You’re throwing a party in Toronto. Everything is set, and now you need to head to the liquor shop to load up on alcohol before your guests arrive. How does one decide how much and what kind of beverages to buy?
Here is our step-by-step guide on ordering alcohol for parties:
Consider your guest list
Our rule of thumb is one drink per person, each hour of the celebration (so, if you are having a 30-person party for two hours, you would plan to serve 60 drinks total). If it is a late-night party or a party that is taking place further out (ranch party, etc.), you should budget for 1.5 drinks per person because you will not be able to dash out and re-stock if you are in a hurry.
What should I order
Liquor (Vodka, Rum, Gin, Whiskey, Tequila), Wine (red and white), Beer (2-3 choices), and Champagne/Sparkling Wine comprise a “full bar.” You already know you’ll need a range of these products on hand, in addition, to drink mixers. When deciding on rations, keep the season and your guests in mind. In the midst of a 100-degree summer? You won’t be pouring a lot of red wine. Ladies’ lunch? Order a little less tequila. You get the idea—consider your audience and what is popular among them before ordering alcohol for parties.
Mixers
Depending on the size of your party, this list might range from simple to complicated. You will need at the very least: soda, tonic, water, coke, diet coke, sprite, lemons, and limes. You may add grapefruit/orange/cranberry/pineapple juice, vermouth, olives, maraschino cherries, ginger ale, simple syrup, or any other components you require for a trademark drink if you want to spice it up. Don’t forget about the ice!
Are you intending to offer one of these distinctive cocktails? If so, make enough for one cocktail for every half of your guest count. These are normally picked up at the start of the evening. On their second beverage, visitors are more inclined to stay with what they know.
Rule of thumb for quantity
How much of each product should you purchase? This leads us back to number two (consider the crowd). We normally plan on each visitor having at least 1-1.5 glasses of wine when we arrange our numbers. Vodka is poured almost twice as much as other spirits, followed by whiskey/scotch. Keep rum, gin, and tequila on hand, but keep the quantities low unless you know your crowd consumes a lot of stuff.
One drink should include 1.5-2 oz. of liquor
So, when shopping for spirits, keep the following in mind:
- 12 drinks = 750ml
- 16 drinks = 1 liter bottle
- 1.5 liters equals 25 drinks
- 30 drinks = 1.75 liter
- 4-5 glasses = 1 bottle of wine
- 1 bottle of champagne = 4-5 glasses
Finally, don’t cool or open everything at once
After chilling the beer or wine, it should not be returned to room temperature. So, unless you have a wonderful way to keep leftover alcohol after the party, be mindful of how much alcohol you put on ice before people come. Also, if you’re serving wine, it’s a good idea to save 1-2 bottles ahead of time and let them air before serving.
Tips for ordering alcohol for parties
Non-alcoholic beverages should be ordered alongside alcohol for those who do not consume alcohol. This will assist to guarantee that all of your visitors are pleased and satisfied. Choose J&J Alcohol Delivery when you are ordering alcohol for parties. Consider the products you’d want at your special event, and once you’ve settled on a few, give us a call for a free price.
Also, keep a boatload of food available because your guests will undoubtedly become hungry. Have a good time!
