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Batch cocktails: scale a recipe and add the right dilution

Scale a cocktail recipe for a party, add the water that shaking or stirring would have added, and see the strength of each drink.

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Results

Total batch volume

1.49 L

Water to add

8.4 fl oz

Base spirit for the batch
24.0 fl oz
Liqueur or vermouth for the batch
6.0 fl oz
Non-alcoholic ingredients for the batch
12.0 fl oz
Final ABV of each drink
21.9%
Standard drinks per serving (14 g of alcohol)
1.5

Make the drinks before the guests arrive

Mixing cocktails one at a time keeps the host behind the bar all evening. Batching, mixing the whole party’s worth in advance, solves this, but simply multiplying the recipe misses one ingredient: water. When a bartender shakes or stirs a drink with ice, part of the ice melts into it. That dilution softens the alcohol and is part of how the drink is meant to taste.

How the calculator works

  1. Enter the number of servings and the recipe for one drink: base spirit, liqueur or vermouth, and non-alcoholic ingredients such as juice or syrup.
  2. Choose the dilution, the share of water to add on top of the recipe volume.
  3. The calculator multiplies each ingredient, adds the water, and reports the strength of each finished drink.

Worked example

Twelve servings of a drink made with 2 fl oz of 40% spirit, 0.5 fl oz of 24% vermouth and 1 fl oz of syrup and juice, with 20% dilution:

  • Spirit: 24 fl oz, about one 750 mL bottle.
  • Vermouth: 6 fl oz.
  • Non-alcoholic ingredients: 12 fl oz.
  • Water: 8.4 fl oz.
  • Total batch: 1.49 liters, ready to pour into a pitcher or bottles.
  • Each drink: 21.9% ABV, about 1.5 standard drinks.

Choosing the dilution

Style Typical dilution
Stirred, served on a large cube 15 to 20%
Stirred, served up 20 to 30%
Shaken, served up 25 to 40%
Served over plenty of crushed ice 0 to 10%

Taste a small glass after chilling. The batch should taste slightly strong at room temperature and balanced when cold.

Practical tips

  • Chill the batch in the refrigerator for several hours. A batch around 20% ABV can turn to slush in a home freezer, so keep the freezer for stronger mixes.
  • Add bubbles, such as soda, tonic or sparkling wine, to each glass, never to the batch.
  • Citrus juice tastes best within a few hours of squeezing.
  • Label the bottle with its strength, and offer an alcohol-free option.

Drinking responsibly

A US standard drink is 14 grams of alcohol. Know how many your guests are having, never drink and drive, and keep alcohol away from anyone under 21.

Frequently asked questions

Why add water to a batched cocktail?

Shaking or stirring with ice melts some of it into the drink, usually 20 to 30% for a stirred drink and 25 to 40% for a shaken one. A batch poured over ice straight from the bottle would taste too strong without that water.

How much dilution should I use?

About 20% for a drink served over a large ice cube, 25 to 30% for a drink served up without ice, and less if guests will pour over plenty of ice. Taste and adjust before the party.

Can I batch drinks with citrus juice?

Yes, but fresh juice loses its brightness within a few hours. Squeeze it on the day and keep the batch cold. Carbonated mixers such as soda or sparkling wine should be added to each glass, not to the batch.

What is a standard drink?

In the United States, a standard drink contains 14 grams of pure alcohol, the amount in 12 fl oz of 5% beer or 1.5 fl oz of 40% spirit. The default recipe holds about 1.5 standard drinks per glass.

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Results are estimates provided for information purposes. They do not replace professional advice.

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