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Irish Whiskey vs the Rest: What's the Difference?
How much do you know about whiskey? Are you in the boat where all caramel-colored spirits in glass bottles seem the...
By: Beau Farrell on Dec 12, 2023 12:30:00 PM
Party planning can be really fun, but anyone who’s planned an event might say that it’s also stressful.
Whether it’s a graduation party, a sports viewing, a holiday celebration, a wedding reception, or a big weekend hangout, you want to make sure everything goes smoothly and, most importantly, you have enough food and beverages for your guests.
Having (or not having) the right amount of alcohol could make or break your party. But have no fear, we’re here to help! Let’s start out by asking a few initial questions:
It doesn’t hurt to have a variety of drinks available for your guests. Here are some tips for stocking your party bar:
Go local by adding Minnesota wineries and local beer if possible. We’re lucky to have lots of great brewers in Minnesota so take advantage!
Read More: The Haskell's Essential Wine Guide
Does anyone really know what an actual serving of alcohol looks like? We sure do! Here’s the rundown:
Knowing how much you get per bottle can help you gauge how much of each you’ll need to have on hand at your party. All you have to do is finalize your guest list and then do a little math. If you end up over-purchasing, don’t fear! We'll buy back unopened bottles so you can return whatever wasn’t used…or you can keep the leftovers for yourself. No judgment here.
Hopefully, we didn’t scare you away with the "M"-word, but math is needed at this stage of the game to decide how much to buy. Here’s where you will be grateful you paid attention in math class. The unofficial rule of thumb for serving alcohol at a party is two drinks per person for the first hour of the party and then one drink per hour thereafter. Let’s break it down:
(Number of guests X 2) + (Number of guests X party hours after the first hour) = Total Drinks
Let’s try talking through it with an example. Say you want to throw a party with 25 friends that lasts about four hours.
The final bit of math that you need to do is figure out how much of each category of alcohol you need. Try the 50-25-25 breakdown:
Continuing with our example of 25 guests and their roughly 125 drinks, that means you should plan to have:
If your event will include a champagne toast, it is worth noting that one 750ml bottle of champagne will fill 6 flutes, so take the number of guests / 6 to determine how many bottles of bubbly you’d need. In our example, you could easily make 4 bottles of sparkling wine stretch if you serve each guest slightly less than a full glass, or play it safe by getting 5 bottles.
READ MORE: Why Do We Celebrate With Champagne?
So, you’ve done all the math and have a more educated guess of how much alcohol you’ll need to get. Before you run to the store and start shopping, there’s one last thing to consider. You’ll probably drink a fair amount more at a bachelorette party or a night up at the cabin with your buddies than you’ll drink at lunch with your relatives from out of town, so it’s important to factor that in. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to help read the room:
You might need a few simple ideas for the kinds of food and drinks you can serve together at your next event so we’ve listed some ideas to get the juices flowing (pun intended). Choose what you think will best suit the mood, the time of year, and the kind of get-together you want!
Pro Tip: Don’t forget non-alcoholic beverages for your underage and non-drinking guests. And don't skimp on the food, either! Plan to have at least a few finger foods or snacks to munch on.
If you're planning for a large event like a wedding, check out our guide to picking wedding wines, but here are a few great budget-friendly suggestions right off the bat:
READ MORE: What’s the Difference Between Champagne and Prosecco?
If you’re still not sure what to buy, we have free wine and beer tastings at every Haskell’s location throughout the month where you can ask questions and try some varieties. Feel like you do not want to manage the bartending process yourself? No worries. Hire a professional bartender from Haskell's! Our bartenders-for-hire can work with you on your budget and selections. You'll save money, time, and a few worries by trusting our experienced professionals to run the bar. Did we mention that Haskell's also delivers? Whether you need one case of beer or twenty, we are here to help you keep the party flowing! Don’t worry about overbuying either–we’ll buy back any unopened product after the event. Lastly, when you buy for a big event as a Bacchus member, you’ll earn points and save money with special pricing! No matter what your special event looks like, Haskell’s is here to be your “spiritual guide” for any occasion!
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