Must Have (s)

[Daryl]

Hi Folks,
After a couple years of planning and about of year of working, I am getting closer to opening my first bar and grill. This Tampa location has never been a bar or restaurant.

I am asking your suggestions on "must have" liquor for the bar.

Knowing all places are different a little background.

ARTIFACT'S BAR AND GRILL is an eclectic theme with a travelers, explorer feel. Old guns , helmets, uniforms, hand hammered copper pots, fishing gear ,mixed china ware etc.

Bar it self seats 18, bar area, (high tops) seat about 30, dining room (seperate) seats around 50, outdoor covered veranda patio seats up to 42 , for total 140.

Fairly full Kitchen with fresh products. (Grills , fryer , stove, oven etc.) Lunch and dinner.

So my question is for a conservative opening liquor inventory--what would you suggest? What approach to stocking being dollar minded would you take
behind the bar?

At this point we are shooting for about 15 wines by the glass , about 30 choices by the bottle. ( subject to change). Beers by the bottle with a limit of two to four draft.

Thanks for your help.

[seandell]

Go to what would be your main competition, bring a voice recorder and sit at the bar , have a few drinks an watch to see what they are poring, a lot of liquors seem to be regional, so what might be hot on the west cost might not be there.

Good luck on your opening, and if you can make it to the show in Vegas, you can learn a lot!

[alchemybar]

We're selling heaps of Chambord (with Sprite) and Vanilla Galliano (with Lift).

[originolsin]

Jack
Captain
Malibu
Absolut
Beam
Cuervo
Crown
Seagrams 7
Well Vodka, rum, triple sec, whiskey, tequilla, gin
Jagermeister is a must here, but probably not a neccessity at a grill

Beers:
Bud
Bud light
coors light
miller light
corona

Yingling draft, i believe, was the number 1 selling draft on the east coast.

those are the top selling beers.

I am sure that I am missing a couple of things, but there is a start for you.

[walawdog]

Beers: Mic Ultra, Coors Light, Bud Light, Yuengling, and Blue Moon on tap are our big sellers. As far as spirits go...we sell a ton of Crown, Patron (silver), Grey Goose, and 1800 (gold). This is in southern West Virginia.

[David]

Shop the other bars around and see what they stock. Ask the bartender for a copy of their liquor order sheet. Since I've been in your market many times in the past few months, I have noticed that there are a lot of Neighbourhood type bars and numerous Clubs. I think that with your format, you would be pouring of the basic spirits.

[KeystoneDerby]

We're selling heaps of Chambord (with Sprite) and Vanilla Galliano (with Lift).


Perfect example of what previous posts were saying about regional tastes. I have NEVER in my years of tending bar poured those combos....

Again, take a look at the other bars, get the basics and add what you like. Making a "house" drink with the non traditional stuff is a great way to have people coming back.

[Gander]

Start a forum up for your customers and let them tell you what they want.



Shop the other bars around and see what they stock. Ask the bartender for a copy of their liquor order sheet. Since I've been in your market many times in the past few months, I have noticed that there are a lot of Neighbourhood type bars and numerous Clubs. I think that with your format, you would be pouring of the basic spirits.Here is the best insurance quote (http://2insure4less.com/) you'll find online.

[alchemybar]

Perfect example of what previous posts were saying about regional tastes. I have NEVER in my years of tending bar poured those combos....



It's bizarre - the kids keep coming up with these sort of combo's. THe one on the rise at the moment is half Paraiso, half Chambord with Redbull. They call it a backhanded panther. It's fairly low in alcohol by volume so it's a winner :)

[KeystoneDerby]

It's bizarre - the kids keep coming up with these sort of combo's. THe one on the rise at the moment is half Paraiso, half Chambord with Redbull. They call it a backhanded panther. It's fairly low in alcohol by volume so it's a winner :)
haha...those CRAAAZZZY kids. You have to wonder where they get this stuff!!