One mistake bar owners make is focusing on creating gourmet or intricate cocktails and forgetting about capitalizing on well drinks.
Well liquors are affordable, cost-effective, and flexible for various bar promotions, be it on regular or special days.
Because of this, they are low-cost than the premium drinks and can appeal to patrons who wants the cheapest item no matter the brand. This means that you get to choose which liquor and soft drink to pour and serve—in this case, the least expensive ones.
That’s why it’s essential to have technologies like a kiosk, inventory management system, or QR code menu ordering tool to assist your staff in managing this scenario efficiently.
In this article, we’ve prepared this ultimate guide for you, covering the advantages and tools you can use to offer these types of drinks effectively in your bar.
What are well drinks?
A well drink, as you may know, is a mixed beverage made with your bar’s least expensive liquors. It’s typically stored in a speed rack or “well,” which its name came from.
When customers order, they don’t specify the brand of the liquor to be used, unlike call drinks (the act of “calling” a specific brand gets its label name), but rather give out a well-drink list instead.
These types of beverages are affordable to make, which is reflected in the selling prices.
With its cheaper price tag, it attracts more customers who want to have a decent sip without going overboard with their budget.
These drinks can change the game in the bar industry by providing vast opportunities for revenue streams, from regular operating days to your special deal. Your sales are guaranteed to multiply.
List of advantages of offering well liquors in your bar
Cost-effective
Offering well cocktails or beverages, also known as trail drinks, allows your bar to lower the cost of goods sold (COGS) significantly.
This is because these are made with cheaper liquor options rather than premium or branded spirits.
This cost-saving strategy benefits you if you are looking for ways to maximize profitability without compromising the variety of your drink menu ideas.
By purchasing generic liquors in bulk, you can negotiate better deals and reduce your overall inventory expenses.
Additionally, cost-effective ingredients translate into higher profit margins, positively impacting your revenues.
The reduced cost of ingredients means that even with competitive pricing, the profit per drink remains substantial.
Increased speed and efficiency
Well liquors are usually simpler to prepare, which allows bartenders to serve customers faster, especially during peak hours.
This is because these drinks require straightforward recipes with fewer ingredients and fewer intricate steps than craft cocktails or premium mixed drinks.
For example, a standard rum and coke or vodka soda requires only the liquor, mixer, and a quick stir, enabling bartenders to efficiently handle multiple orders simultaneously.
This ease of use expedites service and lowers the possibility of mistakes, guaranteeing consistency in each drink served.
Broad appeal
Well cocktails are cheaper, making them popular with customers who want to enjoy drink without spending a lot of money.
Offering these affordable options attracts budget-conscious customers who might otherwise forego ordering a drink.
This also helps draw in a wider range of people, such as young professionals, students, and anyone else seeking fun without going over budget.
As a result, these beverages can boost overall sales by appealing to a broader audience, keeping your business busy and lively.
Flexibility in promotions
This is also a triumph card perfect for your happy hour promotions, pulling in customers with attractive pricing.
Offering discounted prices on these drinks during happy hours can entice people to come in early and start their evening at your bar.
These promotions not only increase the food traffic but also encourage customers to try different offerings, potentially boosting their overall tab as they stay longer and order more.
You can also create specials and combo deals featuring these drinks to boost sales during slow periods.
For example, offering a well cocktail with appetizers or premade meals for a set price can attract customers during typically slower times, like weekday afternoons or late nights.
These deals can help maintain a steady stream of customers, ensuring that your business stays busy even outside peak hours.
Simplified inventory management
Maintaining a consistent stock of well cocktail ingredients is simpler and more predictable than managing a wide range of premium liquors.
These beverages are made using simple, everyday liquors and mixers, so it’s easier to anticipate demand and ensure you always have the ingredients on hand.
If it is predictable, ordering and inventory management will be made easier, which will reduce the chances of running out of crucial ingredients and guarantee efficient operations.
It also reduces beverage and food waste in restaurants or bars by focusing on the core set of ingredients, contributing to overall cost savings.
Pro tip: Since cocktail trends is always evolving, always keep an eye on the changes so that the ingredients you have can be updated.
This will help you to curate drinks that are popular among your target audience.
3 essential well liquor ingredients to take note of
Basic liquors
Because it is way cheaper than premium drinks, making trail beverages requires only the basics.
For basic liquors, here’s what you need:
- Vodka
- Gin
- Tequila
- Rum
- Whiskey
Keeping these essential liquors on hand guarantees the capacity to mix a wide range of well-known and traditional cocktails quickly.
Mixers
A well-stocked bar should have a variety of mixers, in addition to basic spirits, to complement and enhance the flavors of cocktails.
Here are the essential mixers:
- Tonic water
- Soda water
- Cola
- Ginger ale
- lemon-lime soda
- Juices (orange, cranberry, pineapple, tomato)
- Simple syrup
- Bitters
- Grenadine
Other essential mixers include sour mix, cream or half-and-half, and club soda. These mixers, combined with the basic liquors, allow for a wide range of classic and creative cocktails.
Garnishes
Garnishes are necessary for adding flavor, amora, and visual appeal to your drinks.
Lemon and lime wedges or slices, which are versatile and commonly used in many drinks, should be basic garnishes on hand.
Orange slices or twists are often used in cocktails like the Old Fashioned, so it’s much better to have them as well. Maraschino cherries are perfect for garnishing drinks such as Manhattans and Shirley Temples.
Fresh herbs like mint are crucial for mojitos and juleps, while olives and cocktail onions are standard for martinis.
Additional garnishes include celery sticks for Bloody Marys and fresh berries or pineapple chunks for tropical drinks.
Having these garnishes available ensures that each cocktail not only tastes great but also looks appealing.
Popular well drinks list and their recipes
Vodka Soda
To make a refreshing Vodka Soda, start by adding ice cubes to a highball glass to cool the beverage completely.
Make sure the 1.5 ounces of vodka blend properly with the cold water by pouring it over the ice.
After that, fill the glass to the brim with four ounces of carbonated water, letting the fizz mellow into the vodka.
To add flavor and brightness to the drink, garnish with a lime wedge. Squeeze the wedge into the glass or place it on the rim.
Gin and Tonic
This is another refreshing cocktail to add to your bar menu ideas for a diverse offer.
To make this, add ice to a highball glass to create a delicious gin and tonic. Stir in 1.5 ounces of gin, allow to cool, and mix in with the ice.
Add four ounces of tonic water on top, then swirl gently to combine. For an extra citrus kick, add a lime wedge to the cocktail by either dropping it in or squeezing it on top.
The key components of this traditional cocktail are balance and simplicity: the crisp, sparkling tonic and the botanicals in the gin work in perfect harmony.
Rum and Coke
Rum and Coke is a straightforward and popular cocktail made by mixing with Coca-Cola.
To make one, fill a glass with ice, pour in 2 ounces of rum, and top with 4-6 ounces of Coca-Cola.
Stir gently to combine, then garnish with a lime wedge if desired. Adjust the amount of rum or Coke according to your taste preference.
Tequila Sunrise
A Tequila Sunrise has a color gradient that mimics a sunrise, making it an eye-catching cocktail.
To prepare one, add 4-6 ounces of orange juice to a glass of ice and 2 ounces of tequila and stir. Half an ounce of grenadine syrup should be added slowly; it will sink first, then rise to combine with the other ingredients and give the impression of a sunrise.
If preferred, garnish with a cherry and a slice of orange.
Whisky Sour
This cocktail combines strong whiskey and a zesty punch.
The tartness of freshly squeezed lemon juice balances the richness of the whiskey, while simple syrup adds a touch of sweetness.
If you go for the traditional method, egg white can give the drink a smooth, frothy texture, but it is no longer required.
Brandy and Ginger
For a refined offering, consider having a Brandy and Ginger.
Begin by filling a glass with ice. Then add 2 ounces of brandy and top with 4-6 ounces of ginger ale, stirring gently to mix it up.
For an elegant touch, garnish with a lime wedge or a slice of fresh ginger.
This simple yet sophisticated drink highlights the smoothness of brandy complemented by the zesty kick of ginger ale.
Cape Codder
This is another classic cocktail made with just three ingredients: vodka, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
It also goes by the name Cape Cod or Cape Codder cocktail. It’s easy, light, and a terrific way to experience the tartness of cranberries with a hint of citrus.
The location of Cranberry Farm, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, inspired the name of the beverage.
Tom Collins
If you want to stay on the classics, this drink suits your criteria perfectly.
To make a Tom Collins, you only need gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda. Serve this over ice in a tall glass (known as a Collins glass) and garnish with a lemon slice and a cherry.
This is perfect for summer days as this is refreshing and light.
Margarita
Who wouldn’t be attracted by this loved cocktail, Margarita?
This consists of tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur (usually Triple Sec or Cointreau).
It’s often served with salt on the rim of the glass and can be enjoyed on rocks (over ice) or blended with ice for a frozen version.
The classic one is typically garnished with a lime wedge, adding a citrous spike to it.
Mojito
This traditional Cuban cocktail is celebrated for its refreshing and minty flavor.
It combines white rum, fresh lime juice, fresh mint leaves, sugar (or simple syrup), and soda water.
The preparation involves muddling the mint leaves and sugar to release the mint’s aromatic oils, then adding lime juice and rum.
The mixture is poured over ice and topped with soda water, followed by a gentle stir.
You can garnish it with additional mint leaves and a lime wedge. The Mojito offers a balanced blend of sweetness, citrus tang, and mint freshness, making it a popular choice for warm-weather enjoyment.
Essential tips in setting up your well station
Having a separate area for your well drinks is easy on the eyes of your target audience. In addition, you won’t be mixing up your stocks from your premium bar offerings.
To help you build your well station, we’ve gathered these important tips for you:
Organize by frequency of use
Place the most frequently used items, like vodka, rum, gin, tequila, whiskey, and mixers, within easy reach.
This is to avoid having to look for the essential ingredients when making well-beveraged beverages and to maintain speed and efficiency in responding to orders.
To streamline the process, arrange the bottles and tools that your bartenders will use in a logical order that matches your typical drink-making sequence.
Use appropriate tools and equipment
It’s important that your well station is equipped with shakers, strainers, jiggers, muddlers, and bar spoons.
Utilize pour sprouts on all bottles to speed up pouring and reduce any spillage.
Stock adequately
Regularly check and restock your well station to avoid running out of key ingredients during service.
Keep a consistent supply of mixers, garnishes, and basic liquors to maintain efficiency and avoid disruptions.
It would be better if you invest in inventory management software to keep you informed on your stocks daily.
Implement a clean and efficient layout
Cleanliness is non-negotiable when it comes to the food and beverage industry.
It is best to maintain the station clean and organized to ensure hygiene and ease of use.
Designing an efficient layout can help minimize movement and maximize speed, allowing bartenders to work swiftly and effectively.
Label everything clearly
A clear label on each bottle prevents confusion and guarantees accuracy, especially if you use the same container.
This will assist bartenders in rapidly identifying the appropriate ingredients and preserving consistency when making drinks.
Label tools and equipment storage spaces as well to make it simpler for staff to locate and return goods.
Train your staff
Implement training programs for your team to guarantee consistency in drink preparation. This will ensure that your customers receive well-made drinks.
In addition to that, teach staff how to prioritize orders to increase productivity and speed.
Incorporate restaurant technology for simplified ordering
Streamlining the order-taking process is paramount when operating a busy bar, especially during peak hours.
With technologies like a QR code menu or a kiosk, your staff can respond immediately to customers’ orders.
This avoids long queues, which contributes significantly to customer satisfaction.
Investing in an interactive restaurant menu QR code software to officer well beverages efficiently
Adding a new set of affordable drinks for other customer demographics is a smart move for an additional revenue stream.
Because it’s cheaper than usual, it’s expected to receive a volume of orders, particularly during special or happy hour deals.
To help you manage this situation, it’s wise to invest in interactive restaurant menu QR code software like MENU TIGER.
here are a few of the features and services it can provide you to you:
Cloud-based POS system
Inventory can be hectic if you do it manually.
But with MENU TIGER‘s Loyverse integration, everything is set for you. You’ll be able to track your sales daily on your tablet or smartphone anytime, anywhere.
So, whether you’re on a business trip or a short vacation, this advanced integration will still help you manage your business well.
QR code menu ordering tool
If you’re operating a bar in a highly urbanized area, it’s possible to pull in a number of customers than expected.
To accommodate them, especially during peak hours, it’s helpful to have restaurant technology like QR code menus.
Not only do customers place their orders by scanning the codes, but they can instantly pay for the items with the e-payment method.
This approach if helpful to avoid any unpaid orders that can affect your daily sales.
Kiosk configuration
What’s even more exciting about using MENU TIGER is it can configured in your self-service kiosk easily.
This is another ordering system option aside from your menu QR codes to expedite the order-taking process even more.
Sales analytics
Sales data is essential for you to come up with informed business decisions.
With this smart menu software, you’re guaranteed the most updated and real-time information on your sales monthly, making it a powerful tool to improve your marketing efforts.
Top your sales chart with affordable, quality drinks
Offering well drinks can be a breakthrough for your bar.
It’s cheaper to make than the premium drink options you have, making it attractive to on-the-budget customers.
Not only that, it can be your sought-after beverages during happy hour or special deals, which can pitch in to your overall revenue.
You can expect a huge number of orders per day, which can compromise the quality of service you provide if it’s not managed well.
That’s where MENU TIGER comes in.
Using this interactive restaurant menu QR code software, you’ll be provided with advanced tools to assist you in your overall operations.
This then translates to various benefits that can turn into positive customer feedback.
Get to know more about MENU TIGER by visiting its website and signing up.
Cheers ahead to your bar’s success!
