Cocktail Ratio
How to Use the Cocktail Ratio Calculator Choose a preset cocktail from the dropdown to automatically populate the standard recipe ingredients, or enter your own custom ingredients and amounts from scratch. Enter how many drinks you want to make, select your preferred unit (ml, fl oz, or cl), and click Scale My Cocktail. Every ingredient […]
How to Use the Cocktail Ratio Calculator
Choose a preset cocktail from the dropdown to automatically populate the standard recipe ingredients, or enter your own custom ingredients and amounts from scratch. Enter how many drinks you want to make, select your preferred unit (ml, fl oz, or cl), and click Scale My Cocktail. Every ingredient is scaled proportionally and the total batch volume is shown so you know exactly what size jug or batch you need.
For large batches, pre-make the spirit and liqueur components in advance but add carbonated mixers (tonic, soda, Prosecco) and fresh garnishes to order. Carbonated drinks lose their fizz quickly in a pre-batched cocktail.
Standard Cocktail Measurement: The Parts System
Most classic cocktails are defined by ratios, not absolute volumes. The Negroni’s famous equal-parts formula (1:1:1 gin, Campari, sweet vermouth) works whether you use 25ml, 30ml, or 40ml parts — the ratio is constant. The Margarita’s classic ratio of 2:1:1 (tequila: triple sec: lime) applies at any scale.
Understanding ratios rather than fixed recipes means you can scale a cocktail to any quantity and maintain perfect balance. Two people or two hundred — the proportions remain the same.
Pre-Batching Cocktails for Parties
Pre-batching is the professional bartender’s secret to serving excellent cocktails at speed during events. Rather than making each drink individually, you prepare a large batch of the spirit and mixer components in advance, then finish each drink to order with ice, carbonated mixers, and fresh garnishes.
What to Pre-Batch
All stable liquids can be pre-batched days in advance: spirits, liqueurs, citrus juice (up to 24 hours), syrups, and most non-carbonated mixers. Citrus juice should be freshly squeezed within 24 hours for the best flavour. Store pre-batched cocktails in sealed bottles or jugs in the refrigerator.
What to Add to Order
Carbonated mixers (tonic water, soda water, ginger beer, Prosecco, Champagne) must always be added at service — they go flat within minutes in a large batch. Fresh herbs (mint in a Mojito), eggs (in sours), and delicate garnishes should also be added per glass.
Classic Cocktail Ratios Reference
The best cocktails are built around simple, memorable ratios:
- Negroni: 1:1:1 (gin : Campari : sweet vermouth)
- Margarita: 2:1:1 (tequila : triple sec : lime)
- Daiquiri: 2:¾:½ (rum : lime : sugar syrup)
- Sidecar: 2:1:1 (Cognac : Cointreau : lemon)
- Old Fashioned: spirit forward with a small amount of sugar and bitters
- Sours (whisky, pisco, amaretto): 2:¾:¾ (spirit : lemon : sugar)
Dilution: The Invisible Ingredient
Every cocktail served over ice or shaken with ice contains water. This dilution is not a flaw — it is an essential part of the recipe. Shaking a cocktail with ice for 15 seconds adds approximately 15–25% dilution by volume, which opens up the flavours and lowers the alcohol intensity to a drinkable level.
When pre-batching cocktails that would normally be shaken or stirred with ice, add 15–20% water to account for this missing dilution. Without it, the pre-batched cocktail will taste stronger and more concentrated than the same drink made individually.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cocktails can I make from one bottle of spirit?
A standard 750ml bottle of spirit makes approximately 12–16 cocktails using a standard 50ml pour per drink, or up to 25 cocktails for lighter drinks using 30ml. For a party of 20 people having 2–3 drinks each, plan on 2–3 bottles of your main spirit. Use the calculator above — enter 40 servings (20 people × 2 drinks) to see the exact bottle quantities needed.
How do I scale a margarita for 20 people?
Select Margarita from the presets in the calculator above, enter 20 in the number of drinks field, and click Scale. The calculator will give you the exact total tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice needed. For 20 standard margaritas you need approximately 1 litre of tequila, 400ml of Cointreau, and 500ml of fresh lime juice (about 20–25 limes).
What is simple syrup and how do I make it?
Simple syrup is equal parts white sugar and water, heated until the sugar dissolves completely. The standard 1:1 ratio makes a 50% sugar solution that keeps refrigerated for 2–4 weeks. For a thicker, richer syrup used in Old Fashioneds and Mint Juleps, use a 2:1 (sugar:water) ratio — called “rich simple syrup.” Combine in a saucepan, heat until dissolved, cool, and store in a sealed bottle.
How do I make cocktails without alcohol?
The calculator includes preset virgin/non-alcoholic cocktails (Virgin Mojito, Shirley Temple, Arnold Palmer). For any cocktail, replace the spirit with a combination of sparkling water or tonic for volume, a splash of citrus for brightness, and an aromatic element (ginger syrup, cucumber, fresh herbs) for complexity. Non-alcoholic spirits (Seedlip, Lyre’s) are also widely available and can replace most liquors 1:1.