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Standard Cocktail Bar Package: Inventory, Costs & Cocktail Options (2 & 3 Drinks per Person)


Planning the perfect cocktail bar for your event doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you're hosting an intimate gathering of 25 or a celebration for 500, having the right inventory and knowing your costs upfront makes all the difference. Let's break down our Standard Cocktail Bar Package so you can plan confidently and serve amazing drinks.

What's Included in Our Standard Package

Our Standard Cocktail Bar Package covers all the essentials for a great bar experience. We've designed this package to handle events of any size while keeping things simple and cost-effective. Here's what you get:

Essential Spirits:

  • Vodka (premium and standard)

  • Gin

  • Rum (white and spiced)

  • Whiskey

  • Tequila

Wine & Beer Options:

  • Red wine selection

  • White wine selection

  • Light beer

  • Craft beer options

Mixers & Ingredients:

  • Sweet and sour mix

  • Simple syrup

  • Cranberry juice

  • Orange juice

  • Grapefruit juice

  • Ginger ale

  • Soda water

  • Tonic water

  • Grenadine

Inventory Planning: 2 vs 3 Drinks Per Person

The biggest question we get is how much to buy. We base our calculations on either 2 or 3 drinks per person, depending on your crowd and event length. Remember, we always add an hour for setup, so factor that into your timeline.

Standard Inventory Chart (25-500 Guests)

For 2 Drinks Per Person:

Party Size

Vodka (1.75L)

Gin (1.75L)

Rum (1.75L)

Whiskey (1.75L)

Tequila (1.75L)

Wine (750ml)

Beer (24-pack)

25 guests

1 bottle

1 bottle

1 bottle

1 bottle

1 bottle

4 bottles

2 packs

50 guests

1 bottle

1 bottle

1 bottle

1 bottle

1 bottle

6 bottles

3 packs

75 guests

2 bottles

1 bottle

1 bottle

2 bottles

1 bottle

8 bottles

4 packs

100 guests

2 bottles

2 bottles

2 bottles

2 bottles

2 bottles

10 bottles

5 packs

150 guests

3 bottles

2 bottles

2 bottles

3 bottles

2 bottles

15 bottles

7 packs

200 guests

4 bottles

3 bottles

3 bottles

4 bottles

3 bottles

20 bottles

10 packs

Additional Mixers & Supplies (Per 50 Guests):

  • Sweet & Sour Mix: 2 bottles (25oz each) - $12 total

  • Simple Syrup: 1 bottle (12oz) - $6

  • Cranberry Juice: 1 bottle (64oz) - $8

  • Orange Juice: 1 bottle (59oz) - $8

  • Ice: 50 lbs - $25

  • Plastic Cups (12oz): 100 count - $20

  • Napkins: 200 count - $12

  • Garnishes (limes, lemons, olives): $15

For 3 Drinks Per Person, increase all quantities by 50%

Extra space for custom additions:

Note: Adjust ingredients for longer events or special bar requests.

Cost Breakdown and Pricing

Understanding your costs helps you price your services right and manage your budget. Here's how we break down the numbers:

Sample Cost Analysis (100 Guest Event - 2 Drinks Per Person)

Alcohol Costs:

  • Vodka (2 bottles @ $40 each): $80

  • Gin (2 bottles @ $35 each): $70

  • Rum (2 bottles @ $32 each): $64

  • Whiskey (2 bottles @ $45 each): $90

  • Tequila (2 bottles @ $50 each): $100

  • Wine (10 bottles @ $15 each): $150

  • Beer (5 packs @ $25 each): $125

Mixer & Supply Costs:

  • Mixers and juices: $80

  • Ice: $50

  • Cups, napkins, garnishes: $60

  • Bar tools and setup: $40

Total Inventory Cost: $909Cost Per Guest: $9.09

For 3 drinks per person, multiply by 1.5: $13.64 per guest

The industry standard is to aim for an 18-24% pour cost, meaning if your ingredients cost $9 per person, you should charge around $38-50 per person for full bar service including staff and equipment.

Cocktails You Can Make

With our Standard Package inventory, you can create dozens of popular cocktails. Here's the complete list:

Classic Cocktails:

  • Vodka Cranberry - 2oz vodka, 4oz cranberry juice, ice

  • Screwdriver - 2oz vodka, 4oz orange juice, ice

  • Vodka Tonic - 2oz vodka, 4oz tonic water, lime, ice

  • Moscow Mule - 2oz vodka, 4oz ginger ale, lime, ice

  • Gin & Tonic - 2oz gin, 4oz tonic water, lime, ice

  • Tom Collins - 2oz gin, 3oz sweet & sour, 2oz soda water, ice

  • Rum & Coke - 2oz rum, 4oz cola, lime, ice

  • Dark & Stormy - 2oz rum, 4oz ginger ale, lime, ice

  • Whiskey Sour - 2oz whiskey, 3oz sweet & sour, ice

  • Old Fashioned - 2oz whiskey, 1oz simple syrup, bitters (9oz cup works too)

  • Margarita - 2oz tequila, 3oz sweet & sour, lime, ice

  • Tequila Sunrise - 2oz tequila, 4oz orange juice, splash grenadine, ice

Signature Cotton Candy Cocktails:

  • Matcha Sweet & Sour - 2oz sweetened matcha, 3oz sweet & sour, 1oz simple syrup, ice

  • Watermelon Whiskey - 1oz watermelon puree, 1.5oz whiskey, 2oz sweet & sour, ice

  • Pineapple Strawberry Cream - 2oz pineapple rum, 1.5oz strawberry puree, 1oz simple syrup, 1 tsp cream, 1oz sweet & sour, ice

  • Passionfruit Vodka - 1.5oz vodka, 2oz passionfruit puree, 2oz sweet & sour, ice

  • Mango Jalapeño Spice - 2 slices jalapeño, 2oz mango puree, 3oz mango juice, 1oz vodka, splash sweet & sour, ice

All cocktails served in 12oz plastic cups unless noted

Wine Cocktails:

  • Wine Spritzer - 4oz white wine, 2oz soda water, ice

  • Sangria - 4oz red wine, 2oz fruit juice, 1oz simple syrup, ice

Shots Available:

  • Whiskey Shot - 2oz whiskey straight

  • Vodka Shot - 2oz vodka straight

  • Tequila Shot - 2oz tequila with lime and salt

  • Whiskey Vanilla Cotton Candy - 2oz whiskey, 1 tbsp cotton candy sugar, 1oz water, 4 dashes vanilla

  • Rum Shot - 2oz rum straight

  • Gin Shot - 2oz gin straight

Setup and Service Tips

Before Your Event:

  • Chill all white wine and beer 4-6 hours ahead

  • Pre-cut garnishes (limes, lemons, oranges)

  • Set up bar area with good flow for guests

  • Have backup ice ready

During Service:

  • Keep cocktails consistent with measured pours

  • Restock ice regularly - it goes fast

  • Have extra napkins and cups easily accessible

  • Monitor alcohol levels to avoid running out

Event Duration Planning: Remember to add 1 hour for setup to your event time. A 4-hour party actually needs 5 hours of bar supply planning. Longer events may require 3+ drinks per person, especially if it's a celebration where people tend to drink more.

Making It Work for Different Event Sizes

Small Gatherings (25-50 people): Focus on 3-4 signature cocktails to keep things simple. You can get away with smaller bottle sizes and less variety.

Medium Events (75-150 people): This is the sweet spot for our Standard Package. Full variety works well, and you can introduce a couple signature drinks.

Large Events (200+ people): Consider having pre-batched cocktails for faster service. Set up multiple bar stations if space allows.

The beauty of our Standard Package is its flexibility. You can scale up or down easily, and there's always room to add specialty ingredients for custom cocktails that fit your event's theme.

Customization Options

Want to add something special? Here are popular upgrades:

Premium Spirits: Upgrade to top-shelf brands for an additional $3-5 per guest Specialty Syrups: Cotton candy, vanilla, fruit flavors - $15-25 per bottle Fresh Fruit Purees: Strawberry, mango, watermelon - $6-8 per bottle Craft Mixers: Premium tonic, artisan sodas - $4-6 per bottle

The Standard Cocktail Bar Package gives you everything needed for a successful event bar. With proper planning using these quantities and costs, you'll have happy guests and a profitable event every time.

 
 
 

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