Servings for the money
| Option | Servings | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 12 pack of beer | 12 | One can is one drink; nothing else needed |
| 750 mL wine | 5 glasses | No prep, but needs glassware |
| 750 mL spirit | About 16 mixed drinks | Needs mixers, ice and someone pouring |
Spirits stretch furthest, and cost you effort
A single bottle of Absolut Vodka pours more drinks than a 12 pack, which is why spirits look like the obvious value choice on paper.
What the table does not show is that spirits need mixers, ice, glasses and someone willing to make drinks. If nobody is playing bartender, a bottle of vodka on a counter produces heavy pours and a short evening.
Beer is the lowest-effort option
Beer needs nothing but cold. Guests serve themselves, the pacing is self-regulating because each can is one measured drink, and nothing goes to waste since unopened cans keep.
The downsides are fridge space and weight. A case of Molson Canadian takes up a shelf you may not have, and it is the option most likely to leave you with a corner of the kitchen full of empties.
Wine suits food and conversation
If people are sitting down, wine fits. It pours quickly, it pairs with anything on a table, and two bottles handle a group of eight for the first hour.
Gato Negro Cabernet Sauvignon at $60 is a sensible table red. Where wine falls down is a standing party of twenty — you go through bottles faster than you can open them, and everyone needs a glass.
The split that works for most parties
A starting order for twelve people
Molson Canadian
Choose your pack size
$60.00
In stock
Labatt Blue
Choose your pack size
$60.00
In stock
Absolut Vodka
Choose your pack size
$80.00
In stock
BIG IT UP +$20
Upgrade to 1.14 L — $100.00
$60.00
In stock
Work it out for your actual headcount
Rules of thumb break down at the edges — a group of six behaves nothing like a group of thirty. The party alcohol calculator applies the split above to your guest count and duration using bottles we stock, so the output is an order rather than an estimate.
Whichever way you split it, order before the evening starts. Availability and delivery windows depend on your delivery area, so check your city page for what applies where you are.
Common questions
What is the cheapest way to cover a large party?
Spirits and mixers give the most servings per dollar, but they need someone pouring. Beer costs a little more per serving and asks nothing of you.
How much wine do I need for a dinner of eight?
Three to four bottles for a meal, at roughly half a bottle per drinking guest. Split it between red and white rather than committing to one.
Should I buy several spirits or one?
One, done well, with proper mixers. Three half-used bottles and no soda water is the most common way a house-party bar disappoints.
