soda or tonic |
1 (2-liter) bottle |
6 (2-liter) bottles |
|
Other mixers: Simple syrup, fresh sour, bitters, grenadine, vermouth, half-and-half, mint leaves, and an assortment of fruit juices: lemon, lime, orange, cranberry, grapefruit, pineapple, and tomato |
||
|
Garnishes: Limes, oranges, Spanish olives, pearl onions, mint leaves, strawberries |
||
|
Ice |
25 pounds |
100 pounds |
Partial Bar
|
Item |
For 12 Guests |
For 50 Guests |
|
White wine |
7 (750ml) bottles |
30 (750 ml) bottles |
|
Red wine |
4 (750ml) bottles |
14 (750 ml) bottles |
|
Beer |
18 (12-ounce) bottles |
60 (12-ounce) bottles |
|
Bottled water |
3 (1-liter) bottles |
10 (1-liter) bottles |
|
Sprite, 7-Up |
1 (2-liter) bottles |
6 (2-liter) bottles |
|
Cola |
2 (2-liter) bottles |
8 (2-liter) bottles |
|
Diet cola |
2 (2-liter) bottles |
8 (2-liter) bottles |
|
Ice |
18 pounds |
75 pounds |
That's the scoop on How to Stock a Bar. Not bad, huh? From a party-planning
standpoint, any day you can get all the "how many"s and "how much"s in a chart
is a good day. It's a good day.
