Provided by SAM’S CLUB Source™
Be Prepared for Any Type of Entertaining During the Holidays
Since most spirit beverages have a multi-year shelf life, you can conveniently build the collection outlined below over time.
Liquor
You should have one bottle of each of the following and more of your favorites.
- Grey Goose® Vodka
- Beefeater’s® or Tanqueray® Gin
- Sauza® Tequila
- Bacardi® Rum (Light)
- Appleton Estate® Rum (Dark)
- Jack Daniel’s® Bourbon
- Johnny Walker® Red Scotch
- Glenlivet®, Single Malt Scotch
Beer
Keep a variety of regular, light, imports and domestics on-hand so you’re sure to satisfy every taste.
- Light
- Domestic Regular
- Imported (Mexico, Germany or Belgium)
- Microbrews (ex. Fat Tire®)
Wine
It’s smart to have at least two styles of red and white wine behind the bar when friends drop by. You may want to do a wine tasting party with your friends to determine your favorites; then you’ll know what to keep lots of on hand. The wines below, however, make for a good starting point.
- Yellowtail® Chardonnay
- Pinot Grigio
- Semi-dry Riesling (ex. Falkenberg®)
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Yellowtail® Shiraz
- Pinot Noir
Liqueurs
As key ingredients in a lot of trendy cocktails, like Chocolate Martinis and Cosmopolitans, these are essentials for a well-stocked bar. Liqueurs are also delicious on their own drizzled over fresh fruit or ice cream for a super-easy dessert.
- Grand Marnier®
- Amaretto
- Kahlúa®
- Crème de Cacao
- Triple Sec
- Framboise®
- Frangelico®
Fortified Wines and Other Basics
You can never go wrong with a god stock of these flavorful bar essentials.
- Remy Martin® Cognac
- Graham’s® or Fonseca® Port
- Dry Vermouth
- Sweet Vermouth
Sparklers
Nothing can take the place of a good sparkler for a celebratory toast or as a complement to a creamy dessert. True Champagne is only from the Champagne region of France, but there are excellent sparkling wines from many other parts of the world. Just remember not to chill sparkling wine until you’re planning to serve it.
- French Champagne
- Prosecco (from Italy)
- Cava (from Spain)
- Domaine Chandon® Sparkling Wine (from the U.S.)
Mixers
Most drinks require some sort of mixer to be combined with the base beverage, so no bar is complete without a variety to choose from.
- Mineral Water
- Club Soda
- Cola
- Diet Cola
- Ginger Ale
- Tonic
- Orange Juice
- Grapefruit Juice
- Cranberry Juice
- Tomato Juice
- Pineapple Juice
Garnishes and Flavors
Whether you’re adding a twist of flavor, a little extra texture or just a festive dash of color, you’ll need some key ingredients to add that professional-style touch.
- Oranges, Lemons, Limes
- Large Green Olives
- Maraschino Cherries
- Bitters
- Tabasco® Sauce
- Worcestershire Sauce
Equipment
Stocking your bar isn’t just about the right selection of liquid refreshments. The basic hardware will make serving simpler while adding authenticity.
- Blender
- Ice Bucket
- Ice Tongs
- Cocktail Shaker
- Jigger Measure
- Corkscrew
- Bottle Opener
- Champagne Stopper
- Can Opener
The Essentials
Make the right impression every time with these must-haves.
- Glasses:
- For a casual party, an all-purpose, 9- to11-ounce, stemmed glass is the most practical choice for serving nearly every type of drink
- Champagne, however, must always be served in a straight-sided "flute" glass
- Cocktail napkins (figure 4 per person at a party)
Quantities For Entertaining
Having the right stock in your home bar is great — but only if you have enough of it. Use this guide to calculate how much of each supply you’ll need to keep your guests well-supplied all night long.
- 750ml bottle of red or white wine = 4–6 glasses
- 750ml of liquor = 30–32 shots or jiggers (note: many cocktails contain 2 to 3 shots)
- 1 case of wine = 48–72 glasses
- Buy 1 bottle of soda and mix for every 8 guests
- Buy 2 bottles of mineral water for every 8 guests
- Buy 1 pound of ice per person
- For a cocktail party, calculate that guests will have 2 to 3 glasses of wine or 2 to 3 cocktails
- For wine served with a formal meal, plan for a 1/2 of a bottle per person
This list is for information purposes only. Not all items are available in-Club.
