Food & Drink · July 16, 2026 · 4 min read
Open Bar Packages Explained, Without the Jargon
What open bar tiers actually include, how consumption differs from packages, and how to keep an event bar on budget.
The bar is usually the second largest line on an event budget and the one guests remember first. Understanding how packages are built makes it far easier to control.
Tiers are about selection, not quality
A standard tier covers a curated set of spirits, wines and beers. Higher tiers widen the selection rather than fixing anything wrong with the lower one. For most corporate events, a well-chosen standard tier plus a signature cocktail reads as more considered than an expansive list nobody reads.
Package versus consumption
- Package: a flat rate per guest for a set duration. Predictable, easy to approve internally.
- Consumption: you pay for what is poured. Cheaper for light-drinking groups, riskier for long nights.
- Hybrid: package for the first two hours, consumption after. A good compromise for events with a long tail.
Three ways to control spend without anyone noticing
- Serve food in the first thirty minutes — pacing at the bar changes immediately.
- Feature two signature cocktails instead of a full cocktail list; service speeds up and lines shorten.
- Set a clear last call and communicate it in the run of show, not at the bar.
Our current tiers and signature cocktail list are on the Beverage Menu page, and the events team will map a package to your headcount and timing on request.