Often, I am asked what to buy for events for the bar. If you plan with the guest count, anticipate what your friends like to drink than you should be able to cover the entire drink menu and have multiple selections for everyone. There is a formula for the amount of hours of entertainment along your guest count. It will also depend on the speciality drinks you choose along if your guests are heavy drinkers.
- Shots will drain your alcohol.
- Shots of premium liquor (especially chilled) is a waste.
There is a clear definable difference in spirits some are great for cocktails others are for drinking neat or on ice. Within the restaurant business we call this variety the Well, Call and Top shelf brands. All of which is definable by personal taste, this list for you that is both affordable and provides you with some great options. When you mix most cocktails, it is not wise to use top shelf liquor because a lot of the taste is absorbed within the other ingredients.
I prefer to use the call liquors for cocktails and the top shelf for sipping.
Vodka
Well: Absolute
Call: Tito’s
Top Shelf: Grey Goose, Belvedere
Whiskey Bourbons
Well: Elijah Craig
Call: Buffalo Trace, Bullet
Top Shelf: Woodford Reserve
IF you are making old fashions, it’s great to have a Rye as well.
Rittenhouse Rye 100
Tequila
Well: Milagro
Call: Lalo Tequila
Top Shelf: Don Julio 1942, El Tesoro
Anders Erickson Margaritas
Mezcal
Well: Luminar
Call: Don Maguey Vida
Top Shelf: Amateco – Tobala
Rum
Well: Capitan Morgan
Call: Doorly’s
Top Shelf: Flor De Cana
Gin
Well: Tanqueray
Call: Bombay
Top Shelf: Hendriks
