You know the scenario: The guest list is ready, the playlist is set, but at the beverage store, you stand clueless in front of the shelves. The eternal question: “How much do I actually need?”
If you buy too little, your guests will be left high and dry at 11 PM – a total mood killer. If you buy too much, you’ll be lugging crates of stuff back or be set for the next three years. We’re putting an end to the guessing. With our rules of thumb and the practical table, you can plan your next celebration stress-free.
The Basic Rules of Party Math
Before we get to the numbers, here are three important rules of thumb:
- Not everyone drinks: Deduct about 20% from your guest list across the board (drivers, pregnant guests, non-drinkers). Plan for enough delicious non-alcoholic alternatives for this group!
- Duration is key: A short reception needs fewer drinks than a party that goes into the early morning hours. Our calculation is based on a typical party duration of about 5-6 hours.
- Know your audience: Is it a beer-only crowd or will there be lots of mixing? Our table is a good average for a mixed group.
How much does a guest drink? (The rule of thumb)
As a rough guideline, you can calculate per drinking guest spread over the evening with:
- Beer: approx. 1.5 liters (that’s 3 half-liters or a good 4 small bottles).
- Wine/Sparkling wine: approx. 0.5 liters (nearly a full bottle).
- Spirits (for long drinks/cocktails): approx. 15–20 cl.
- Calculation example: From a 0.7l bottle of spirits, you get about 17 good mixed drinks at 4cl per drink.
The Party Planner Table (Your Shopping List)
Here is a guide for a mixed party (beer, wine & long drinks) so that no one stays thirsty.
| Number of guests (total) | Beer (Crates of 20×0.5l) | Wine & Sparkling wine (Bottles) | Spirits (Bottles of 0.7l) | Ice cubes (Bags of 2kg) |
| 10 guests | approx. 1 crate | 3 – 4 bottles | 1 – 2 bottles | 2 – 3 bags |
| 20 guests | approx. 2 – 3 crates | 6 – 8 bottles | 3 – 4 bottles | 4 – 5 bags |
| 30 guests | approx. 4 crates | 9 – 12 bottles | 5 – 6 bottles | 6 – 8 bags |
| 50 guests | approx. 6 – 7 crates | 15 – 18 bottles | 8 – 10 bottles | 10+ bags |
Tip: Don’t forget the ice! You always need more than you think.
The “Old Dragon Joker”: Why it makes your planning easier
The biggest problem when buying spirits is the variety: “Lisa only drinks gin, Tom only likes whiskey, and the rest want to mix something with cola.” Do you have to buy five different bottles now, only for them to sit around half-full?
No. This is where Old Dragon Premium Spiced Rum comes in. It is the perfect all-rounder that massively simplifies your bar planning:
- For the purists: Thanks to its barrel aging, it has enough character to appeal to whiskey or “real” rum drinkers neat on ice.
- For mixers: Its notes of banana and caramel make it the perfect base for Rum and Cola (the classic!), Rum and Ginger Ale, or simple cocktails like our [Link to Old Dragon Sour recipe] or [Link to Iced Tea recipe].
Conclusion: Instead of buying five different specialties, just put 2-3 bottles of Old Dragon on the table. You’ll make 80% of your guests happy – and you’ll have less shopping stress.
Make it easy for yourself. Get the party savior from Dinkelsbühl and look forward to your guests instead of worrying about drinks.
[Click here for the Old Dragon Rum supply]
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