Cocktail Ratio Calculator

A cocktail ratio describes the proportional relationship between the components of a drink — typically spirit, modifier, citrus, and sweetener. Classic ratios like 2:1:1 (Margarita) or 2:¾:¾ (Daiquiri) create balance between strength, sweetness, and acidity. Understanding ratios lets you scale or adapt any recipe without losing that balance.

When you shake or stir a cocktail with ice, water from melting ice dilutes the drink by roughly 15–25%. In a batched cocktail served without individual shaking, you need to add that water manually so the drink tastes the same as a freshly made one. A standard 20% dilution is a safe starting point for most shaken cocktails.

Spirit-forward stirred cocktails (like a Martini or Negroni) typically need around 10–15% dilution. Shaken drinks (Margaritas, Daiquiris, Sours) usually call for 20–25%. If you're adding ice to the batch container or serving over ice, you can reduce or skip dilution entirely. Use 0% if guests will shake individual servings.

Absolutely. The calculator works for any liquid-based recipe — just enter your juices, syrups, sodas, and other components as ingredients. For sparkling components added at service (like soda water), exclude them from the batch and add them individually when pouring.

Enter your single-serving recipe amounts, then set the number of servings to your guest count. A good rule of thumb is to plan for 2–3 drinks per guest over the first hour of an event. The calculator will give you exact quantities to prepare.

Use ounces if you're working with US jiggers and bar equipment. Milliliters work well for precision and are preferred in professional bar settings outside the US. Liters and gallons are useful when scaling up to very large batches. The calculator keeps all values in whichever unit you choose.

Yes. The displayed total batch volume already includes the dilution water added, so you can use it directly to choose the right container size. The water added (dilution) is also shown separately so you know exactly how much still or filtered water to add.

Common options include large mason jars, glass carafes, pitchers, or food-safe plastic containers. For pre-batched service, bottles with swing tops work great. Make sure your container is slightly larger than your total batch volume to allow for stirring and ice if needed.