Cocktail Tools
Batch Cocktail Calculator
Turn a single-serve spec into a service batch. Enter the recipe once, set the number of servings and how much dilution you want built in, and get total batch volume, per-ingredient amounts in millilitres, ounces or litres, and the finished batch ABV.
Built for weddings, festivals, tap cocktails, bottle service and any bar running a busy list with limited hands.
Scale a spec into a batch
Enter the single-serve recipe once, choose how many servings you need, and get scaled quantities, bottle counts, a shopping list and cost per cocktail.
15–25% mimics stirring or shaking with ice; use 0% if you shake to order.
Total batch volume
15083 ml
Water to add
2514 ml
Cost per cocktail
$2.77
Ingredient cost only
Total batch cost
$277.50
$281.50 to buy full containers
Batch sheet
House Margarita
100 servings · 151 ml per pour · 20.1% ABV
| Ingredient | Per serving | Batch total | Containers | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blanco tequila | 2 oz | 5915 ml | 8 × 750ml | $205.04 |
| Triple sec | 0.75 oz | 2218 ml | 3 × 750ml | $35.49 |
| Lime juice | 1 oz | 2957 ml | 3 × 1L | $19.22 |
| Agave syrup | 0.5 oz | 1479 ml | 2 × 750ml | $17.74 |
| Water / dilution | 20% of volume | 2514 ml | — | $0.00 |
Servings
100
Total batch volume
15083 ml
Total batch cost
$277.50
Cost per cocktail
$2.77
Shopping list
- 8 × 750ml Blanco tequila (5915 ml needed)
- 3 × 750ml Triple sec (2218 ml needed)
- 3 × 1L Lime juice (2957 ml needed)
- 2 × 750ml Agave syrup (1479 ml needed)
Buying full containers costs $281.50; the batch itself uses $277.50 of product, so the rest stays on your shelf.
Saved recipes, costed menus and CSV/PDF exports are coming to free BarCalcs accounts. Nothing you do here needs a login.
Planning a Specialty Cocktail Service?
If you are preparing cocktails for events or a premium service, explore specialty cocktail equipment from Middleton Mixology.
Explore Middleton MixologyBarCalcs may earn a commission from qualifying affiliate referrals.
Batch Cocktail Equipment
Planning cocktails for a larger service or event? Explore barware and cocktail tools that can complement your preparation setup.
Explore VISKIDisclosure: BarCalcs may earn a commission from qualifying affiliate referrals.
Batching drinks? Don't overlook the tools.
The right mixing and measuring equipment can make large-format cocktail preparation faster and more consistent.
Explore Cocktail ToolsDisclosure: BarCalcs may earn a commission from qualifying affiliate referrals.
How this calculator works
Linear scaling
Built-in dilution
Batch ABV
Container sizing
Batching well in a real service
Label every container with the drink name, batch date, finished ABV and the pour size. Chill the batch fully before service — a room-temperature batch poured over ice dilutes twice and tastes thin.
Batch about 10% more than your forecast; running out of the signature drink at a wedding is worse than a small amount of waste. Container counts assume you buy whole bottles, so the shopping list total will always be a little higher than the product the batch actually consumes.
Once you have the volumes, the Cocktail Cost Calculator gives you the per-drink cost to quote from, the Menu Pricing Calculator turns that cost into a menu price, the Cocktail ABV Calculator confirms strength for a single serve, and the Event Bar Calculator sizes the whole bar for a wedding or party.
How to batch cocktails, step by step
1. Write the spec in ounces or millilitres for one drink. 2. Enter your serving count — 40 for a small party, 100 for a wedding cocktail hour, 500 for a festival shift. 3. Set dilution: 0% if you shake or stir to order, 20% for a stirred batch served over ice, 25% for shaken drinks poured straight from the batch. 4. Choose your container sizes and let the bottle planner tell you what to buy. 5. Print the batch sheet and tape it to the container.
For a batch margarita, the classic ratio is 2 oz blanco tequila, 0.75 oz triple sec, 1 oz fresh lime and 0.5 oz agave. At 100 servings that is roughly six litres of tequila, two litres of triple sec and three litres of lime — pressed the day of service, never the day before.
Frequently asked questions
- How do you batch a cocktail?
- Multiply each ingredient in the single-serve spec by the number of servings, add water to replace the dilution the drink would normally get from ice, then mix, chill and store. Serving from the batch means measuring the finished per-serving volume the calculator gives you.
- How much water should I add to a batched cocktail?
- Around 20% of the spirit volume for stirred drinks and 25% for shaken drinks approximates the meltwater they would pick up. Skip added water entirely if you will shake or stir the batch to order with fresh ice.
- Can I batch cocktails with citrus juice?
- Yes, but only for same-day service. Fresh citrus starts degrading within hours and is noticeably flat after about a day. Batch the spirit and sweetener portion in advance, then add juice close to service.
- How long do batched cocktails keep?
- Spirit-only batches such as a Manhattan or Negroni keep for weeks refrigerated and sealed. Anything with citrus is a same-day proposition; anything with dairy, egg or fresh produce should be treated as hours, not days.
- How much alcohol do I need for 100 cocktails?
- Multiply each spirit's per-drink pour by 100 and divide by the bottle size. A margarita with 2 oz tequila needs 200 oz — about 5,915 ml, or eight 750 ml bottles. Enter the spec above and the calculator returns exact bottle counts plus a shopping list for any serving count.
- How do I batch margaritas for a wedding?
- Batch the tequila, triple sec and agave in advance, keep the lime juice separate and add it the morning of service. Plan on two to three drinks per guest for the first two hours, then one per hour after that, and batch roughly 10% over your forecast.
- How do I know the ABV of my batch?
- The calculator sums the pure alcohol from every ingredient and divides by the finished volume including added water. Enter each ingredient's ABV — 0% for juices and syrups — and it returns the finished strength.