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How Much Alcohol Do You Need for Your Event?
Answer four quick questions. Get a complete, personalized shopping list — bottles, cases, ice, and everything in between. Takes 60 seconds.
The same math we use to build every alcohol order.
Two drinks per guest in the first hour, one an hour after that, weighted for the kind of crowd you're expecting, then split across beer, wine and spirits according to the bar you're running. A 15% buffer goes on top, because running out at nine o'clock is the one outcome nobody forgives.
The list you get is the same one WinterBrooke Bar takes to ABC Fine Wine & Spirits for 225+ events. Use it to shop the order yourself, to brief another vendor, or to have us buy it at cost with every unopened bottle returned afterwards.
How many guests are you expecting?
We'll use this to calculate total drink volume for the night.
Here's Exactly What You Need.
All quantities include a 15% buffer — because running out is never an option.
Important note: These quantities are estimates based on industry-standard bartending formulas. Actual needs vary based on your specific cocktail recipes, your guests' preferences, and local alcohol laws. WinterBrooke always recommends having your bartender review quantities before purchasing — we're happy to do that for free as part of your consultation.
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Skip the shopping.
WinterBrooke handles everything.
We bring the bar, the bottles, the ice — fully stocked to the exact quantities you just calculated — and pour every drink so you can actually enjoy your own event.
- $2M Event Insurance
- ServSafe Certified
- Full Setup & Breakdown
- No Shopping Required
Or call (231) 360-8361
Your List Is Done.
Now Let Us Handle the Rest.
You've done the planning. WinterBrooke shows up with every bottle, every piece of equipment, and every ounce of experience — so your bar runs flawlessly and you don't lift a finger. Check availability for your date below.
“Chris is fantastic with engaging with his customers and has such an upbeat energy that he brings with him everywhere he goes!”
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Answers Before You Ask
How much alcohol do I need per guest?
Budget roughly two drinks per guest in the first hour, then one per hour for the rest of the event. The opening rush is what catches most hosts off guard — people plan for the average and get overwhelmed in hour one.
How much ice do I actually need?
One and a half pounds per guest. For 150 guests that's 225 pounds, or about 30 bags. Ice does double duty — it chills the product and goes in the drinks — and most people buy for one job and run out doing both.
What if I buy too much alcohol?
If you book WinterBrooke, it isn't a problem — your alcohol is invoiced through our partner ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, and any unopened wine and liquor can be returned for a refund after the event. Buying it yourself elsewhere is a different story: most Florida retailers won't take it back, and the average DIY wedding ends the night with $200–400 sitting in a closet.
Does the calculator account for beer, wine, and liquor separately?
Yes. It splits your total across beer, wine, and spirits based on the service style you select and typical consumption patterns, then converts that into bottle and case counts you can actually shop from.
Should I add a buffer to the calculator's numbers?
Add about 15%. Guests drink more at weddings than general event averages assume — an open bar plus an emotional day is a combination no formula fully captures. The buffer costs little and prevents the worst outcome, which is a dry bar at 9pm.
Is this calculator free to use?
Yes, completely, and you do not need to hire WinterBrooke Bar to use it. Plenty of people use these numbers to brief a different vendor or to shop the order themselves. That is fine by us.
Where do I actually buy the alcohol?
If we are working your event, WinterBrooke Bar places the order through ABC Fine Wine & Spirits at cost with no markup from us, and every unopened bottle is returnable afterwards. If we are not, ABC will still take a list and most locations will do a returnable arrangement if you ask.
Do I need a full open bar?
Honestly, about 95 percent of parties do not. Beer, wine and two or three signature cocktails covers almost everyone, serves faster, and costs noticeably less to stock than a full back bar that half the bottles never come off.
What does bar service itself cost, separate from the alcohol?
Bar service starts at $850 for up to 65 guests over four hours, $1,300 for 100 guests over four hours, and $2,900 for 200 guests over five hours. That is staff, bar, ice, mixers, garnish, cups, setup and breakdown. The pricing page has the full estimator.
Want us to run the bar too?
We will buy this exact list at cost through ABC with no markup, and hand back every unopened bottle after the event.