When you're hosting a backyard barbecue, setting up an outdoor drink station allows you to focus on enjoying the company of your guests instead of playing bartender all day.
How to Set Up an Outdoor Drink Station
Published on Apr. 30, 2025
Hosting get-togethers in the backyard with close family and friends is one of the highlights of summer. Depending on the reason for the gathering and the size of the group, you’ll likely be serving a meal (or snacks) and summer drinks, which both require a little planning—especially if you’re serving the refreshments outside. However, with a little guidance, an outdoor drink station doesn’t have to translate to setting up a full bar in the summer sun.
While we at Taste of Home have plenty of cumulative experience setting up drink stations for our own gatherings, we spoke with Melissa Darpino, owner of Truly, Madly Detailed, who has 25 years of experience planning events both big and small, to provide even more helpful tips.
Melissa recommends starting the planning process by thinking about what would make your guests’ time with you more special; bigger isn’t always better. “It’s what allows you to spend quality time with the company you’ve brought together,” says Melissa. Here’s how to get started.
Start by Determining Serving Sizes & Recipes
The first thing to consider when putting together an outdoor drinks station is what to serve and how much to make. Luckily, deciding what to make (or what to bring to the potluck, if you’re not the host) is the most fun part of planning!
Decide how much to serve
Wondering how much food to make for a party is always a mind-boggling question for new hosts. When it comes to drinks, typical serving sizes depend on the type of gathering you’re hosting. (For example, guests would drink more at a backyard wedding than a backyard barbecue.) For a casual get-together with friends, it’s a pretty safe bet that guests won’t have more than two drinks over a few hours in the afternoon.
Consider a few signature drinks vs. a full bar
We recommend keeping it simple and making one alcoholic batched cocktail and one nonalcoholic batched mocktail. (Bonus points if you put out a hard liquor that guests can splash into the mocktail option, if they wish.) Compared to setting up a full bar, filling pitchers or dispensers with a couple of big-batch drinks ahead of time makes it easier for you as the host and the guests for several reasons:
- Batched cocktails prevent you from whipping up a separate drink order for every guest. You could simply let your guests mix up drinks themselves, but having endless options is overwhelming. After all, not everyone knows cocktail recipes off the top of their head! Providing a few prepared options makes it easy for guests to spend less time focusing on what to drink and more on interacting with other guests.
- Pre-made drinks make you seem more put together than the potentially chaotic array of liquors, mixers and glasses that are necessary for a full bar.
Don’t skip the mocktail
While it might feel easy to skip the mocktail and make two batched cocktails instead, making an intentional beverage for guests who aren’t drinking alcohol makes them feel less like an afterthought. Plus, the mocktail will be a delicious decision even for people who do prefer hard drinks as an in-between-cocktails sipper that’s not water.
Choose your batched recipes
Now comes the fun part—picking the drink recipes! Melissa suggests that you should consider the types of drinks you see your friends and family enjoying on other occasions, and level it up slightly from there. After all, you don’t want to make something so out there that people are afraid to try it. “It’s not necessarily the time to expand your guests’ horizons…Think about your guests and what they would enjoy, and then ever so slightly, bump it up a notch,” says Melissa.
Incorporate seasonal ingredients
Melissa recommends using seasonal ingredients and summer produce. “I think about what is fresh and abundant. I feel like there is a palate expectation. If you’re showing up at someone’s backyard barbecue in July, you’re not expecting to have an eggnog. There is an expectation that is being set by the time of year and the environment in which we’re celebrating.” For a warm-weather potluck, summery, seasonal ingredients are the way to go.
Include different liquors
It’s a good idea to use different types of alcohol in each drink, so guests have more than one choice of hard alcohol. (Read: Avoid making two vodka-based cocktails or two tequila drinks and instead, make one with vodka and one with tequila.)
Melissa also chooses recipes that look nice next to each other, yet have contrasting hues to create visual interest. An easy white sangria full of fresh fruit and a complementary strawberry mocktail with ginger ale would make a lovely duo. Melissa suggests a paloma with tequila or mezcal to hit on light pink hues, a spicy cucumber and cilantro vodka or gin cocktail to showcase fresh-picked summer greens, and a mocktail flavored with watermelon and lime or strawberry and rosemary.
Peach SangriaWhite wine lovers will swoon for this crisp and gorgeous sangria. The star of the show is the sliced fruit, followed by a potent pop from peach schnapps. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
The scent of summer is a bushel of fresh peaches. Between peach schnapps and loads of fresh peaches (and an entire bottle of white wine), this gorgeous sangria is like sunshine in a glass.
Watermelon MojitoWe added watermelon to the classic mojito recipe for an extra sweet (and pink!) spin on the classic Cuban cocktail. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Watermelon cubes are freshly muddled for the truest watermelon flavor possible. If you don't like the sediments sitting at the bottom of the glass, blend the watermelon cubes, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve and only use the watermelon juice instead. Turn the recipe into a batch cocktail by multiplying the ingredients based on how many servings you'll need, then build everything in a pitcher instead of a glass.
Cucumber MargaritaThis four-ingredient cucumber margarita is cool, refreshing and perfectly balanced. Learn how to upgrade a classic margarita with homemade cucumber juice (no juicer necessary!).
As if margaritas weren't refreshing enough, cucumber juice lends its cooling, vegetal flavor to this iconic drink. It relies on the natural sugar found in tequila and lime to sweeten it ever so gently, but it's more earthy than anything. Pair this tipple with grilled steak recipes and savory barbecue side dishes. For a batch cocktail version, multiply the ingredients based on how many servings you're going to need, then build the recipe in a pitcher instead of in a cocktail shaker.
Spiked LemonadeRum gives a tropical addition to this fabulous homemade lemonade. If you have vodka on hand, try that instead of the rum. —Susan Hein, Burlington, Wisconsin
A pitcher of lemonade evokes happy childhood memories. Add a splash of rum or vodka, and this nostalgic drink turns into a refreshing boozy sipper.
Strawberry Drink MocktailDuring the dog days of summer, my family looks for a cold, thirst-quenching drink. I like this strawberry cooler because it's sparkling, refreshing and fast and easy to make.
While this strawberry drink is a mocktail at heart, you can easily add a smooth vodka, light rum or gin to this easy batch cocktail. The extra strawberry garnish is non-negotiable, though.
Margarita SangriaThis sangria is reminiscent of a margarita with its tequila and agave kick! —Andrea Rivera, Westbury, New York
My two favorite words! Margarita's tequila and limes come together with sangria's white wine and fruit to create this batched beverage.
Summertime Tea MocktailYou can’t have a summer gathering around here without this sweet tea to cool you down. It’s wonderful for sipping while basking by the pool. —Angela Lively, Baxter, Tennessee
This nonalcoholic summertime tea makes 18 servings. It's perfect for a get-together with the extended family, hosting a graduation party or any other excuse you can come up with to throw a backyard barbecue in the summer sun.
Cranberry MimosaMimosas are just so elegant for Sunday brunch. My recipe uses tart cranberries to balance the sweetness of champagne and orange juice. —Shannon Stephens, Lake in the Hills, Illinois
Mimosas are known for being so easy, they hardly need a recipe. Here, they get an upgrade with tart cranberries, creating a gorgeous sunset in the glass. But this addition still keeps the drink extremely easy. Puree orange juice, lemon juice and cranberries together. When you're ready to serve, pour the juice into glasses and top with sparkling wine. (These are the best champagnes for mimosas.)
Rum PunchNothing says "I'm on vacation" like a refreshing rum punch recipe. Here's how to make rum punch the classic way.
To make this rum punch for a crowd, multiply the recipe by the number of servings you need. Skip the cocktail shaker and ice. Instead, give the ingredients a good stir in a pitcher or punch bowl the night before. When it comes time to serve, pour the rum punch over plenty of ice, and have garnishes at the ready.
Fruit Punch MocktailThis pink cooler is deliciously thirst-quenching on a warm day. Seeing its color, folks guess it might be pink lemonade. They're pleasantly surprised to discover the bubbly blend includes cranberry, pineapple, orange and lemon juices. —Marion Lowery, Medford, Oregon
If you haven't heard, vintage recipes are in. Serve this big batch cocktail in the punch bowl that your grandmother passed down to you ages ago. This mocktail can be spiked if need be, or you can leave out a bottle of vodka nearby for anyone that wants in.
Mint JulepIt wouldn't be Kentucky Derby Day without this mint julep recipe! But, really, this Kentucky Derby mint julep recipe is good anytime. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Even if you're not throwing a Kentucky Derby party, a mint julep highlights all the best flavors and scents of spring and summer with real mint and a fruity bourbon that has notes of cherry and pear.
Kentucky MuleBourbon lovers will love this Kentucky mule recipe. It's the same as a Moscow mule, but replaces the vodka with bourbon. Serve the cocktail in a copper mug to keep it cold. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Kentucky mules one-up a mint julep with the fizzy addition of zippy ginger beer. If you're batching this cocktail hours ahead of time, then don't pour in the ginger beer until serving.
Bourbon SlushAt our holiday parties, Bourbon Slush is definitely a favorite. Have fun experimenting with different teas when you make it. We like black tea, green tea and orange spice. —Darcene Sigler, Louisville, Ohio
Bourbon slush is a summertime hero. The ingredients are not blended with ice; that would water it down! Instead, bourbon, frozen orange juice concentrate, lemonade concentrate and brewed tea are blended together and then frozen granita-style. Scoop into cups, pour lemon-lime soda on top and serve this cooling potion.
Tajin Limeade MocktailTajin is a blend of chili peppers, salt and lime. I sprinkle it on a lot of food, but I've found it's really delicious in limeade. —Amanda Phillips, Portland, Oregon
Here, Tajin doesn't just line the glass rim. We added an effortless extra step by making gorgeous ice cubes out of the spice and lime mixture, too. These two Tajin components add the perfect amount of heat without making guests sweat.
Coconut MojitoA bubbly coconut mojito is the perfect drink to stir up when you want something light and refreshing. Made with the creaminess of cream of coconut and coconut rum, it gets a tropical spin from lime juice and a hint of freshness from mint. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Coconut, mint and lime—is there anything more refreshing than that? To turn this into a batch cocktail, multiply the recipe by how many servings you need, then build it in a pitcher instead of a glass, leaving out the club soda and ice. Cover and refrigerate the pitcher before the party starts. When ready to serve, pour in glasses over ice, then top each one with the club soda.
Mixed Berry SangriaThis is a light, tasty beverage to serve with spoons so everyone can enjoy the fresh berries once the sangria is gone. — Linda Cifuentes, Mahomet, Illinois
Sparkling white wine (like Prosecco or Champagne) mix with white cranberry juice, light rum and a mixture of summer berries in this crisp and refreshing sangria. I like to lightly freeze the berries so they act as extra ice cubes without watering down the drink.
Sparkling Lemonade MocktailWho doesn't love chilled lemonade on a hot summer day? Made with club soda, this version is slightly bubbly and bursting with citrus flavor. —Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah
The quick addition of club soda turns ordinary lemonade into a drink that feels extra special. While you can keep this as a mocktail, feel free to add in vodka.
Rose Wine CocktailThis is an easy way to dress up wine for a party. Other fruit, like watermelon balls or sliced peaches, can be used in place of the strawberry slices. —Laura Wilhelm, West Hollywood, California
When wine is mixed with other ingredients, there's no need to splurge on a good bottle. Grab the best rose under $15 for this batch cocktail, and mix it with the homemade raspberry-grape syrup and the fresh strawberries.
Easy White SangriaUsing white wine makes my version of sangria a little lighter, yet it still has the same wonderful sweetness. Frozen fruit allows me to serve this any time of year. Nothing beats this white sangria recipe. —Sharon Tipton, Orlando, Florida
Let's face it: Sangria recipes make the perfect big batch summer cocktail, especially a light sangria like this. Here, frozen fruit keeps the sangria nice and cool without watering it down as ice would.
CaipirinhaThe essential ingredient in this Brazilian cocktail is Cachaca, a liquor made fresh sugarcane juice. Its distinctive herbal flavors pair perfectly with fresh lime. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Caipirinhas are like mintless mojitos. Think of this popular Brazilian drink as more tart-sweet than earthy-sweet. Paired with a grilled steak, it's unbeatable.
Summertime Watermelon Punch for a CrowdI attended a patio party years ago where the hostess had a clever watermelon bowl with a scalloped edge and filled with this punch. It was the hit of the party, and she was kind enough to share the delicious punch recipe with me. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
You won't believe just how well watermelon, white wine, ginger ale and orange juice can work together in a cocktail. You'll probably need an entire watermelon for this one (that's around 10 pounds), but it's easy to halve the recipe if needed.
Citrus & White Grape Juice Party Punch MocktailI was looking for a punch that wouldn't stain expensive prom dresses and tuxedos. Everyone loved this! You can mix the first four ingredients ahead of time, refrigerate and add the soda right before serving. —Karen Ballance, Wolf Lake, Illinois
Just look at those colors! It really can't get any easier than this. The recipe calls for white grape juice, but you can sub in white wine, if desired.
Easy Batch Cocktails FAQ
Can you make sparkling big-batch cocktails ahead of time without the carbonation falling flat?
Yes! Follow the directions all the way through, but don't add the carbonated drink. Refrigerate the batch cocktail until you're ready to serve. Come party time, pour the carbonation into the pitcher or simply top off each drink with the carbonation. Leaving out the carbonated portion until the very last moment keeps it fizzy and fresh.
How can you securely transport these picnic drinks?
If your pitcher doesn't have a secure top, pour the batch cocktail into mason jars with a screw-top lid. Those will contain the liquid well. Once you arrive at the picnic or party, pour the liquid into the pitcher to serve.
How far in advance should you make batch cocktails?
The furthest ahead of time you should make your batch cocktail recipe is the day before serving. However, if the recipe contains fresh fruit or herbs, wait to add those components into the pitcher until a few hours before serving. Otherwise, they will break down, making the drink look cloudy and unappetizing. And as mentioned above, don't add any carbonated portion until you're ready to serve.
Choose additional canned and bottled drinks
In addition to the batched cocktail and mocktail, serve a few beers, canned wines and hard seltzers for guests who prefer to keep it simple and enjoy something they already know they like. If your guests love a particular brand, make sure it’s a choice for them; otherwise, have fun picking out things you’d drink yourself, since you’ll likely have extras after guests go home.
Melissa also sometimes chooses cans and bottles based on how they complement the rest of the spread. “I have chosen cocktails and wine in cans according to the color scheme of a party…and I have done it that way more than once,” admits Melissa.
Don’t forget water
Water is so important for outdoor get-togethers (especially if you’re serving alcohol). Making it readily accessible guarantees that no one gets dehydrated on a hot summer day. Put out water bottles and canned sparkling waters, or fill up a pitcher with infused water for something more elevated.
Gather Your Serveware
The following items are essential for an at-home drink station setup.
- Bar cart or table: Pull out a sturdy table. Consider adding a disposable tablecloth for a pop of color that will also protect your table from spills.
- Pitchers, dispensers or punch bowls: These are non-negotiables when you’re serving batched cocktails. Beautiful serveware, such as pretty punch bowls, is always a flex, and parties are the perfect time to show it off!
- Coolers: Pick up one of our choices for the best coolers to chill any canned cocktails, bottles of beer or sparkling waters and seltzers.
- Ice bucket + tongs: You’ll need an ice bucket and tongs in order to serve refreshing homemade cocktails and mocktails. Melissa recommends picking up four pounds of ice per person. (You’ll need to refill the ice bucket a few times throughout the gathering.)
- Disposable glasses: Melissa recommends putting out two glasses per person for most gatherings. “The type of party you have will dictate how many glasses you need. It depends on the length of time the guests are there for and what kinds of activities they are doing that would take them away from their drink of choice. The more opportunities they have to put it down, the more glasses you will need to replenish,” says Melissa.
- Drink labels: A little chalkboard in front of each dispenser or pitcher can let guests know what their options are.
- Drink markers:Â If all of your glasses are the same, you’ll need a way to distinguish whose glass is whose if anyone sets it down for a moment, whether it’s to play cornhole or Bocce ball. There are plenty of cute ones online if you’d rather not set out a Sharpie for clear plastic cups.
After you’ve secured the essentials, consider putting out a shot glass or jigger for people who want to make the mocktail boozy, especially if you already have a bar kit as a part of your home bar setup.
In addition, Melissa recommends putting a bowl or cup underneath spigots to catch any spare drips that would otherwise leak onto the table. She says that a mini ramekin with some berries in it would look pretty and seasonal, while keeping your drink station much neater.
Prepare Thoughtful Garnishes
“When it comes to a pre-planned bar, you may want to make it simple for guests and pre-garnish some of the glasses,” says Melissa. This is an easy task that you can do right before guests arrive, whether it’s a slivered strawberry on the rim of the cup, cucumber ribbons wound around the inner edges of a glass or skewered fruit propped over the top.
Ice cubes can also be part of the cocktail garnish if you make big spheres or cubes of ice with edible flowers, fruits or herbs embedded in them. You could also freeze juice into ice cubes so you don’t dilute the drink.
Cocktail napkins are a thoughtful addition to an outdoor drinks station. If you have a stack outside, put a cute stone on top so they don’t fly away in the wind.
Tips for Setting Up an Outdoor Drinks Station
Where should you set up the drinks station?
Since you want the drinks to stay as cold as possible (for as long as possible), set up your station in a shady spot that’s sheltered from wind. If you don’t have any shade, set up an umbrella over the table so that the ice, drinks and garnishes don’t wilt or melt in the warm sunlight.
This may go without saying, but make sure you’re on a completely flat surface so the table or bar cart doesn’t rock or sit at an angle, causing drinks to slide ever so slowly slide to the other side of the spread. It seems like it would be easy to pick a flat surface, but some grassy backyards are a little uneven!
When should you start setting up?
Set up 15 to 30 minutes before people arrive. You don’t want those disposable cups flying away!
Do you need to add any decor to your outdoor drinks station?
An inexpensive bouquet of flowers will add a little flair to the drink station. Additionally, Melissa states, “I firmly believe in showcasing the ingredients you’re serving. So I would have a really pretty fruit bowl, which ends up being backup garnishes if needed.” Pretty and practical!
What should you do after setting up the outdoor drinks station?
Don’t forget to take photos! They’ll be fun to look back on. Plus, photos will help you remember the setup for the next time you host an outdoor gathering.
And finally, don’t fret too much about what people will think. At the end of the day, Melissa says: “Guests will enjoy whatever it is that you have put together and are just happy to be there among friends.” So, don’t get too caught up in trying to make everything perfect and instead, focus on having fun!
