302523 Mon Aug 29 14:10:31 -0700 2005 15 29 Not About Food 0 1694534 Okay, so I'm getting married in about a month. Ceremony and reception will take place at a private home in Sedona, AZ. We're expecting around 55 guests total, ages range from mid-30s to late-70s, and probably average out to around 50. A local restaurant is catering the event, and supplying a bartender. Soft drinks and coffee/tea are handled. Wine and beer are handled. Glassware and stemware are handled. I just need to stock the bar. I realize that we'll need a ton of ice, and garnishes such as lemons and limes, olives, etc. I think I can have the caterer handle that. We don't need to offer everything under the sun, but I'd like to offer a decent selection of cocktails. Seems like we'll need to come up with a menu of available drinks, and have some of the basics on-hand. I'm guessing that the most popular cocktail orders will be: Martinis (straight up vodka, sour apple, cosmo, lemon drop, and classic gin/vermouth). Margaritas (basic rocks salt, as I don't want to have noisy blenders around). Rum and Coke Vodka and Tonic Gin and Tonic Old Fashioned A decent Bourbon selection A decent Scotch selection Does this sound like a reasonable selection of drinks to offer? Am I forgetting any popular cocktails (except Mojitos, which I think are a little too much work to do right)? Any suggestions on quantities of the individual boozes and mixers to have on-hand? TIA! Mon Aug 29 14:10:31 -0700 2005 0 JimN 1 1694538 Lots of people drinking soda mixes (vodka & soda for example) these days - part of the whole low-carb thing I believe. Mon Aug 29 14:41:55 -0700 2005 1694534 0 julesrules 2 1694544 and can also be used for wine spritzers. Mon Aug 29 14:54:03 -0700 2005 1694538 0 ivie 3 1694546 and also used in the collins drinks.. Mon Aug 29 15:02:48 -0700 2005 1694544 0 ivie 4 1694577 ...and also used to get red wine out of carpets! Tue Aug 30 09:11:05 -0700 2005 1694546 0 sudiepav 1 1694540 i'd suggest a reposada tequila, they're smoother, especially if you're drinking on the rocks or sipping, for not much more money (sauza is a nice, cheapish one). be sure to keep the liquid from the olives for dirty martinis. Mon Aug 29 14:48:42 -0700 2005 1694534 0 mark 1 1694542 you have a lot of drinks covered with the list below. vodka gin light rum tequila triple sec scotch bourbon whiskey (maybe a rye) cranberry juice orange juice tonic club soda ginger ale 7up coke diet coke sour mix sweet vermouth dry vermouth lime juice Mon Aug 29 14:52:41 -0700 2005 1694534 0 ivie 2 1694565 Add some beer, Kahlua, and Grenadine to that list and you're all set. Mon Aug 29 21:43:59 -0700 2005 1694542 0 Joe 1 1694554 Sometimes, for events like that (especially if you're spending a fair amount of money), the liquor store will buy back unopened bottles. Call around and you might be able to find a place. In which case, go smaller (fifths) for your bottles of rum, gin, and vodka. Will people really order lots of Old Fashioned's? I'd argue those are much more work than a mojito, which can be made in pitchers. Also, lots of people watching their weight also go w/rum & diet coke (versus coke). Mon Aug 29 17:13:03 -0700 2005 1694534 0 joypirate 1 1694558 here's a guide from usabride.com Link: http://www.usabride.com/wedplan/a_liquor.html Mon Aug 29 18:02:22 -0700 2005 1694534 0 byrd 1 1694572 Don't forget old timers' drinks!!!! Whatever you do, help a brother out and make sure you print or display what you offer. Sounds like you're on the right track (sort of) as far as what you need....so just make sure you go all the way & have a list of booze and mixers. (or display behind the bar) That includes beer and wine, too. This way your bartender doesn't have to spend half the time going over what's in the bar. That's the biggest issue, I think. People will fall in line and drink Makers instead of scotch, for example. You don't have to go crazy. But I will tell you, lay off the specialty drinks. Your list? YOu're thinking like a guy at a bar, not a wedding. That's an awful lot of booze inventory for 50 people, half of whom will be happy with beer, wine, vodka, and gin. Link: http://www.thewineoffensive.com Tue Aug 30 00:38:33 -0700 2005 1694534 0 msavvy 1 1694578 Maybe it's just me, but this sounds overengineered. It's a wedding, not a bar party. I would not want to encourage people to treat it like a bar party by overemphasizing the alcohol element (perhaps I've just seen too many weddings ruined by alcohol at some point). I would not stock multiple varieties of given spirits, and not the highest end but solid performers that are acceptable to most people. If there are too many choices, the lines at the bar will lag way too long, and *that* would be far worse than not having enough choice. Stock lots of sparkling waters. And have more than lemon or lime wedges for garnishes (orange is nice, for example). Lots of people may have only one or two alcoholic drinks but follow up with seltzer and a garnish. Especially older folks on medications where alcohol can be contraindicated (and that's quite common -- just think of all the Tylenol based-meds alone!). Tue Aug 30 10:11:00 -0700 2005 1694534 0 Karl S. 1 1694579 The club soda was my add too. Just a comment re another poster. A good open bar is great! I laughed when he said the "older people" won't drink so much. Probably more!!! Had a party a couple of months ago w/bartender etc. and friends had parents in (we are g-parents ourselves) so we invited a bunch of their contemporaries as well. According to my bartender, they drank the most and the strongest drinks. Linda Tue Aug 30 11:01:31 -0700 2005 1694534 0 Linda VH 1 1694581 Thanks, all! Lots of good info here. Yes, the vast majority of our guests will be happy with beer and wine. We'll have a couple selections of beer from a local brewery on-tap. Plus, we're offering three solid wine choices (a few of our favorites from the Paso Robles region). Sounds like I'm overthinking the bar. I'll plan to have the basic stuff on-hand, and avoid posting a menu of specialty drinks. A few well-placed phone calls will probably clue me in as to what "old timers'" drinks to be prepared for. We'll probably offer one decent bourbon, one decent scotch, and one sipping tequila. Even if they remain untouched at the reception, they definitely won't go to waste. I haven't forgotten about mixers, juices, garnishes, etc. Thanks for the reminders, though. We're offering transportation to and from the wedding location - trolley pick-up and limo-van returns at three different times throughout the evening. Since people won't be driving, I suspect that many will be boozing it up. Gotta make sure we're stocked up! Thanks again. Tue Aug 30 12:10:19 -0700 2005 1694534 0 JimN 2 1694596 I'm glad to see you are having something besides beer and wine. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to wine and although I do drink it very occasionally I prefer vodka or I'm stuffed up for days. Wed Aug 31 09:18:41 -0700 2005 1694581 0 Linda VH 1 1694604 -Grapefruit juice for greyhounds -fixings for bloody marys if you want to be bothered -the pineapple juice and coconut milk for pina coladas or daquiris (you know, if you're being supplied a bartender make him or her work) -champagne or a sparkling California wine for Mimosas -angostura bitters and sweet vermouth for a proper Manhattan -stuff for non-alcoholic drinks like sparkling white grape juice and orange juice for virgin Mimosas; ginger ale and grenadine syrup for shirley temples Also think about after dinner drinks (if its a dinner affair)...at my friends' wedding (at one of those full service wedding mills) there was a nice after dinner drink cart with cognac (also good for sidecars), armagnac, grand marnier, amaretto, kalhua, irish mist, etc. I know this may be going too elaborate, but if you're taking the unfinished bottles home, it could be nice to round out your personal liquor cabinet. You know how at weddings, the bride picks three must haves and the groom picks three must haves of what's most important for each of them to make them happy...open bar was definitely my must have!!! Congratulations and best wishes. Wed Aug 31 12:14:11 -0700 2005 1694534 0 mrclives