Picture this: you’re throwing a party or entertaining a small group of people, and you’ve got everything organized and ready to go. The snacks are out, the wine is chilled, and the playlist has been curated. The only thing missing is the cocktails. Simple mixed drinks are nice, but for an elegant modern soiree, a well-made cocktail is the way to go. Instead of making drinks one at a time, batching your cocktails is the best way to keep the party going without a hitch.

The term batching cocktails refers to creating a large portion of a cocktail to increase the amount you can serve during the evening. Unlike a party punch, this method allows you to scale up your favorite cocktails, such as a martini or Manhattan , while maintaining the quality and flavor. It’s a bit more technical than punch but can be mastered in the five simple steps below.

Why Should You Batch Cocktails?

The most obvious reason to batch cocktails is for a party or big event. If you’re hosting and don’t want to play bartender all night, batching can ensure that the drinks never stop flowing throughout the evening. Another good reason to batch your cocktails is consistency. This can range from temperature to balanced ingredients and will guarantee that each cocktail served tastes exactly the same.

How to Batch Cocktails

Choose a Cocktail

The first step to batching is selecting a cocktail. While there are lots of drinks to choose from, some cocktails are better suited for batching than others. The good news is that a lot of classic cocktails, like martinis, Old Fashioneds, and Manhattans, will work well. Most of these cocktails follow the 2:1 ratio, making it easy to increase the amount of the ingredients for a large batch.

Citrus-based cocktails are a bit harder to work with because they include a fresh flavor that may diminish over time. However, this doesn’t mean they can’t be batched. To preserve the freshness, many bartenders recommend creating the batch without the citrus juice and then adding it the day you plan to serve the cocktails.

Gather Your Tools

You will need a few essential tools to properly batch your cocktails. Luckily, they are pretty standard in any home store. The vessel you use should be ideal for mixing, chilling, and serving, so look for a large glass bottle that can be placed in the fridge or freezer. You’ll also need a measuring cup and cocktail jigger to divide the ingredients and a long spoon to stir the mixture.

Create Your Recipe

Yes, a little bit of math is required here. If your chosen cocktail recipe is straightforward—for example, a basic martini made from 2 ounces of spirit and 1 ounce of dry vermouth—you can simply multiply the amounts by the number of cocktails you’d like to make and then convert ounces to cups. Using this recipe, a batch of 8 cocktails would require 2 cups (16 ounces) of spirit and 8 ounces of dry vermouth.

Remember to Dilute

Water isn’t listed in any cocktail recipe—however, it is essential for balance. For a batched recipe, you skip the steps using ice, which typically helps dilute the cocktail just enough to balance it. In that vein, you’ll need to add some water to your batch to perfect it. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is the stronger the cocktail, the higher your dilution percentage should be.

Don’t Forget to Garnish!

Garnishes are the icing on the cake for cocktails. If you’re batching for a large party, you can set out a bowl of garnishes for guests to add to their drinks as desired. You can also opt to make them ahead of time and garnish each cocktail as it’s poured.