How many drinks per person at a party?

A common rule of thumb is 2 drinks in the first hour and 1 per hour after. For a 3-hour party: ~4 drinks per guest. Adjust for your crowd.

How many cocktails does a 750ml bottle make?

A 750ml bottle holds approximately 25.36 oz. A standard cocktail uses 1.5-2 oz of spirit, so expect 12-17 cocktails per bottle depending on the recipe.

How much does a party batch typically cost?

Entirely depends on the spirit. Budget spirits run $15-25/bottle; premium run $40-80. Use the BatchPour bottle count and multiply by your per-bottle cost.

$Clay row of liquor bottles beside a pocket calculator$

How much alcohol for a party (bottle math)

Buying too little is embarrassing. Buying too much is expensive. Here is the math you need.

The basic formula

Start with this calculation:

Drinks needed = guests × hours × drinks per hour
Spirit oz needed = drinks needed × oz per drink
Bottles needed = spirit oz ÷ 25.36 (oz per 750ml bottle), rounded up

Example: 20 guests, 3-hour party, 1.3 drinks/hour (roughly), 2 oz spirit per drink: 20 × 3 × 1.3 = 78 drinks × 2 oz = 156 oz ÷ 25.36 = 6.2 bottles → buy 7.

Drinks-per-hour by event type

Cocktail hour / aperitivo: 1.5-2 drinks/hour
Dinner party: 1-1.5 drinks/hour (food slows consumption)
Late-night party / dancing: 1.5-2+ drinks/hour
Brunch (Mimosas): 2-3 drinks/2-hour brunch

Using the batch calculator

The BatchPour batch calculator does all of this for you. Enter your recipe, the number of servings, and choose the method — it outputs the exact ounces and bottle count for each ingredient. Use the printable shopping list to take to the store.

Buffer rule

Always buy one bottle more than the calculation suggests. Spillage, generous pours, late arrivals, and the cook who needs a sip while prepping all add up. A sealed bottle is returnable at most stores; running out is not recoverable.