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Haley
Just Said Yes February 2025

Alcohol amount calculation?

Haley, on August 1, 2023 at 9:36 AM Posted in Planning 1 3
Does anyone know of a reasonable way to calculate how much alcohol is needed for a full bar based upon guest count? We have a bartender, full bar set up etc but are purchasing our own alcohol bulk to save money.


My fiancé and I discussed purchasing a few bottles of primary liquor each (vodka, tequila, bourbon, gin) then champagne, beer, wine. My guest count is going to fall probably at about 80, but we invited 100.
Want to make sure we plan for there to be plenty and have our budget for this accurate.
TIA! 🫶🏻

3 Comments

Latest activity by Kelly, on August 10, 2023 at 9:50 PM
  • M
    Expert September 2021
    Marianne ·
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    I used this drink calculator: https://www.evite.com/pages/party/drink-calculator/

    H and I had about 100 guests and bought: 3 bottles vodka, 1 bottle gin, 1 bottle tequila, 2 bottles rum, 2 bottles bourbon, and 1 bottle whisky. We had two signature cocktails that required 5 more bottles of liquor, so about 15 bottles total (plus bottles of random liquors like amaretto, vermouth, etc.). We didn't have much left over, but our bartenders also OK'd shots sooo we probably would've had more left if only mixed drinks were served. We also got 7 cases of beer (3 types) and 3 cases of wine (4 types) and had plenty left over of both.

    We bought everything from Total Wine, which allows returns of unopened bottles and full (even if opened) cases of beer, so we returned leftovers and kept the open liquor bottles for our home bar!

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  • C
    Master January 2019
    Cassidy ·
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    We did beer and wine only so it was a little easier. We had a similar guest list. We went down the list and considered if they were a beer drinker or wine drinker. After the 1st hr they say guests average 1 drink an hr. We had 3 beers and 4 wines (red, white, sweet, and zindinfale). We divied up the number needed between that.
    We also did 2 cocktails during cocoktail hr. We figured 1 for each guest (average of 2 drinks the 1st hr). That required some math because I had to look at the drink receipe and figure out how much was needed, and then how many bottle that would take.
    We also did a Champaign toast. I think there were 5 glasses in a bottle. The cocktails were gone and quick. But we had so much beer and wine left over. Sorry that was wordy, but maybe it might help.
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  • Kelly
    Super October 2023
    Kelly ·
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    My caterer helped me figure out how much I need. Essentially, It's three drinks per person per hour during cocktails, then one drink per person per hour for the rest of the night. Most of my guests are heavy drinkers and we'll have local craft beer, so we doubled the amount we'll have. Also note that most calculators say two drinks per person per hour for cocktail hour. You know your guests best and what they drink. Adjust wine, beer, and liquor amounts accordingly. We have a lot of gin drinkers, so we'll have 4 bottles of gin and only 2 bottles of rum.

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