Wedding bar - what am I missing?

[Crolisd]

Our wedding will be in a barn and we are doing our own bar. So I need to stock it well to make sure everyone is catered for. Here is my list of the basics:

White wine
Red wine
Champagne
Lager
A craft ale
Gin (Gordon’s)
Rum (Havana club)
Vodka (Smirnoff)
Malibu
Cider
Fruit cider

Coke
Diet coke
Tonic
Lemonade
Sparkling water
Orange juice
Cranberry juice

Lots of ice and chopped lime/lemons

Would there be something on this list for you? What brand preference would you have for the lager/beer/cider? What other soft drinks would you have?

I agree with some PPs that there's too much choice. Are you going totally self catered? Can you provide basics and then say "bring your own" on the invite if people want something else? We provided fizz, red wine, white wine, tea, coffee and juices / cordials / water at our wedding, and then it was BYO for anything else. We actually had SO much wine leftover as everyone brought something! No one had an issue with it.

Disaronno and baileys would be my suggestions but maybe not popular enough

The most important thing is to overstock so you don't run out of anything

Skip the malibu and the fruit cider.

Needs either a bourbon, a whiskey, or a rye.

If you're doing proper mixed drinks, you'll also need vermouth (for martinis, Manhattans, etc.) and bitters.

If you're just doing drinks with mixers, then you're probably fine. I'd get a ginger soda, ideally ginger beer, to mix with the run or the bourbon.

For basic but decent alcohol, I'd get Bombay gin and Absolut vodka instead (relatively similar price points). If you can go up around £10/bottle, then you're in a different and better category of each. Havana Club is fine, I suppose, for white gin, though not my particular favorite.

@TheSeventeenth

I will go against the grain and say that you are offering too much choice. People will start demanding cocktails, or there will be a run on rum and coke and you can never budget for that.

"Go against the grain" Are you actually disagreeing with your own post? Having pointed out your incorrect use of the phrase, I do agree that the op is definitely giving too much choice. Red/white wine, beer, lager, gin, vodka, whisky will be sufficient.

Whisky and dry ginger.

We did something similar to this. We had lots left over. I would swap the mailbu for vodka if you're getting cranberry juice.

Lime cordial definitely.

Rose wine
Prosecco
Water
Cordial - Blackcurrant / Orange

Is there an option for hot drinks?
Kettle? Maybe?

You can buy disposable cups with tea and coffee already in.
I would personally do this if you could get a kettle etc

We did, red wine, white wine, bottled larger, jugs of pimms, champers for toast only, coke, lemonade and water. It was great, people delighted they did not have to pay. You do not need to give too much choice!!

Cider needs to be Thatcher's.

Other than that you have catered to a range of tastes and I would be happy with the choice.

Non fizzy soft drinks

@Wearywithteens

Bacardi not Havana Club

Have you tried them both and still say that? I'm incredulous.

Oh, 100% don't need to give this much choice, btw.

You'd be well placed to do wine, beer, and one specialty cocktail (whatever you like, and can be premade) and people will be thrilled. Maybe a sneaky bottle of whiskey under the table for a late nightcap.

Wow, thanks for all the suggestions!!
So I’ll change the gin to something like beefeater or tanquery, add a whisky, add a non alcoholic lager (I like the brewdog one), add some cordials and disaranno. The Malibu is a tradition among our group of friends which goes back to our uni days so it won’t go to waste!

We shall have a tea and coffee station too - our caterers are providing that. The bar will be manned by bar staff.

Pimms is a good idea but it’s in the early autumn so I’ll get it if it’s unusually sunny.

Normal plain water

I’d add soda - just so people can do white wine spritzers. Also one of those big kilner drinks dispensers and fill with water strawberry’s cucumber ice etc. Otherwise you’re pretty covered!

Half a case (it's only 6 bottles) of Château Lafite Rothchilds would be good...

... on my table.

I love Malibu - maybe add Baileys and Pimms if it's a summer wedding.

@Cannes12

A few years ago, if you bought alcohol from majestic, they would buy back the alcohol you didn't drink. Not sure if its still a thing? I also agree with a rose and an alcohol free beer.

We found it better value to over-stock using Lidl/Aldi for the bar (for beer and spirits) than go with somewhere like Majestic even with the buy back. For wine you can get good deals from Waitrose/M&S. If you don't buy anything you wouldn't drink yourself then buy-back doesn't become an issue.

Top tip - after the first glass no one can taste the difference.
Second tip - friends don't judge what's being served at a free bar.

Red wine, white wine. Don't bother with rose unless you know it's something the people you're inviting will drink. Have two of each. A really nice one for the start of the bar, and a decent one that will replace it when it runs out.

Champagne, prosecco. As above, champagne for toasts and the start of the night, switching to prosecco as it runs out.

Whisky. Something decent for sipping (e.g. Talisker Storm) and something blended for mixing.

Check your catering dietary requirements list, e.g. if someone's requesting a gluten-free meal they might appreciate gluten-free beer, or if they're vegan they might appreciate a vegan wine.

Definitely need a whiskey (I would say irish, but I would) and some ginger ale. I would also suggest soda water as another mixer.

Tanqeray - now you’re talking - better again Gunpowder or Dingle! ( I’m a gin drinker btw 😂)

Doginatent - DP has just referred to you as a very sensible human being. I believe your thinking aligns quite closely with his over whisky and the philosophy of free booze from friends.