The sound of champagne corks popping is synonymous with weddings and other celebrations, just as a good bottle of wine, shared with a few friends over a meal, is a time-honoured way to socialise. But what if you have the daunting task of calculating the quantities and types of liquid refreshment to order for an important function like a wedding or a 21st? Fortunately, you don't have to resort to thumb-sucking or a hit-and-miss 'guesstimate' - just follow these invaluable guidelines:
Firstly, liquor requirements will vary greatly according to the nature of the function and the time of day. At an early morning champagne breakfast, for instance, your guests will consume far less alcohol than at an evening dinner dance. At a luncheon event, they will tend to go easy on the spirits (with the possible exception of gin and tonic, which is an acceptable lunchtime tipple). If you are organising a wedding and working to a tight budget, it could be important to bear the above points in mind, as the liquor bill for a morning wedding can obviously be kept fairly low.
Always remember that staff at the major liquor outlets are experienced in advising on quantities required - so don't hesitate to ask for their help! Some stores offer the facility of ‘sale and return’ and will refund you for unopened (and undamaged) bottles returned to their store after the function. This makes life a lot easier, but do remember they will only take bottles back if the labels are not damaged. With this in mind, try to avoid placing all your stocks of bottled beer or wine (or other bottles with labels) in a bath of ice to chill, as the labels will wash off and the unused bottles cannot then be returned to the store for a refund. It's also worth noting that certain liquor chains offer full bar services, which may include the hiring of barmen, free loan of glasses, ice, fridges, tablecloths, ice buckets, delivery, etc. - all of which could save you a lot of time.
When ordering your liquor, don’t forget to enquire about ice and coolers. Ask the liquor outlet if they will supply the wine already chilled, or what cooler facilities you can hire. One ‘hebcooler’ (25l bucket) is enough to chill drinks for 30.
Remember that many teetotallers (and designated drivers) also enjoy a sparkling drink, so it's a good idea to include in your order a few bottles of non-alcoholic sparkling juices.
‘Champagne’
Although (for convenience) we refer here to champagne, it should be remembered that in South Africa, the correct name for this drink is ‘sparkling wine’. (According to an agreement with France, we do not call our sparkling wines champagnes, as this name is confined to French wines.)
It is best to serve 'champagne' in flute-shaped glasses (rather than the saucer-shaped variety). It should be chilled in the fridge for a few hours, or for at least an hour in an ice bucket. A third of the bucket should contain cold water and it should then be topped up to just over half full with ice.
Incidentally, it is very easy to open a bottle of sparkling wine (although people tend to be nervous about it). First, untwist the wire that is around the cork. Once this has been removed, gradually loosen the cork by exerting pressure on it with your thumbs, while at the same time turning the bottle. (Remember not to point the bottle at anyone or at anything valuable!) Never shake an unopened bottle of 'champagne' and (it goes without saying), don’t try and open it with a bottle opener. When the cork has popped out, keep the bottle at the same angle initially, to allow any surplus to escape.
FAQ's (frequently asked questions) about liquor requirements
How many glasses in a bottle of ‘champagne’ or wine?
A
bottle of sparkling wine or any other wine holds 6 glasses of
125 ml each.
How do you accomodate different tastes in ‘champagne’?
Generally speaking, young adults and women tend to enjoy the semi-sweet
variety, so for an average order, the ration of semi-sweet to dry
should be around 4 to 1.
How do you split the ratio between red and white wines?
Refer to the party planner below - but in general, the ratio (guided
by the host) could be roughly as follows: 4 semi-sweet, 2 dry and
1 red.
How many glasses will I get out of a ‘happy box’?
Casks contain 5 litres of wine and with careful pouring, you should
be able to get as many as 40 glasses (125ml each) out of a box.
However, it is probably safer to work on 35 glasses per box.
How many glasses in a bottle of ‘spirits’?
Using an optic (tot measure), a bottle should yield 30 tots, but
as these are often hand-poured, it is safer
to base your estimate
on 25.
How many glasses in a bottle of liqueur?
You should be able to pour approximately 15 drinks from a 750ml
bottle. (The recognised measure for liqueurs is 50 ml.)
What is the ratio for Buck’s Fizz (champagne and orange juice)?
Usually 60% orange juice and 40% sparkling wine, depending on taste.
How much wine should I allow for a cheese-and-wine function?
Half a bottle of wine per person is usually recommended, depending
on the duration of the event.
Wine terminology and its meanings
Blanc de Blanc - a white wine made only from white grapes
Blanc de Noir - a light wine made from red grapes
Brut - very dry
Cabernet Sauvignon - full, heavy red wine
Cinsaut - light red wine
Demi-sec - half dry (usually more sweet than dry)
Dessert wine - very sweet fortified wine
Grand
cuvée - bottle-fermented
Late Harvest - sweet wine
Light - wines low in alcohol and body
Nouveau - a young, light red
Pinot Noir - fruity, lively red wine
Pinotage - full, fruity red wine
Premier Grand Cru - very dry white wine
Perlé - slightly effervescent wine
Rosé - pinkish wine made from red grapes
Shiraz - heavy, ‘smoky’ red wine
Spumante - spicy, sweet and fruity sparkling white wine
Stein - semi-sweet white wine
Vin doux - sweet wine
Vin sec- dry wine
Party Planner
Use this tried and trusted formula to help you calculate your liquor
requirements for functions large and small. Click here for details
