Pull out all the stops, and set up a bar for your outdoor gathering. Let us guide you through beverage dos and don'ts for a successful party. We've even included basic guidelines on handling champagne, a quick chilling method for the unexpected celebration, and our secret technique for popping the cork so your guests won't need to duck for cover.

• The basic bar should include liquor and mixers for what your guests prefer. Scotch, vodka, bourbon, gin, and rum are popular requests. Make fruit juices and sparkling water available.
• To calculate how much to purchase, consider the number of guests, how long the party will last, and what other beverages will be served.
• For each guest, estimate one drink, one beer, or two glasses of wine per hour. For those who don't consume alcoholic beverages, figure in three to four cans of cola or bottles of water.
• It's difficult to determine in advance how much liquor, beer, or wine you'll need. Err on the side of caution by buying too much, rather than too little. When purchasing liquor, ask if the store gives refunds for returned unopened bottles.
• Use this guideline to help gauge what is needed for your party:
  1 (750-milliliter) bottle liquor = 17 (1 1/2-ounce) jiggers
  1 (33.8-ounce) bottle liquor = 22 (1 1/2-ounce) jiggers
  1 (750-milliliter) bottle wine or champagne = 6 (4 ounce) servings.