DRINKS: Unless your posse is famed for being particularly thirsty,
the rule of thumb is that each guest will imbibe about two drinks
within the first hour and one per hour thereafter, so plan the size
of your cocktail pitcher—or backup batches—accordingly. (FYI,
one 750ml bottle of wine pours from four to five glasses,
depending on serving size.) Also, don’t forget to include tasty
nonalcoholic alternatives.
GLASSES: Prep the bar with twice as many glasses as guests.
Happy partygoers are notorious for ditching their drinks and starting
anew. Or help your crew track their cocktails by offering ways to ID
drinks—such as charms or decorative writing on the glass in perma-
nent pen (it’s easily removed with a scrubber).
ICE: Even if you’re serving your libations “straight up” you’re still
going to need to shake them with ice—and ideally keep your bottles
of booze, beer, wine, or soft drinks chilled without cramming them
into the refrigerator. A general rule is to have two pounds of ice
on hand per person.
NAPKINS: Forget to load up on these wondrous wipes and you’ll
be blessed with permanent party reminders—a.k.a. water rings—on
every vulnerable surface. Help guests help you—have more than
enough on hand.
SELF-SERVICE: Make your bar self-serve and suave. Set up the
bar in an area that won’t disrupt traffic flow, and stock it with
glasses, ice, napkins, cocktails or cocktail makings, garnishes,
and a bottle opener and corkscrew if necessary. Place beer, wine,
and nonalcoholic options in a wide, shallow container so people
don’t have to dig deep into an icy cooler for drinks, but keep a
large cooler of backups hidden near or under the bar and
replenish as needed.
ESSENTIAL EXTRAS: Even if you’re throwing a cocktail party,
don’t forget snacks; they’ll be a savior to the poor soul who downs
multiple glasses of potent punch on an empty stomach. Also, store
a trash receptacle near the action. Given the opportunity, polite
guests will clean up after themselves so you can keep on being
your fabulous hostess self. Finally, don’t forget to decorate: The
bar is an area everyone notices; giving it a dash of style will
impress guests.
