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Fun and Flavorful Drink Recipes

What alcohol drinks to buy and serve is as basic to party planning as the menu. To many of us serving liquor and wine and how to properly mix drinks is a total mystery. Peruse this guide to serving alcohol for tips on amounts to purchase, bottle yields, and other information on you

• Don’t skimp on the quality of the alcohol you buy and serve.  The better the alcohol, the gentler it is on your system

• Most people will be more then satisfied with whatever you serve...after all, it's free and somebody else is pouring

• For a larger function, consider hiring a professional bartender. This will also help with portion control and consumption monitoring 

HOW MUCH TO SERVE
Obviously, the time of day and the type of party will factor into how much alcohol you serve. The alcohol consumed at a evening holiday party will be much more then at an early afternoon birthday brunch. 

How much you purchase of each type of alcohol (wine, beer, hard liquor) will depend on the type of alcohol the majority of your guests drink.  If your guests are would-be wine connoisseurs, then you would purchase more wine then anything else.  

As a starting point, assume 2 drinks per person for the first hour of the party, and 1 drink per person per hour for the remainder of the party. 

These calculations assume a 5 hour party of 12 guests 
12 guests x 2 drinks = 24 drinks for the first hour of the party
12 guests x 1 drink x 4 hours = 48 drinks for the remaining 4 hours of the party
Total = 72 drink servings 

Now, let's be realistic. We all have friends and family members who are not the least bit concerned with your drink per hour estimates and will drink until their heart's content.  You gotta love 'em.  At the same time we all have family and friends who are teetotalers or who drink very little.  It will all balance out in the end.  It doesn't hurt to figure it out before you get to the liquor store.  

BOTTLE YIELDS
Alcohol is probably the biggest party planning expense. With this in mind, consider the number of drinks per bottle/container of alcohol and spend accordingly

HOW MUCH TO BUY
The following chart is a starting point in calculating the number of bottles and types of alcohol to purchase.  It is probably better to have too much then to have to make a "beer run" in the middle of your party.  Double the estimate for 24 guests or halve the estimate for 6 quests

Again, the chart is based on a 5 hour party with 12 quests = 72 total drink servings needed

WHAT TO SERVE
If possible ask your guests about their favorite libations beforehand....the best and easiest course is to decide on what you are willing and able to serve.

Light wines, wine spritzers, fruit flavored frozen drinks and Champagne are nice for a brunch or luncheons, while cocktail or appetizer only parties are open to a variety of beverages.  Wine, beer and soda are of course your easiest options. 

Mixed drinks can be as simple as a scotch and soda or as involved as a Manhattan. They require different types of alcohol (liqueurs, variety wines), equipment (blenders, juicers, jiggers, strainers and pitchers) and, carbonated water, syrups and fruit garnishes.  

More elaborate mixed drinks also require some "know how" and maybe even a little practice. If you have a friend who is comfortable making such drinks, make sure he/she is invited. 

Dinner parties are the perfect occasion for wines and liqueurs.  Liqueurs are  distilled alcoholic spirits combined with a sweetener and one or more aromatic flavorings such as orange, peach, coffee, cocoa and almond.