Best Mixers for Cocktails (Value for $$$ V Quality) for Wedding Reception

Lbigchungus on 01/11/2021 - 13:04
Last edited 01/11/2021 - 13:30 by 1 other user

Hi all,

I am getting married shortly and have been tasked with sorting all the alcohol out (and providing my parents with a quote, as they offered to pay).

Ironically, this is my first wedding and I have no experience whatsoever with the expectations of one, despite through the lense of others experiences.

I was wondering if I could get your opinions on a few things, as I am trying to see what varieties of alcoholic beverages would be deemed acceptable and tasty!

My mother has placed an emphasis upon getting things on sale so I will be keeping my eye out on catalogues, but the important things I should disclose are:

  • We have paid for a package that includes 5hrs of table service, food and wine (but the varieties of wine have questionable results on vivino, so I will be looking at alternatives to keep the older/fussier folk happy but that is pretty much sorted already).

  • I am allowed to BYO beer/cider/spirits(not premixed) to be served … as the venue doesn't have beer/cider in the package … so I have limited it down to 2 full strengths, a mid strength, an apple cider and spirits (probably vodka, white rum, as this would be left overs from our cocktail van which we have paid to serve cocktails after the ceremony … not very ozbargainy I know…) feedback on types of beer would be appreciated also lol.

  • The cocktail van, we have picked three types of cocktails - Moscow Mule, Mojito and Aperol Spritz (I only got to pick one … the aperol … thought the mule and mojito were too similar but that isn't my call lol). The van has provided us with a shopping list as we need to provide the alcohol and mixers … the van provides labor and garnish/ice etc. The reason I posted comes down to this, upon doing research today I found a bootleg aperol and was curious as to if a cheaper spirit is worthwhile over a name brand … I don't really want the cocktails tasting like crap but also don't want it to cost the earth. Similarly, is there much of a difference between mixers and is it worth it to splurge if they are on sale?

The Aperol for Example:
https://www.firstchoiceliquor.com.au/spirits/vero-aperitivo-…
https://www.firstchoiceliquor.com.au/spirits/aperol-1lt_4242…

I hope I can get a bit of a perspective from this amazing community about what ways I can attack this and what options I have.
Thanks for the help and opinions!
BigChungus

84 guests - 3 hours

Ingredients Quantity Shopping List

Shopping List
Vodka 2.5L
Ginger Beer 9L
Aperol 4.5L
Prosecco 4.5L
Soda 12L
White Rum 2.5L

Moscow Mule Vodka (30ml) 75 2.5 L Bride and Groom
Lime Juice (20ml) 1.5 L Cocktail Camper
Ginger Beer (120ml) 9 L Bride and Groom
Ice Cocktail Camper
Lime Garnish Cocktail Camper

Aperol Aperol (60ml) 75 4.5 L Bride and Groom
60ml Prosecco 4.5 L Bride and Groom
30ml Soda 2.25 L Bride and Groom
orange slice Cocktail Camper
ice Cocktail Camper

Mojito White Rum (30ml) 75 2.5 L Bride and Groom
Mint Leaves Cocktail Camper
Lime (10ml) 750ML Cocktail Camper
Caster Sugar ( 2 Tbs) Cocktail Camper
Soda Water (125ml) 9.38 L Bride and Groom
Lime Garnish Cocktail Camper
Extra fruit Cocktail Camper
Ice Cocktail Camper

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • hmac on 01/11/2021 - 13:27
    +2

    can i come?

    • bigchungus on 01/11/2021 - 15:04

      if you give me good advice maybe :P

  • Soluble on 01/11/2021 - 13:39
    +2

    Mule and Mojito are quite different. So that's all good.

    Your cheap aperol is wine based so avoids the spirit excise. And can be very hit an miss to how well they imitate the real thing. I'd steer clear.

    Your vodka isn't gonna matter so just get the cheapest 'real' vodka you can find. Some people do cheap out and get the wine based style but it's ass.

    • bigchungus on 01/11/2021 - 15:00

      I appreciate this! I will 110% steer clear from the faux aperol for sure! Yeah I will go for a cheap 'real' vodka, maybe something that is lower to middle - above vodka imitations and smirnoff (my fiance cant stand smirnoff lol) - maybe will do a red square or vodka o … possibly even absolut if I can get it on sale! Yeah I just don't really want to be too cheap, but also don't want any unnecessary expenses! Thanks Soluble!

  • DannyC on 01/11/2021 - 14:14
    +3

    I preferably use only fresh lime juice… always! Though for Client events for 100+ I don't have time to squeeze litres and litres of the stuff so I usually use Eastcoast fresh lime juice. Avoid that rubbish in those green bottles from Coles/Woolies that cost like $1… nasty and will spoil your drink.

    Complete the look of the cocktails with coloured paper straws from Big W or Chef's Hat/Cedar.

    Mixers:
    Schweppes is good for soda water or home brand is fine from Coles/Woolies. Get soda water as it is usually more spritzy than Mineral water.
    Bundaberg Ginger beer or Fever tree Ginger beer (if you feel like splurging a bit)
    Get coke and/or coke zero if people want rum and cokes etc
    Tonic water for G&T's
    Lemonade
    Angostura bitters & lime cordial for LLB's :-)

    Spirits:
    Get a few bottles of a decent gin and some sort of dark spirit like a scotch or bourbon

    Aperol is cheap anyways at $25 per bottle so don't really need to get a bootleg version of it…. get the original mate.

    Rum: Bacardi is good for mojitos which I use and good value.

    Vodka: Smirnoff was the original vodka that started the drink the Moscow mule so go with it for value. It does the job without being totally nasty. Or go Absolut vodka.

    Prosecco: Italians would want an Italian prosecco but King Valley in Vic are well known for their Italian varietals. I usually use Chrismont La Zona Prosecco NV. About $17-18 per bottle, and tastes decent on its own as well on a hot Aussie summers day.

    Thats my 2 cents, hope it helps!

    • bigchungus on 01/11/2021 - 15:03

      Cheers for the advice DannyC! It means a lot! The cocktail van we have hired provide all the cocktail related stuff like lime juice and decor so that shouldn't be an issue :) Thanks a heap for the spirits and mixers advice, I've been doing some research and this can reduce my parameters significantly! The legit aperol seems to be the way to go and I am all for it! Just was curious there was an alternative! Thanks so much mate, I think I'll do absolut possibly, I don't mind Smirnoff but the fiance hates it :( lol. Thanks for the advice mate, it was exactly what I was looking for!

      • DannyC on 01/11/2021 - 15:16

        As they say "Happy Wife happy life matey" go the Absolut vodka lol :-D
        Congrats btw, let me know how u go.

  • Fergy1987 on 01/11/2021 - 14:47
    +2

    add more ice and make the drinks smaller.

    • bigchungus on 01/11/2021 - 15:04
      +1

      perfect lmao - the additional water content would keep you hydrated too ;)

  • dtc on 01/11/2021 - 15:11
    +1

    For beers just get lagers and ales (ale/pale ale) - fairly boring but no one will dislike them (whereas if you get an IPA or a darker beer, even as one of the choices, there will be people who hate you). Nothing exotic, Tooheys or James Squire (or Peroni etc) are fine. These are priced for cases (24) in low $50s eg Crown is $52/case and James Squire pale ale is the same at BWS. I'm not sure if you can get discounts for bigger buys, I know Dan Murphy's says they dont offer any.

    Bottles are better than cans, easier (classier?) to drink out of

    Figuring out how much to buy is hard - 84 guests, maybe 1/3 wont drink any beers, 1/3 might have 1 because of all the other drinks around and the last 1/3 might have 2 or 8; you will know your guest list more than I do. However, you have the benefit that if you do run out of beer then (a) there are other drinks around to keep people happy and (b) if desperate, you usually arent far from a beer shop (and (c) you can drink the left overs, well assuming you like beer)

    • sam-1966 on 01/11/2021 - 17:26

      Bear in mind some people who would normally be happy with beer or wine will go all out with the spirits, so don't skimp on them.

      Some places used to sell on a 'buy or return' basis for functions - not sure if this happens any more.

      But it does sound like leftovers will be used later!

  • Youfah Mizzum on 01/11/2021 - 17:02

    Sometimes ALDI stocks the brand name beers and spirits. Lob into your local and compare with Dan, BWS etc.

  • clearview on 01/11/2021 - 17:34
    +1

    Go to Costco liquor if you’ve one in your state. They provide better value per litre compared to any other retailers.

    • hashtagbargain on 02/11/2021 - 01:35

      Don’t forget Aldi, they have great bang for buck on alcohol.

  • djones145 on 01/11/2021 - 21:27

    don't worry if you stuff this up you will learn for the next wedding! 1 in 4 get divorced lolz

    Costco and get bulk Kirkland alcohol

    you say
    older/fussier

    get things like penfolds and crown lager

    that's what we oldies like :)

  • Coriander on 02/11/2021 - 11:09

    Agree: Costco''s Kirkland Signature French vodka is excellent: very similar to Grey Goose at half the price.
    My mate decants his Kirkland into a Grey Goose bottle and no-one has ever picked that it's not Grey Goose.

  • chefdillu on 30/12/2021 - 10:02

    Where do you hire the Cocktail Van in Melbourne ? and how much do they cost ?

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