Mixer and garnish calculator
Enter how many liquor drinks you will serve and how many of them come with a mixer to see how many liters of soda, tonic or juice, and how many limes and lemons, to buy. Every figure is rounded up, and you can change any assumption to fit your bar.
What to buy
100 liquor drinks, 80% mixed
- Mixed drinks
- 80 mixed drinks 80% of 100 liquor drinks
- Mixers
- 10 L soda, tonic or juice, 8 mixed drinks a liter
- Limes
- 10 limes cut into wedges, 8 drinks each
- Lemons
- 10 lemons cut into slices, 8 drinks each
These are planning estimates, rounded up. Buy a mix of mixers so guests have a choice, and keep water and soft drinks on the bar. Read our disclaimer.
Assumptions
The calculator uses these common rules of thumb. Change the inputs above to fit your guests.
| Mixers | 8 mixed drinks per liter of soda, tonic, juice or other mixer |
|---|---|
| Garnish | one lime and one lemon for every 8 mixed drinks, cut into wedges and slices |
| Mixed drinks | the share of liquor drinks served with a mixer; the rest are neat or on the rocks |
| Buffer | +10% on every quantity when switched on |
| Rounding | every quantity is rounded up |
How we calculate
- Mixed drinks. Liquor drinks × the share served with a mixer, plus 10% if you switch on the buffer, rounded up.
- Mixers. Mixed drinks ÷ 8 drinks per liter, rounded up to whole liters.
- Garnish. Mixed drinks ÷ 8 gives the limes, and the same number of lemons, rounded up.
Worked example: 100 liquor drinks, 80% mixed
With the default inputs (100 liquor drinks, 80% of them served with a mixer, the rest neat or on the rocks):
- 100 liquor drinks × 80% = 80 mixed drinks.
- 80 ÷ 8 mixed drinks a liter = 10 L of mixer.
- 80 ÷ 8 drinks a lime = 10 limes, and the same for 10 lemons.
Questions
Where do I get the number of liquor drinks?
The wedding drinks calculator and the party drinks calculator show how many liquor bottles you need, and each 750 ml bottle pours about 16 drinks. Multiply the bottles by the drinks per bottle to get the number to enter here.
How much mixer goes in a drink?
The calculator assumes 8 mixed drinks from a liter of soda, tonic or juice, which is about 125 ml (a little over 4 oz) in each glass. Tall drinks with more mixer in the glass use more, so switch on the 10% buffer if your drinks are generous.
What share of drinks should be mixed?
At a bar with cocktails, nearly every liquor drink has a mixer, so use 90 to 100%. For a bar where guests also drink spirits neat or on the rocks, 80% is a sensible start. Lower it if your guests prefer straight pours.
Should I buy one kind of mixer or several?
Several. Split the total across soda water, tonic, a cola, a juice or two, and ginger beer or ginger ale, depending on the drinks you serve. Keep water and other alcohol-free drinks on the bar as well.
How many limes and lemons does a bar need?
Allow one lime and one lemon for every 8 mixed drinks, cut into wedges and slices. Buy a few extra, because some fruit is bruised or small, and cut it just before the party so it stays fresh.