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Beverage Tips


 Those bubbles will tickle your nose!

 
Beverages for a crowd like everything else, take a bit of planning.

Will you serve liquor? Today there is more responsibility on the server than ever before and some people or choosing NOT to serve liquor at a particular function. The reasons for this are several.
-liability
-beliefs
-expense
-problem drinkers in the family
The choice is yours.
All about Punch 
1 average punch bowl holds approx 24-30 serving, but that depends on the size of the punch bowl.

1 gal = 30 servings of 5 oz. each.

Allow 1 1/2 - 5 serving per person, depending on what else is being served and over what time span the beverage is being served.

Make punch mixture ahead of time (except for the pop) and put into clean empty 2 liter bottles. Chill this and it will be easy to pour into the punch bowl, adding fizzy pop or sparkling wine when you make it 'on the spot'. 
(1 gal. =2  2litre bottles)

If fridge space is a problem for the punch, pack the bottles of punch into picnic coolers, surrounding the bottles with crushed ice.

Have fruit ready in ziplock bags, to float in the bowl, crushed ice or frozen ice rings ready to add. 
If you don't have enough punch cups, they can be rented or simply use small clear plastic cups 5 -6 oz size. If you use large cups, the guests will 'drink it like water'.

You can serve one alcoholic punch and one non-alcoholic punch, make them two distinctly different colors.

Often the punch is served before dinner with a bar after dinner, or you can serve punch the entire time.
Wine for you wedding.

You can make your own special vintage, if you plan ahead. Here in Canada, that is quite a saving as our liquor prices are highly inflated with taxes.

Depending on where you are having your party, there may be a 'corkage' fee, if you wish to bring your own liquor, ask the establishment about this.

If you have wine on the table for toasting, a good idea is to also place one bottle of sparkling fruit juice on the table for the children and non drinkers to enjoy.
Beer - Servings per Keg
Servings per bottle?

One case of 12 (4/5 quart or 750 ml.) bottles of champagne will yield about 100 glasses or will provide 4 to 5 servings for 20 to 25 guests. Count on 5 cases per 100 guests.

Same rule applies to punch and you would need 30 2 liter bottles or equivalent (15 gallons) for 100 people.  Some of those bottles in the calculation, may be the 7-up or gingerale used in the punch.

Note, the above figures are for those items when being served exclusively.

If you are having a bar, or will also be serving soft drinks, you would not need to have as much of the champagne/punch.

Hard liquor,  a regular sized bottle ( 4/5 qt., 26 oz., 750 ml.) bottle of hard liquor will give 17 servings,  1 1/2 oz. each.

You will need approximately 3 bottles of mix, or 1 1/2 liters of mix for every bottle of hard liquor.  Plus some mix for the non drinkers.

You will need orange juice and clamato/tomato juice too.

Depending on your crowd, you can choose the liquor accordingly, whisky, vodka, rum, beer, coolers, sherry etc., whatever their preferences.

Allow 3 drinks per person for 3 hrs.; 4 drinks per person for a buffet dinner and 5 drinks per person for an all evening late/night party.

1 bottle of wine will yield 5 servings, so you will need 20 bottles of wine to toast the Bride if you have 100 guests.

1 bottle of champagne will yield 6 servings.  Make the portions a little smaller than a wine serving,  the champagne glasses aren't as big as regular wine glasses.  Check on the size of the glasses you will be using, you want small ones (actually measure them).

You DON'T have to have everything!

How Much Ice?

Allow at least 1/2 lb. per person, up to 1 lb. per person if most drinks will contain ice.

Glasses, how many??

~Allow 4-5 drinking glasses per person and lots of napkins.
You could have real wine glasses on the dinner table and use plastic glasses (some big ones for beer) for the other drinks.

~Glass or plastic, depends on your budget, but remember these little details are only as important as you  think they are, and just won't matter to other people.

~Plastic beverage glasses are available from Costco, grocery warehouses and party supply/rental places.

Other supplies:

jigger, lemons, limes, ice, cocktail napkins, tongs, ice bucket, ice cooler, bar cloth, corkscrew, mixer, juices,
Permits and Things

~If you serve liquor, you might need a liquor permit for your party. Check into the local regulations for serving liquor.

~Arrange with your liquor vender to be able to return any unopened bottles.

~If you are having a large function and serving liquor, hire a real and reputable bartender. That way there is a control on how much is served and it leaves you with one less thing to worry about.

~Ask the bartender if you should have anything special, she may have a list of essentials. 

~Have payment ready for the bartender and tip.

 

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