One of the questions you will be asking when planning a cocktail party is about the kind and number of glasses that you should prepare. Be prepared with an assortment of glass styles to cover the type of drinks you plan to serve. These will include wine glasses for wines, juice and water; straight-sided highballs for tall drinks; tumblers for spirits and juices; and martini glasses. You will need twice as many glasses on hand as guests. And don’t forget other barware – decanters, shakers, pitchers and bar accessories. Be sure to also have enough ice. A good rule of thumb is to have a pound of ice per guest.

For a basic bar you will want to stock up on vodka, whiskey, wines and beer. For a more complete bar you can add gin, tequila, rum, bourbon, vermouth, sherry, and brandy. A bar is not complete without mixers such as orange juice, soda, tonic, cola, lemons, limes and cherries. Coffee will be a big help to some who have turned a little fuzzy from all the drinking. And keep the phone number of a local company handy in case somebody will need it.