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How
much alcohol to buy and what
alcoholic drinks to 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 valuable information.
-
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
also 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
|
Spirit
|
Size of Bottle/Keg |
Serving Size
|
Servings
|
| Wines |
Fifth
750ml=25.4 oz
|
5 oz |
5 |
|
Magnum
1.5-L=50.7 oz
|
5 oz |
10 |
| Champagne |
Fifth
|
4 oz. |
6 |
|
Magnum
|
4 oz. |
12 |
| Whiskey, Rum,
Scotch, etc |
Fifth
|
1.5 oz. jigger |
16
|
|
1.75-L=59.2 oz.
|
1.5 oz. jigger |
39
|
| Beer |
1/2 Keg
|
12
oz.
|
168 |
|
1/4 |
"
|
84 |
|
1/6 |
"
|
56 |
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
| Beverage |
Suggested Amount |
| White
wine |
3 bottles |
| Red
wine |
3
bottles |
| Beer |
6-8 (12
ounce) bottles |
| Bourbon,
Vodka, Gin, Rum, Scotch |
1
bottle each; at least three types
|
| Favorite
sodas: cola, diet cola, 7-UP, Sprite, ginger ale, lemonade,
tea |
1
liter each, especially if serving simple mixed drinks
|
| Mineral
Water |
3
(1-liter) bottles |
| Tonic |
1
(2-liter) |
| Ice
(for drinks only, purchase extra for coolers, etc) |
1/2 pound
per person |
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.
Fun and Flavorful Drink
Recipes
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.
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How
Much to Serve
What to Serve
How
Much to Buy
Bottle Yields
Alcohol
Safety Tips
See our
FOOD
AND WINE PAIRING CHART
for more information
Fun
and Flavorful Drink
Recipes
Alcohol
Safety Tips
The
responsibility and importance of alcohol safety cannot be stressed
enough
In some states, a host can be held criminally libel, if a guest becomes
inebriated and then injures himself or others
Although difficult, keep an eye on how much alcohol is being consumed
and by whom. Enlist the help of friends and designated drivers
Always have food and non-alcoholic drinks available and above all
else...
DON'T LET PEOPLE DRIVE DRUNK!
For More Information go to:
MADD.org
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