Which Liquor Package Should We Get

Hi can y'all afford the opening bar if not red & white wine and beer can't go wrong with that sometime you have to sit and think do i wanna pay all this money for this and that nooo probably not. Anything free I'm sure your guest would appreciate it....ijs

The difference between well liquor and call or premium), is not the taste. It is the quality. Well liquor gives you hangovers. I would never drink it. Personally I would rather have beer and wine than well liquor.

We did open bar but not top shelf. I only drink vodka but absolute was included in that and I dont consider that well vodka but not top shelf either.

I dont think you need top shelf but as someone who doesnt drink beer or wine, I would appreciate the open bar.

I would do open bar to give people additional options, but i don't think top shelf is necessary. if people are that picky about their liquors, they are free to drink the beer and wine (or not drink).

The place where i work you can add bottles to your bar. You pay for the bottle. But, if you can do this keep in mind you won't be paying liquor store prices. So it is likely 3-4 times the liquor store prices. I have never had anyone turn their noses up to any bar where I am. We also have written in our contracts that we have no shots or shooter policy. That's not to say people could not get things on the rocks......they can. But we do explain our policy. Most people ordering things in the rocks are going to sip them.

@Marquitte, yes, we can afford the open bar and can afford the premium package. If we go with a lower tier of alcohol, we can add additional apps during cocktail hour. Also, all of the packages include beer and wine.

Thank you @Miami2NorthernVA. I don't usually get hangovers from cocktails and mixed drinks. I have gotten them from martinis and on the rocks drinks though. Potential hangovers is an excellent point and something I want to avoid if possible. I'll research this.

@Sara, some of the examples they listed aren't what i would consider top shelf either. Thank you for sharing.

@Ella and Catlady5x, thank you. They offer tequila as an option for each package so I guessed on the rocks atleast, is an option. I'll confirm though. Good point.

@I'mthemom...thank you. My venue has options for "enhancements" but it's limited to martini, Bloody Mary and signature drinks. I'll ask if we can add on bottles instead. Does your venue allow people to bring their own liquor? I've heard some venues allow this so I plan to ask about this as well.

Lovelovelove, unfortunately we can't allow people to bring in their own due to our liquor license. But, if they want something particular ordered and our bar manager can get it Maryland we will order it. I tell couple to look at next bar package when they start adding bottles.......sometimes it's better just to select the higher tier bar package.

All of the options you're considering are acceptable. It's really up to you to decide what to prioritize for your wedding. A top shelf open bar a nice feature, but I don't think it's something people necessarily expect to see at every wedding, so don't feel obligated to splurge on that if you'd like to use the money towards something else.

As a guest, I would appreciate more food options with the open well bar. I really hate beer and wine only bars and would be so thankful to have gin and tonics or bourbon and cokes.

However, you should make the choice considering cost. How much more is each package over the other? If it is not that much more PP, I would spring for the premium package.

I'm not sure if it's a placebo effect or not, but I'm convinced my hangovers are not nearly as bad when I drink midrange up vodka compared to a well vodka. I do think, if you can afford a midrange (maybe Smirnoff/absolute) that would be a great way to please most. I definitely think darker liquors have a clear taste difference between well and the different levels. Maybe the midrange has good options across the tequila/vodka/dark liquor board.

It really depends what the venue considers well. The well at our venue isn't bad at all so we just stuck with well. I prefer full bars at weddings.

@MrsFallBride and JGCT, that's good to know. I don't taste the difference and everything I've read (I usually research it whenever I'm hosting a dinner party) says lower quality can be used for cocktails/mixed drinks and my experience backs that up. Others may notice it though, so it's definitely something to consider.

@I'mthemom, thank you. I don't think my vendor will let me either, but I'll ask anyway.

@Kirackle and CaboBride2018, thank you. some of my guests will prefer more food as well. Adding an additional appetizer will cost $1000, so will upgrading to the next level/tier of alcohol. This is hard!

@Erin Wood, I don't know if I would consider some of the liquor in the Premium and Select tier as higher quality either. I've never heard of the brands they list as well/house. The brands I have been given are examples though. I'll ask for specific options during my tasting though.

Can you post a sample of the brands included in well and premium. Maybe we can help you determine if upgrading to premium is worth the cost. I can taste the difference between premium and well. I would never side eye a couple for providing well. I would probably stick to drinking beer and wine though

@Keisha, this is what was provided as examples.

I said top shelf before, but there are actually 3 tiers. Premium is actually the mid-tier (I hope I'm using the right term here). Each tier adds another $1000 to the cost of the previous

House/Well

Gordon's Vodka, Gordon's Gin, Castillo Rum, Jim Beam Bourbon, Cutty Sark Scotch, Pepe Lopez Tequila

Premium:

Absolut Vodka, Dewars Scotch, Beefeater Gin, Bacardi Silver Rum, Wild Turkey Bourbon, Jose Cuervo Tequila

Select

Grey Good Vodka, Bombay Saphire Gin, Mount Gay Eclipse Rum, Maker's Mark Bourbon, Glenlivet Scotch, 1800 Tequila

The only two things in the premium that I would pass on is the vodka and the bourbon. I am not a gin drinker and Jose is the lowest I go for tequila. The rum in the select is a good brand. If you have the funds I would go with the select but I would be more than content with the premium brands as a guest

Double post

Gordon's and Pepe Lopez are truly nasty, I'm sorry! (I'm a bartender, and a drinker, and I'd rather drink water). Castillo isn't so bad, but Jim Beam is sweet as hell and Cutty isn't so great. The Premium Tier is much much better, although their tequila kinda sucks in all three. I would go with premium, there's not enough of a difference between premium and select to warrant another $1000 I think.

Thanks @Jessi and Keisha.

Those well brands are pretty awful. I'm also pretty sure you don't get less alcohol if you use well liquor.