What’s a Full Bar? How About a Premium Bar?

Q. What’s a Full Bar? How About a Premium Bar?
A. A full/standard bar is stocked with lower cost house varieties of bar staples such as vodka, rum, whiskey, scotch, tequila, and gin, and possibly bourbon and brandy. Additionally, a full bar includes wine and beer as well as popular mixers, juices, sodas, bottled water, and garnishes, like lemon and lime. An open bar typically ranges from $15 to $90 per person for a four-hour reception.

A premium bar is filled with more expensive premium brands of the same bar staples, beers, and wines carried in a full bar. For example, a full bar will offer a house vodka like Barton’s, but a premium bar will carry Absolute. A premium bar will also carry an assortment of sodas, juices, mixers, waters, and condiments. A premium bar typically ranges from $18 to $108 per person for a four-hour reception.

A super-premium bar offers the most exclusive brands, or top-shelf labels, of each liquor — like Chivas Regal Scotch. In addition, a top selection of wine, beer, and cordials, like Drambuie, Frangelico, and Amaretto, might be found behind a super-premium bar. Of course, this type of bar is also stocked with a good selection of condiments, mixers, and other nonalcoholic beverages. A super-premium bar typically ranges from $20 to $120 per person for a four-hour reception.