The wine list usually gets the attention, but on a charter the bar is where the evening is made or lost. A guest who asks for a particular gin and tonic, a proper Negroni or a good Japanese whisky and finds it ready, without a delay, forms a very good opinion of the interior team. A guest who is offered a substitute for the third time forms a different one. This checklist sets out what a well run yacht bar stocks, in what order, and how to size it.
Think in three layers
- The core: the bottles that will be opened every day. One or two of each major category, chosen for quality and reliability, not for novelty.
- The premium shelf: a smaller number of bottles for guests who ask for something particular, such as an aged rum, a single malt, a XO Cognac or a mezcal.
- The signature: one or two items that belong to this yacht or this charter, from a local gin to a bottle the owner enjoys. They make the bar memorable and give the stewardess a story.
The spirits checklist
Vodka
A clean, neutral premium vodka is the most used bottle on most bars. Add a second, perhaps a flavoured or a rye or potato based option, if guests are known to drink it neat. See the vodka bar stock.
Gin
One classic London dry for gin and tonic and Martinis, and one more botanical or Mediterranean style for guests who like something different. Gin is the other bottle that tends to run out first. The gin bar stock shows the range, and our piece on the top gins for summer cocktails is a useful starting point.
Rum
A white rum for Mojitos and Daiquiris, and an aged rum for sipping. Add a spiced rum only if you know someone will ask for it. See the rum bar stock.
Tequila and mezcal
A blanco for Margaritas and a reposado or añejo for sipping. A bottle of mezcal appeals to the guest who already knows it. Our tequila bar stock covers the range, and the article on tequila slams adds some context.
Whisky
A good blended Scotch, a single malt, a bourbon and, if the clientele suits it, a Japanese whisky. The category is where guests are most likely to name a bottle. The whisky bar stock is the working list, and for collectors we also keep a rare and collectable whisky page.
Cognac and brandy
A VSOP for mixing and an XO for after dinner. If you are unsure of the difference, our guide to brandy, Cognac and beyond explains the age statements. See the brandy and Cognac bar stock.
Aperitifs, vermouth and liqueurs
A bitter red aperitif and an orange aperitif for spritzes and Negronis, dry and sweet vermouth, an orange liqueur, a coffee liqueur and an almond or hazelnut liqueur if you serve dessert cocktails. See vermouth and liqueurs and aperitifs.
Bitters
A classic aromatic bitters and an orange bitters. They cost little, take almost no space and are in nearly every classic recipe. See the bitters bar stock.
Mixers, water and the non-alcoholic bar
Mixers are as important as spirits. Plan tonic, soda water, ginger beer, cola, citrus and tomato juice, and enough sparkling and still water for every guest. Plan in at least two tonics, since many guests have firm views. The mixers and syrups and mixers collections show what we hold, noting that some of the mixer ranges are for trade accounts. A serious non-alcoholic option is now standard: look at the non-alcoholic collection and our guide to low and no alcohol provisioning.
How much to order
A 70cl bottle gives about seventeen pours of 40ml, and a one litre bottle about twenty-five. Count the guests who drink spirits, assume two to three drinks a day for those who do, and multiply by the length of the charter. Then add a margin, particularly on the vodka, gin and whichever spirit the preference sheet names.
As an example, a week with eight guests where four take spirit-based drinks, at two a day, is 56 pours. That is around four bottles in total, but split across six or seven categories you will still want at least one bottle of each core item. This is why a bar plan is a list of categories first and a quantity second. The yacht bar builder does this arithmetic by bar size and lets you swap bottles before you add the list to your order.
Classic cocktails and what they need
- Negroni: gin, sweet vermouth, bitter red aperitif, orange.
- Margarita: blanco tequila, orange liqueur, lime, salt.
- Old Fashioned: bourbon or rye, sugar, aromatic bitters, orange.
- Espresso Martini: vodka, coffee liqueur, fresh espresso.
- Spritz: orange aperitif, sparkling wine, soda, orange slice.
- Mojito: white rum, lime, mint, sugar, soda.
The practical details
- Glassware and garnish. Fresh limes, lemons, oranges and mint, plus ice in quantity, matter as much as the spirit.
- Storage. Keep bottles upright, out of sun and away from the engine room. Spirits are stable, but heat and light still dull them.
- A bar book. Record what is opened, what is low and what was requested. It is the fastest way to a good reorder, and the handover document for the next stewardess.
- Preference sheet first. Read the guest sheet before you order, as described in our article on reading a charter preference sheet.
Our broader view of what superyachts are ordering is in Superyacht Spirits 2026.
A note on ice, citrus and the small things
The cheapest items on the bar list are often the ones that decide the quality of a drink. Good ice, in large clear cubes where you can manage it, makes a drink taste better and dilute more slowly. Fresh limes and lemons, cut to order, beat anything pre-squeezed. A handful of herbs, a bowl of olives and a jar of good cherries transform a simple spritz. Order these with the spirits, since a bar with the right bottles and no limes is not a bar.
Frequently asked questions
What spirits should a yacht bar stock?
Vodka, gin, rum, tequila, whisky and Cognac, with aperitifs, vermouth, liqueurs and bitters, plus mixers, water and a non-alcoholic option. Add premium and signature bottles according to the guests.
How many bottles of spirits per guest?
A pour is about 40ml, so a 70cl bottle gives roughly seventeen. Count the spirit drinkers, assume two to three drinks a day and multiply by the number of days, then add a margin.
Which bottles run out first?
Usually vodka and gin, followed by tonic and soda. Order extra of these and of anything named on the preference sheet.
Can I build the bar order online?
Yes. The yacht bar builder lets you choose a bar size, swap bottles and add the whole list to your cart.
