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Help me stock my bar for my wedding
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Posted: 3/1/2013 5:57 PM
Help me stock my bar for my wedding
I'm getting married on March 9, and the wedding is at a facility where we can bring our own alcohol (  ). We're going to have about 160 people, and I felt I'd be remiss to not seek Hive feedback on how to best stock our bar. We're going full bar. I'm thinking 5-6 beer options, 3 red wine options, 3 white wine options, and a good variety of liquor. Sooo... What 5-6 beers would you stock? What wines would you stock (varietals and brands - ideally in the vicinity of $10-12/bottle)? What liquors would you stock (brands)? Think "middle tier." Feel free to suggest quantities, but I think I have a pretty good handle on that. Any other suggestions/tips are welcome as well. |
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Posted: 3/1/2013 6:02 PM
RE: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
Well with 160 people only do pony kegs. I'd suggest a basic (Bud, Bud Light, Miller Light, Coors Light, etc), a heavy, dark option, a couple IPAs, and something light (perhaps fruity). Check a number of liquor stores to see what's cheap or available.
~
To hell with Georgia, and I don't give a damn about the whole state of Michigan!
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Posted: 3/1/2013 6:05 PM
Re: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
Johnnie Walker Blue.  |
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Posted: 3/1/2013 6:24 PM
RE: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
Jacketbuckeye wrote: Well with 160 people only do pony kegs. I'd suggest a basic (Bud, Bud Light, Miller Light, Coors Light, etc), a heavy, dark option, a couple IPAs, and something light (perhaps fruity). Check a number of liquor stores to see what's cheap or available. This, but make sure you've got people serving who know how to pour from a handpump as it will take forever to get a beer and the line will get long if you don't. I know this from experience. |
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Posted: 3/1/2013 6:32 PM
Re: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
All you need is Pappy Van Winkle 20 year. Of course you'll never find enough to actually stock a bar with... man I love that stuff.  ______________________________________________________________________________
“Someone asked me what I missed about Memphis, and I said: everything.” - Elvis Presley
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Posted: 3/1/2013 6:51 PM
Re: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
Sorry to thread jack, but do you know where I can get a bottle around town? --------------------------------------------- --- Whatsthegoodword wrote: All you need is Pappy Van Winkle 20 year. Of course you'll never find enough to actually stock a bar with... man I love that stuff. --------------------------------------------- |
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Posted: 3/1/2013 6:58 PM
Re: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
You are one generous guy! I'll be checking my mailbox for the invitation. (Congrats on the wedding!)
25 years ago when I got married, the tab for the open bar was almost equal to the tab for the honeymoon...and we only had about 2/3 the guests you are planning. This could get expensive.
Anyway, I'd simplify a bit. 3 beers should be fine - something like a major brand light beer, perhaps Yuengling lager for the middle of the road crowd, and something on the heavier side for the beer connoisseurs - Guinness or a local micro-brew. That should give everyone an acceptable option. (Disclaimer: I personally do not like IPAs and do not understand the current fascination with them, thus they are not on my list of suggestions.)
I don't even know where to start with the wines, other than 2 of each should be fine. Maybe a sweet white like a Moscato, and something more middle-of-the-road like Pino Grigio or Chardonnay? For reds you need a Cabernet or a Cabernet blend, and perhaps a Shiraz or a Merlot. Cupcake, Barefoot, and Flip-Flop are all inexpensive and drinkable, but aren't going to impress anyone. I've always thought Rosemount Estate wines were a good value in the price range you mentioned.
Distilled spirits are not my forte. I just drink Ronrico dark rum. When you are mixing it with Coke or whatever, I don't think it matters much.
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Posted: 3/1/2013 7:11 PM
Re: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
ETBee wrote: ...This could get expensive... That's why I'm trying to look on the bright side of bringing it myself, which is saving me a good $3000-5000 over venues that I'd have to either pay per drink or pay a set fee per person! And thanks for the tips!
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Posted: 3/1/2013 7:47 PM
RE: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
RobinsDemons14 wrote:
Jacketbuckeye wrote: Well with 160 people only do pony kegs. I'd suggest a basic (Bud, Bud Light, Miller Light, Coors Light, etc), a heavy, dark option, a couple IPAs, and something light (perhaps fruity). Check a number of liquor stores to see what's cheap or available. This, but make sure you've got people serving who know how to pour from a handpump as it will take forever to get a beer and the line will get long if you don't. I know this from experience. Just get bottles. Nobody cares.
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Posted: 3/1/2013 7:51 PM
Re: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
With a similar size crowd, what we did was work with Tower on liquor and wine selections, asked for good "value" brands and went with them. We also picked up some cheap wine from whole foods (we liked it better then 2 buck chuck), and had limited other selections. For the beer, we purchased many of the sweetwater variety packs, along with enough domestic stuff for the people who only drink crappy beer. If necessary, I can see if I can track down the exact mix, but I think it turned out well.
Joe
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Posted: 3/1/2013 9:48 PM
RE: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
VladTheImpaler wrote:
Just get bottles. Nobody cares. Been married 20 years and have been to my fair share of weddings. Of all the weddings I've been to, I couldn't tell you whether they had a well-stocked bar or not. The memories (good, bad, or indifferent) are not made by the type of beer, wine or liqour you serve - so don't worrry to much about what you have in the bar. Your finance will have many other things for you to worry about.....which will be of even less importance. |
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Posted: 3/1/2013 10:30 PM
Re: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
1 Vodka - Skyy
Not top shelf but a smooth, versatile alcohol.
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Posted: 3/1/2013 11:12 PM
Re: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
Don't do kegs. With pony kegs, it's not a cost saver and is a PITA if they don't have a keg cooler.
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Posted: 3/1/2013 11:17 PM
Re: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
before we get to that...why 'aren't' I invited?
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Posted: 3/2/2013 12:28 AM
Re: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
Buzz4GT wrote: Sorry to thread jack, but do you know where I can get a bottle around town?
---------------------------------------------
--- Whatsthegoodword wrote:
All you need is Pappy Van Winkle 20 year. Of course you'll never find enough to actually stock a bar with... man I love that stuff.
--------------------------------------------- Now THAT'S information I could sell! No sir - and there will will not be a spring release.  Gotta wait 'til the fall. Maybe I can get one miserable bottle then. ______________________________________________________________________________
“Someone asked me what I missed about Memphis, and I said: everything.” - Elvis Presley
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Posted: 3/2/2013 12:38 AM
Re: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
I went to a wedding in San Francisco in July and the groom stocked the bar with beer and wine from Trader Joe's! Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada, and Red Stripe all in glass bottles. I thought that was perfect. He had several yellow tail choices in red and white. No liquor though. Yellow Tail is drinkable. Unless you start spending $30-40 a bottle, you are not going to notice the difference on a $8-12 bottle up to $20. Obviously that was nothing flashy, but the venue overlooked Crissy Field in The Presidio, so that was a pretty spectacular.
If you are easily offended, you will be.
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Posted: 3/2/2013 1:28 AM
RE: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
Get a keg, but go micro brew on at least one of the taps. Not everyone will care, but those who do will have an alternative. It really is not that much more. IF you splurge anywhere, this is the place.
Keep the really good liquor for the VIP's...
Bottle of 3 generations tequila - no mixing allowed - sipping only
Selection of single malts. Ditto.
Went to a wedding, and they had a cigar room. Don't smoke, but some would appreciate. Liquor probably cheaper...
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Posted: 3/2/2013 6:16 AM
Re: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
We did bottle beer and wine from Sams. I think I spent $150 or so and had leftovers. No liquor. Honestly at weddings that go "full bar" the ladies get pissed bc their hubs/boyfriend is always in line and never on the dance floor or at the table. I would probably not ever do a full bar wedding. Of course, your buddies will rave on and on for years about how much "fun" they had when really all they did was get plastered and stand in line. May I suggest what HWMO's cousin did? She and her hubs each had a "signature" drink with liquor and the rest of the choices were wine and beer.
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Posted: 3/2/2013 7:08 AM
Re: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
Nice work on getting a BYOB reception place. Save yourself some big $$ that way.
I would do 3 beers at most - domestic, import, craft. Depending on what your friends/family like to drink....Maybe a Bud Light, Amstel Light, then a Sam Adams
For wine I would keep it simple - Chardonnay and Cabernet. Personally I would get it at Costco. their buyers are very discerning about what wines they put in there. And you won't beat the price - their $12 wines are $15 at most other stores.
For liquor mid-range, Jim Beam, Skyy, Cutty Sark, Beefeater, Bacardi should do it.
For a little bit pricier stuff - Jack Daniel's, Stoli, Dewars, Bombay Sapphire,Mt Gay
for quantities, I would expect 50% wine drinkers (all the women), 30% beer, and 20% liquor. figure 1.5 drinks per hour per person
Edit - to build on Bueller's point, I would keep the selection small and not worry about getting so many different wines and beers. People will drink what you're pouring and not really care about variety or brands (unless you're pouring rot-gut)
Last edited 3/2/2013 7:11 AM by BlitzJacket
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Posted: 3/2/2013 7:35 AM
RE: Help me stock my bar for my wedding
When I got married, similar guest size, we did two full size kegs. I did one microbrew, and one crap beer. I'd probably go for a Sweetwater 420 full size keg, and assuming this is a Spring or Summer wedding, some appropriate seasonal, which should cover the light American drinkers, albeit imperfectly. I think that will be enough. If you really need to have that much variety, then I'd do as Buckeye suggests and go with ponies. If you have a lot of out of towners, I'd suggest trying to keep most of it Atlanta based, just to give it a local flair.
They can use pitchers to help alleviate the concern over the line getting backed up.
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