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Free Cocktail Recipe Calculator

Scale your cocktail recipe to any batch size, by servings or to perfectly fill a chosen container.

1 Recipe Name

2 Ingredients

Add all ingredients for your single serving recipe.

3 Scale Recipe

Choose how you want to scale your recipe.

By Servings

Scale for a specific number of drinks

By Volume

Fill a specific container size

4 Dilution

Add water to simulate the dilution from ice melting (optional).

0%
No Dilution
Fresh mixing
18%
Spirit-Forward
Stirred cocktails
25%
Shaken Style
Juice-based drinks
Custom
Your Choice
%

5 Notes (Optional)

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What you can do with this Cocktail Recipe Calculator?

The Cocktail Recipe Calculator is a specialized scaling tool designed to help bartenders, cocktail enthusiasts, and event planners accurately scale their favorite drink recipes for any occasion. This precision tool helps you maintain perfect flavor balance while scaling from single servings to large batches. With this calculator, you can:

  • Accurately scale any cocktail recipe from 1 serving to hundreds of servings while maintaining proper ratios
  • Convert recipes between different volume measurements (ounces, milliliters, liters, gallons)
  • Account for dilution effects when pre-batching cocktails for events and parties
  • Maintain consistent flavor profiles across different batch sizes
  • Calculate exact ingredient quantities for large-scale events and catering
  • Save time on manual calculations and reduce ingredient waste from measurement errors

How to use our Cocktail Recipe Calculator?

Follow these simple steps to get the most out of our Cocktail Recipe Calculator:

1. Enter Recipe Name

Start by naming your cocktail recipe (e.g., “Classic Whiskey Sour” or “Signature Margarita”).

This helps you keep track of different recipes and makes printing easier.

2. Add Ingredients

For each ingredient in your single-serving recipe, provide:

  • Ingredient name – Enter the specific ingredient (e.g., Bourbon Whiskey, Fresh Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup)
  • Amount – Enter how much of this ingredient is used in one serving, using precise measurements
  • Unit – Select the appropriate unit of measurement (oz, ml, tsp, tbsp, dash, or piece)

Click “Add Ingredient” to include additional components in your cocktail recipe. You can remove ingredients using the red X button if needed.

3. Choose Your Scaling Method

Select how you want to scale your recipe:

  • By Servings – Enter the total number of drinks you want to make (e.g., 50 servings for a party)
  • By Volume – Enter the total volume you want to fill (e.g., 1 gallon punch bowl or 2 liter dispenser)

4. Set Dilution Level

Choose the appropriate dilution percentage to account for ice melt:

  • 0% – No Dilution – For fresh mixing where ice will be added during service
  • 18% – Spirit-Forward – Ideal for stirred cocktails like Old Fashioneds or Martinis
  • 25% – Shaken Style – Perfect for shaken drinks with citrus and mixers
  • Custom – Set your own dilution percentage based on your specific needs

5. Add Notes (Optional)

Include any preparation instructions, garnish details, or serving suggestions that will help during preparation and service.

6. Calculate and Review Results

Click “Calculate Recipe” to generate your scaled recipe. The results will show:

  • Original Recipe – Your base single-serving recipe with dilution applied if selected
  • Scaled Recipe – The exact quantities needed for your target batch size
  • Both recipes will maintain the same proportions and include dilution calculations when applicable

7. Print Your Recipe

Use the “Print Recipe” button to create a clean, kitchen-friendly printout showing both the original and scaled versions. This is perfect for reference during preparation or for sharing with your team.

The calculator automatically converts measurements to the most practical format, showing common fractions (½, ¼, ¾) when appropriate, making it easy to measure ingredients accurately even in large quantities.

Free Cocktail Recipe Calculator FAQs

To scale a cocktail recipe for a large party, use a cocktail scaling calculator to maintain proper ingredient ratios. First, enter your single-serving recipe with exact measurements for each ingredient. Then choose your scaling method: either specify the number of servings needed (e.g., 50 drinks) or the total volume required (e.g., 2 gallons for a punch bowl). The calculator will automatically convert all ingredients proportionally while preserving the original flavor balance. For large batches, consider adding 18-25% dilution to account for reduced ice contact compared to individually prepared drinks.

Dilution refers to the water content that gets added to cocktails through ice melting during the mixing process. When scaling cocktail recipes for batch preparation, you need to account for this dilution since large batches won't get the same ice contact as individual drinks. Spirit-forward cocktails typically need 15-20% dilution, while shaken drinks with citrus require 20-25% dilution. Adding the appropriate amount of water to your scaled batch ensures the final cocktails taste identical to individually prepared drinks.

Yes, cocktail recipe calculators can easily convert between different units of measurement. The standard conversion is 1 fluid ounce equals approximately 29.57 milliliters. Most professional bartending uses metric measurements (ml), while home bartenders often prefer ounces. When scaling recipes, you can input ingredients in any unit (oz, ml, tsp, tbsp) and convert the final batch to your preferred measurement system for easier preparation.

Maintaining cocktail quality in batch preparation requires precise scaling and proper dilution calculations. Use exact measurements from your perfected single-serving recipe as the foundation. Account for dilution by adding 15-25% water depending on the cocktail style. Prepare acidic ingredients (citrus juices) fresh and add them close to serving time. Store batched cocktails properly chilled and stir gently before serving to ensure consistent flavor distribution throughout the batch.

Scaling by servings means multiplying your recipe by the exact number of drinks needed (e.g., 30 servings = 30x each ingredient). Scaling by volume means filling a specific container to capacity (e.g., a 1-gallon dispenser). Volume scaling is useful for punch bowls, beverage dispensers, or when you have a fixed container size. The calculator determines how many servings will fit in your target volume and scales ingredients accordingly. Both methods maintain proper ratios but serve different preparation needs.

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