Cocktail party planning guide: Tips on How to Stock a Bar for your Special Event

Once you have chosen the date, venue and the time of your event – a wedding reception, a corporate party, a team outing, or a birthday party – it’s time to start planning the fun stuff like – theme, menu, stocking the bar, and so on.

At Captain Joe, when we are catering to a cocktail party in Gurgaon, we offer our clients the option to stock their bar by themselves or by our team. If you choose the latter, all you have to do is let us know the type of bar you want, and our team handles it all. From supplying the liquor, arranging for the right glassware to serving the drinks, we have expert bartenders on our staff who will happily assist you.

However, there may be times when you prefer to use your bar supplies. Worry not, we’ve compiled some handy tips from our in-house experts. Today’s guide will help you with all that you need to prep a killer bar for your event. We’ve tried to make it simpler for you with a step-by-step process on how to handle it. Without further delays, let’s dive in right away.

Decide on the Type of Bar Service

The first step is to answer the question, "what type of bar service do I need?" Generally, event or party bars can be classified into two major categories:

1. A Standard Wine and Beer Bar

It's the most common option. In this bar, you skip the hard liquor, thereby lowering your budget. Also, it’s more accessible to stock since there aren’t multiple choices. For this bar, it’s common to store three types of beers, a semi-sweet, full-bodied red wine, and a dry white wine. You can also add a sparkling wine if you’re planning to toast the host. Also, don’t forget to include a couple of non-alcoholic options for teetotallers and designated drivers.

2. A Full Bar

The second option is a full bar. It includes beer and wine, as well as spirits. It’s suitable for all occasions – especially annual galas, corporate parties, etc.

An alternative to stocking a full bar is serving wine and beer, along with a specialty drink. The unique glass can be a themed cocktail – suiting your event style. This style of bar is more accessible to stock as it doesn’t involve multiple spirits. Also, it’s cheaper compared to a full bar.

So, which bar should I choose at a cocktail party in Gurgaon?

There’s no single answer. Also, both options are equally good. It all depends on what works best for your guests and fits your budget. There is no right or wrong choice. Your friends and family have gathered to celebrate your special event. They are sure to feel happy, no matter what they are served in their glasses. And, if you want to skip the bar, no problem – you can keep the event non-alcoholic. It’s all about what you want and your budget.

Now, that you’ve decided the type of bar, let’s take a look at,

How to stock a bar?

Here are a few tips to stocking the bar for your special event:

• Connect with the liquor vendor well in advance. Place your order at least two to one week ahead of the event. This ensures that the liquor store or vendor supplies your order in time for the big day. Also, this gives time for the liquor supplier to order missing stock.
• While certain drinks may be trendy, it may not go well with your guests. Look for liquor that your guests will love. When you work with Captain Joe, our expert bartenders can give you the right recommendations.
• Check with the liquor store supplier if they offer you discounts for returning the bottles. It can help you save a few bucks.
• While ordering your drinks, don’t forget to include mixers and sodas. Some of the popular options for:
  • Mixers include simple syrup, triple sec, sour mix, lime juice, grenadine, club soda, and tonic water.
  • Also include a variety of juices like – cola, lemon-lime, diet cola, pineapple, ginger ale, cranberry, grapefruit, orange, and so on.
  • Make sure to include some cut fruit wedges on the bar like oranges, lemons, limes, olives, and cherries.
• Next, prepare the bar suppliers like – mixing glasses, strainers, corkscrews, pitchers, bar spoons, stirrers, galvanized tubs, ice scoops, and so on.
• Finally, don’t forget the ice.

Other Factors to Consider

• If you are offering a signature cocktail to your guests, make sure to prepare it in batches. When you prepare it in batches, you can reduce the waiting time of guests.
• As a host, you cannot spend your time at the bar. So, make sure to hire a couple of bartenders. The general rule of thumb is that for a party with 75 to 100 guests, you will require two bar-tenders; for 150 guests, you will need three, and a party of around 200 guests will require four. The general rule is to hire one bartender for 50 guests to ensure a smooth, stress-free evening.
• If you’re hiring a caterer, check if they supply the alcohol, bartenders, mixers, and other equipment.

Avoid the Stress of Bartending with Captain Joe

As the leading cocktail party catering service provider, we handle it all. All you have to do is provide us with the requirements, and we’ll impress your guests with a killer bar.