Restaurant Bar Liquor List- How To Stock A Restaurant Bar

What Is A Restaurant Bar Liquor List?

When one walks into a bar, the first thing one asks for - or is given - is the bar restaurant liquor list to take their pick from. Which drinks are available in a bar is important as that is what attracts the customers to a particular bar; the vibe, the decor, and the music are secondary. A restaurant bar liquor list is the list of drinks - alcoholic and non-alcoholic - that are available in the restaurant and/or bar that the customers get to choose from.

Importance Of Variety In Your Restaurant Bar Liquor List

A bar with not just a good Liquor Inventory in quantity, but also quality, is what makes it popular with its patrons. Each person has a different taste when it comes to drinks, and catering to myriad tastes - under one roof - is what helps with finding success for the establishment. Keeping the stock in the bar always filled with all the must-haves is crucial to not fall short, on a busy evening especially.

Every restaurant owner knows the challenge of creating a successful bar

Zip Bartender will help you select the right liquors, mixers, glassware, and garnishes

Please enter your full name.

Please enter valid email address!

Learn More

How To Stock For A Good Restaurant Bar Liquor List?

Each establishment, depending on what they're offering, will have a different system in place when it comes to choosing the drinks they will be selling. This will make it easier to make the list of liquors, liqueurs, mixers, etc required. To begin stocking the bar, you need to understand the liquors first. Then once that is done, select the ones you want from the multiple options available in the market and then place the orders. You need to ensure you have ample space for your stock at the bar as also the storeroom where you will keep the remaining stock. Ensure you meet the temperature requirements for the different types of liquors.

Restaurant Bar Liquor List- Terms To Understand

Before we start on the different liquor types and how to stock them, understanding these very basic terms will keep you in good stead. Any professional bartender or experienced bar owner or manager as also the liquor suppliers will use these, and understanding them will aid you in starting strong.

Well-

The well liquor is that which is popular for the liquor itself- and not always for the brand. These will be the generic liquors that don't come at Much Cost can be bought at budget deals. An example of this would be when a drink order states just gin tonic and not any particular brand of gin.

Finding the right restaurant bar liquor list can be a challenge

Zip Bartender will give you recommendations based on your menu selections

Please enter your full name.

Please enter valid email address!

Learn More

Call-

These liquors are those that get named by brand in a drink order. These contain the brands that are more popular and aren't as expensive. But they could come at a cost higher than the well liquors with the brand value added to the final amount. An example of this type in a drink order would be 'Bombay Sapphire and tonic water'.

Premium-

These are the top shelf liquors. It means the ones that are the costliest and are opted for the discerning customer ready to pay a higher price. These liquor bottles can be usually seen on the back bar or displayed in cases to add to the curiosity and interest of the customers. These can be the top brands in scotches, vodkas, bourbons, etc.

Restaurant Bar Liquor List- Understanding The Liquor

Before you go decide and order the liquors, understand each type and its subtypes to make an educated choice. This will help you in the long run. There are some basic spirits that you need to keep well stocked. Here's a list of the most common spirits you need to have in your bar.

Vodka-

This is amongst the common spirits preferred by many, either as just shots or with aerated drinks or in a cocktail. There are various flavors besides regular vodka that are available. Make sure to keep citrus-flavored vodka in your bar besides regular vodka, as that is amongst the most preferred flavors. When stocking your vodka, you can keep brands like Ciroc, Grey Goose, Chopin, or Belvedere, amongst others in the super-premium options. For premium vodka brands, you can stock Smirnoff, Absolut, Finlandia, Vox, Imperia, Skyy, Ultimat, or such brands. Absolut, Smirnoff, Skyy, and Three Olives have different flavors available in them.

Whiskey-

Another much-popular spirit is whiskey. It has four subtypes with it- whiskey bourbon, rye whiskey, scotch, and Irish whiskey. Each has different ingredients and compositions as also preparation techniques that set each apart from the others. These are traditionally - according to the makers - to be drunk as is. Ice, water, soda, tonic water, sparkling water, etc are added by drinkers as per their choice. For super-premium Scotch, opt for The Famous Grouse, Chivas, or the 12-year-old reserve of Dewar's, Macallan, or Highland Park. For premium Scotch brands, you can pick from Ballantine, Johnnie Walker Red. or Cutty Sark amongst others. In premium rye whiskey, take a pick from Rittenhouse, Wild Turkey Rye, or Jim Beam Rye. In bourbons, you get a choice from many brands like Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve, Basil Hayden, or Bulleit amongst others. In bourbon, you get other sub subtypes too like a single barrel (Elijah Craig 18-year-old Single Barrel Bourbon, Blanton's Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon, etc), specialty bourbons (Booker's Small Batch, Basil Hayden's Small Batch, Knob Creek, etc). Single malt scotches can be chosen from Glenrothes 1989/1992, Glenfiddich 12-year-old, Bowmore 17-year-old, Glenmorangie 10-year-old, Balvenie Doublewood, Isle of Jura 10-year-old, etc. Other scotch brands to choose from include Jack Daniel's, Vat 69, Crown Royal, Carstairs, Wilson, etc. If you're looking for well offerings in scotch, choose from McAndrews, Black Prince, Legacy, etc. For Bourbon, in well options, pick from Bellows, Barton Very Old, Early Times, etc.

Gin-

A spirit that is mostly drunk with mixers and cocktails, gin is a popular choice for many. It is usually had with tonic water with the popular name gin & tonic. Almost every bar will have this drink. If you speak of cocktails, then the drink made famous by "007" - Martini (shaken, not stirred!) - has gin in it! For well options in gin, choose from Gordon's, Barton, Seagram's, etc. For premium options, choose from Hendricks, Beefeater, Damrak, etc. In super-premium gins, take a pick from Hendrick's, Tanqueray 10, Bombay Sapphire, etc.

Tequila-

This spirit comes from Mexico and is made from the agave plant. It is a popular spirit to be drunk as shots with lemon lime and salt. In super-premium brands of tequila, take a pick from Don Julio Real, Riazul Reposado, Grand Patron Premium, etc. If looking for premium brands, choose from Herradura, Avion, Milagro, Jose Cuervo 1800, etc. If looking for well options, pick from Baja, Montezuma, or Cabrito. If opting for flavored tequilas, the brands you can pick from are Margaritaville which has many flavors, Hornitos Lime Shot, Agave Loco, etc.

Rum-

Rum is a spirit made from distilled molasses or sugarcane. There are four subtypes of rum which include white rum, spiced rum, and dark rum - medium-bodied and full-bodied. White rums have clear color and are the least flavourful amongst the four subtypes. Spiced rums are those that have added flavors of spices like pepper, cinnamon, cloves, anise, etc. The dark rums that are medium-bodied have a golden color due to aging or added dye from caramel. Dark rums that are full-bodied are darkest in color amongst the four, and the color is predominantly because of being well-aged in barrels. Premium white rum brands are Bacardi Gold, Mount Gay Eclipse, Ocumare, etc. Premium dark rum brands include Gosling's Black Seal, Pyrat, Angostura 1824, etc. Spiced rum brands include Whaler's, Captain Morgan, etc. You also get flavored rum, and the brands for it include Razz, Malibu, Bacardi, Mount Gay, etc. Brand options in well rums are Bellows, Castillo, El Dorado, etc.

Beer-

Now this alcoholic drink must be the most popular. It is, in very basic terms, a carbonated, alcoholic grain-derived juice... It has four Main Content - water, cereal grains, hops, and yeast. It comes in bottles or cans or is served through taps in the bar. The commonly used subtypes of beer are pale and dark lagers, ales like India Pale Ale and English Bitter Ale, stout or porter, Pilsner, etc. Draft or draught beer is more popular than the canned or bottled versions. For the uninitiated, a beer served from a keg or a cask is called draught or draft beer. If the same is served from a pressurized keg, it is also known as keg beer. The casks or kegs are attached to taps in the bar from where the beer is served. Keeping different subtypes of beers available on tap has become a must over the years. Bottled or canned beers can serve as a support to the tap system or as the budget option. Some of the beer brands popular with customers are Budweiser, Heineken, Miller Lite, Busch, Coors, etc.

Wines-

Again, this particular drink is also very popular. You get wines in various subtypes like red, white, rose, dessert, or sweet, and the fifth subtype is sparkling wine. Champagne is a type of sparkling wine. They pair well with different food items and are more popular at restaurants that also have a bar. The brands one can choose from are Barefoot wines - which was the top-selling table-wine brand in the United States in 2021, by far, with over 664 million U.S. dollars in sales -, Franzia Box, Sutter Home, Josh Cellars and Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi amongst others.

Liqueurs-

There are many types of liqueurs that are made from different types of ingredients. Vermouth amongst them is one of the popular liqueurs. Vermouth comes in two subtypes- dry and sweet vermouth. The sweet version is used more than the dry option. Both the vermouths have options to choose from the same brands- Noilly Pratt, Martini & Rossi, and Pune e Mes. Other liqueurs include herb-based spirits, like Chartreuse or Campari, orange-based liqueur, like Cointreau or Triple Sec, or sweet liqueurs, like creme de cacao or Kahlua. There are many more to choose from but you need to figure your market, customers and their needs to stock up on liquors and liqueurs beyond the usuals. Some liqueur brands include Grand Marnier, Bailey's, etc.

Restaurant Bar Liquor List- Liquor Selection

Once you have an idea of which types of liquors and liqueurs you're going to stock, think about how many bottles or kegs of each you will be keeping at your establishment. Deciding upon a basic range - minimum and maximum number - can help you take inventory easily and order for more when required. This makes Bar Management much easier. You can keep these numbers in mind when planning your bar liquor inventory. For the well, keep 1 vodka in the bar and 12 in the storeroom. Similarly, for the well, choose 1 gin, 1 tequila, and 1 rum brand in front and 6 of each in the storeroom; 1 scotch in front, and 2 in the storeroom, 2 whiskeys in front, and 1 of each in the storeroom. For premium or super-premium brands, follow this mantra- 2 vodka bottles at the front, and 6 each at the back. For premium rum and scotch, keep 2 bottles at the bar and 3 of each in the storeroom. For tequila premium and super-premium brands, keep 3 at the bar, and 3 in the storeroom. For beers, you can have the taps ready with the kegs for the bar and keep a keg or two of the ones that are more popular in the storeroom as required. The bottled and canned beers can be kept as per demand. Other liquors and liqueurs you can keep as per demand.

Restaurant Bar Liquor List- Ordering The Liquor

Before placing the order, make sure your bar and storeroom are ready and have ample space for all that you will be ordering. Then make the list of alcohol needed in a spreadsheet. Or you can use an inventory app like ZipBartender and note down all the liquor you need in it. You can then look at the available suppliers for those spirits through the database available on the app, or research personally, the old fashioned way! Contact the ones that appeal to you, and are well known for being professional and reliable, and work out a deal that works best with you with respect to the cost, delivery time and frequency, etc. That done, place your first order, and get ready to open shop.

Restaurant Bar Liquor List- Beyond Liquors

When doing inventory for your bar, you need to ensure you get all you need to have an operational bar - beyond the liquors too! You need glassware to begin with to serve your drinks. You need mixers for the mixed drink you want to offer. You also need condiments and garnishes to make those mixed drinks and even your regular shots look better. Here's what you need to consider keeping your bar equipped with.

Glasses-

Each liquor or mixed drink has a specific glass allocated for it. While it isn't written in stone, keeping different glassware handy ensures you serve the right liquor in the right glass. Here are some you need to consider having- beer mugs, shot glasses, wine glasses, highball glasses, champagne flutes, whiskey sour glass, martini glasses, brandy snifter, beer pilsner glasses, etc. There are more types, but keep those if you're stocking the bars with the relevant liquors.

Mixers-

These can range from the common to the exotic, and there is no limit to what liquid can be used as a mixer. It depends on the bar type and the bartender. Keeping in mind the drinks the bar offers, you need to ensure you have the mixers required for each of the drinks in hand. Here are some of the most common ones- Carbonated drinks, club soda, tonic water, lime juice, ginger ale, tomato juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, coconut cream, etc.

Condiments-

The condiments for drinks are the ingredients that add to the flavour profile of the drink as also the appearance. They can include simple syrup, granulated sugar, bitters, red chilli powder, salt, light cream, cinnamon sticks, tobasco sauce, ground pepper, Worcestershire sauce, whipping cream, etc.

Garnishes-

These are the ingredients you keep in hand to "decorate" i.e. add to the appearance of the drink. It can add to the appeal of the drink making it stand out from similar concoctions available elsewhere. These might include- slices and peels of oranges, lemons and lime, olives, cherries, strawberries, bananas, mint, pineapple, cucumber, apple, etc.