FAQ
Discover how Bobo cocktails on tap work, their benefits, and how they enhance your bar service. Get answers to all your questions about pre-mixed cocktails, storage, and serving efficiency
Short answer: No, as long as the keg is unopened there is no need to keep it cool. Once it is connected to the tap, the cooling system will keep it cool and closed off until the next cocktail needs to be served.
Planning the right amount of beverages for your party is crucial to ensure your guests have a great time. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you determine the perfect quantity of cocktails, beer, and wine for a 4-hour event with 100 guests.
General Beverage Planning Guidelines
- Average Consumption: On average, guests will consume about one drink per hour. For a 4-hour party, this translates to four drinks per guest.
- Drink Variety: It’s essential to offer a mix of beverages to cater to different preferences, typically including beer, wine, and cocktails.
Breakdown of Drinks for 100 Guests
Total Drinks Needed:
- 4 drinks per guest × 100 guests = 400 drinks
Recommended Distribution:
- 40% Beer: 160 beers
- 36% Wine: 144 glasses of wine
- 24% Cocktails: 96 cocktails
Detailed Beverage Quantities
Beer
- 160 beers: Assuming each beer is a standard 12-ounce bottle or can.
- Pro Tip: Consider offering a mix of popular lagers and ales to satisfy various tastes.
Wine
- 144 glasses of wine: With each bottle of wine typically serving about 5 glasses, you’ll need approximately 29 bottles.
- Red Wine: 15 bottles
- White Wine: 14 bottles
- Pro Tip: Offer a balanced selection of red and white wines, and consider adding some rosé or sparkling wine for variety.
Cocktails
- 96 cocktails: The quantity of liquor needed depends on the type of cocktail. Here are some examples:
- Standard Cocktails (e.g., margaritas, martinis): Assume 1.5 ounces of liquor per drink.
- Keg calculation: For 96 cocktails, you will need less than a keg.
Additional Considerations
- Garnishes: garnishes (lemons, limes, olives).
- Ice: A general rule is one pound of ice per person, so plan for at least 100 pounds of ice.
- Glassware: Have enough glassware for each type of drink, including wine glasses, beer glasses, and cocktail glasses.
- Non-Alcoholic Options: Don’t forget to offer water, soda, and non-alcoholic beverages for designated drivers and non-drinkers.
Conclusion
For a successful 4-hour party with 100 guests, you’ll need approximately 400 drinks: 160 beers, 144 glasses of wine, and 96 cocktails. By offering a variety of beverages and ensuring you have the right quantities, you’ll create a memorable and enjoyable experience for all your guests.
At BoBo Cocktails we provide you with easy handling 20L. kegs, they are space efficient, light and recyclable.
Cocktails on tap are the fastest way to serve a cocktail, your customer can get a cocktail in the hand within 12 seconds, to tap a cocktail takes only 5 seconds. The best part is that anyone can do it, there is no special skill required.
The amount of cocktails which can be served per keg depends if a cocktail is served with ice and/or the percentage of alcohol, these are average numbers, there are many flavours which serve over 200 cocktails per keg:
- Total number of cocktails = 20,000 ml / 150 ml per serving
- Total number of cocktails = 133.33
- Unopened Kegs: When stored properly, unopened kegs of pre-mixed cocktails can last up to a year. The sealed environment prevents oxidation and contamination, maintaining the cocktail’s freshness and quality.
- Opened Kegs: Once a keg is tapped and opened, it can stay fresh for up to six months.
Benefits of Cocktails on Tap
- Consistency: Each pour tastes the same, ensuring customer satisfaction.
- Speed: Bartenders can serve drinks faster, especially during busy times, improving service efficiency.
- Cost-Effective: Reduces waste and labor costs associated with individual cocktail preparation.
- Scalability: Ideal for high-volume venues like bars, restaurants, and events where quick service is essential.
- Freshness: Gas (especially nitrogen) helps keep the cocktail fresh for a longer period compared to bottled mixes.
Process of Serving Cocktails on Tap
- Preparation: The cocktail is mixed in large quantities and placed into the keg. This can be done in-house or by specialized companies that provide ready-to-serve kegs.
- Carbonation (if needed): For carbonated cocktails, CO2 is infused into the drink in the keg, similar to how soda is carbonated.
- Pressurization: The gas cylinder is connected to the keg, and the pressure is adjusted to ensure a steady flow without too much foam or sputtering.
- Dispensing: The bartender pulls the tap handle to pour the pre-mixed cocktail into a glass, just like pouring draft beer. The system ensures each pour is consistent in taste and quality.
Cocktails on tap work by using a draft system similar to those used for dispensing beer. This system ensures consistent quality, speed of service, and ease of handling. Here’s a breakdown of how cocktails on tap typically work:
Components of a Cocktail on Tap System
- Keg: Cocktails are pre-mixed in large batches and stored in kegs. These kegs can be made of stainless steel or disposable plastic.
- Gas Supply: A gas cylinder (usually CO2 or nitrogen) is used to pressurize the keg, pushing the cocktail through the lines. CO2 is commonly used for carbonated cocktails, while nitrogen is used for non-carbonated cocktails to prevent oxidation and maintain freshness.
- Draft Lines: Tubing that carries the cocktail from the keg to the tap. These lines need to be cleaned regularly to maintain hygiene and taste.
- Tap: The dispensing handle that bartenders use to pour the cocktail into a glass. There are different types of taps for different types of drinks, including specialized taps for high-sugar or high-alcohol cocktails.
