How to Stock Your Bar for a Cocktail Party

Although you may know that your guests aren't big drinkers, you don't want to run out of beverages at your festive soiree.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bartender Manuals
• Bottled Water
• Bourbons
• Club Sodas
• Cocktail Onions
• Fruit Juices
• Ice
• Lemons
• Limes
• Liquor
• Maraschino Cherries
• Olives
• Red Wines
• Snacks
• Sodas
• Sparkling Wines
• Tequila
• White Wines
• Ice
• Blenders
• Cocktail Glasses
• Cocktail Mixers
• Cocktail Napkins
• Cocktail Sets
• Cocktail Shaker
• Cocktail Toothpicks
• Corkscrews
• Cutting Boards
• Paring Knives
• Pitchers
• Shot Glasses
• Swizzle Sticks
• Olives
• Lemons
• Snacks
• Limes

1. Invest in a good bartender's manual; if you entertain even a couple of times a year, you'll find it as useful as a comprehensive cookbook.

2. Assume that each guest will consume two drinks per hour.

3. Buy enough to go around based on the following guidelines: A standard-size bottle of wine or champagne (750ml) = 5 to 6 servings. The same size bottle of spirits = 17 drinks @ 1 1/2 oz. (45ml) per shot. A 12-ounce (355ml) soft drink or can of beer = 1 serving.

4. Buy or make enough ice to fill buckets and cooler chests to capacity.

5. Assume that each party guest will consume a quarter to a half pound of ice in drinks.

6. Stock plenty of soft drinks, bottled water and fruit juices for non-imbibers and designated drivers.

7. Buy or rent plenty of glasses. Count on using at least one per person per hour.

8. Estimate that for every hour of the party, each guest will eat two handfuls of chips or nuts and three to four servings of more elaborate finger food - and estimate even more if your party is a cocktails-only affair and not a prelude to dinner.

9. Buy more of everything than you think you'll need; you can always eat any leftover food, or send it away with guests. The wine, liquor and mixers will keep for another occasion.

Tips & Warnings

• Buying high-quality wines and spirits needn't mean the most expensive. If you find the profusion of brands and the range of prices confusing, ask the advice of a professional bartender or wine steward before you start shopping.
• Bear in mind how you'll be using the spirits you buy. For instance, those pricey single-malt Scotches are meant to be sipped and savored without embellishment, as you'd quaff a fine brandy. Their glories (and your cash) will be wasted if you dilute them with ice cubes and water. Likewise, a tequila meant to be taken straight with a wedge of lime might not make the best-tasting margaritas.
• Be sure to have the right cocktail making equipment and a blender for mixed drinks.
• As a responsible party host, see to it that your guests return home safely. If any guests have had too much to drink, arrange alternate rides home or invite them to stay over.

on 8/8/2006 2 easy Cocktails:

Martini Extra Dry & Lemonade\t\t\t\t
Fill a chill highball glass to the rim\t\t
With ice, add 50ml Martini Extra Dry\t\t
Vermouth and top up with lemonade.\t
Perfect to help you unwind before a
Meal.


Southern Breeze

Fill a highball glass with ice, pour 50ml
Southern Comfort, cranberry and orange
Juice. Garnish with a sprig of orange.


Cocktail Bar - stainless steel modern contemporary look furniture:

You?ve got 14 bottles of duty free spirits and a neat collection of shot glasses but something?s missing.

Ah yes, you need your own bar!

This is no Abigail?s Party accessory, so you can forget all notions of plastic pineapple ice buckets and paper parasols. Instead polished and satin stainless steel combines with illuminated acrylic, to bring an ultra stylish addition to your living space. Check out the website :
www.itsasteel.co.uk

on 7/7/2006 Having personally witnessed the devastation that is caused by a DUI accident, I wonder if it is ever not appropriate to call the police if someone leaves your party having decided that it is OK to drive drunk.

on 12/16/2005 Ask each guest to bring their favorite drink (or the ingredients). This way, you can assure enough drinks for all the guests at your party, a good variety of drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). And for a personal treat, ask a few guests to bring your specialty drink(s).

on 11/22/2005 A fun but useful party gift could be those test strips that estimate your blood alcohol content (by putting them on your tongue).

If someone drinks too much, put their keys in your shoes (if your shoes are by the door). They won't find the keys and you won't forget to return them later.

on 11/22/2005 If you don't have bar equipment, grab an inexpensive set from a local store. I found a stainless silver set for $9.99 at Linens & Things, which included: a shaker cup, ice tongs, a corkscrew/bottle opener, a shot measurer, and bottle cork. They all rest in a nice little silver display tray.
Test different mixers to see which brand you like. The difference in flavors from one brand to another can be quite surprising.
If you plan on allowing guests to serve themselves, keep in mind that you need to have your bottles arranged and displayed in a large area. Try to organize the bottles into groupings. Keep the tequila and "triple sec" near one another for margaritas. Keep Bailey's, Kahlua and other typical coffee additives together. Many times, guests will just grab some wine or a beer, because mixing a drink is too much for them to think about. It's a good idea to either plan your time around being the bartender, ask a friend to do it, or hire someone for the party. Sometimes guests are scared to try something new, unless someone points them in that direction. Try printing a nice drink menu with several cocktails that you know how to mix, so that your guest know they have options.
If your party is more formal, wine glass charms are a nice touch. They help people keep up with their glasses, which in turn means less glassware for you to wash after the party. If the party is small, I've found a few sites that custom make the charms with any wording you wish on them (limited lettering, of course). You could order the names of your guests, then allow them to keep the charms as a small gift. The site I found offered them for approximately $5 a piece.