How To Batch Nautical Cocktails For Your Next Boat Trip

by Joshua Soriano July 19, 2022

Ahoy, mateys! When you're out on the open sea, there's nothing quite like enjoying a refreshing cocktail. But who wants to spend time mixing drinks for the crowd when you could be enjoying the view? That's where batch cocktails come in.

In this blog post, we'll show you how to batch nautical cocktails ahead of time so you can relax and enjoy your boat trip!

What is a Batch Cocktail?

Batching is the term mixologists use to describe large quantities of a drink poured into one container, whether it’s a bottle, bowl, or pitcher. You just need the following bar and kitchen items:

The Basics of Batching

The tricky part about batching is the dilution process. Strong cocktails benefit from a bit of water and ice, but you don’t want to add too much. Pre-dilution between 20% and 30% is the best range for cocktails.

Cocktails with milk, egg whites, and other perishable ingredients are not ideal for batching. If the batch contains citrus, don’t leave it exposed to the elements for more than two days. Keep it refrigerated if you want to make it last. Other than these restrictions, batching is pretty straightforward.

Some cocktail purists might demand a more detailed procedure with scales and other complex mixology tools, but the quick and simple method is ideal for beginners. Follow each drink's ingredients and batching steps, and you’ll have a delicious cocktail batch in no time!

How to Batch Nautical Cocktails

Based on their ingredients and the simplicity of each recipe, these five nautical cocktails are perfect for batching on your next boat adventure. But first, remember to drink responsibly. Boating accidents saw a 26.3% increase from 2019 to 2020 — and you don’t want to contribute to this trend. Now, let’s get into the drinks!

Sea Breeze

Sea Breeze is a refreshing drink with vodka, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice. It's perfect for summer days on the boat or at the beach. Here's how to make a big batch of Sea Breeze cocktails.

Ingredients

2 oz. Vodka
1 oz. Cranberry juice
3 oz. Grapefruit juice
Lime for garnish
Ice

How to Batch

Measure and pour the liquid ingredients from one serving into the measuring jug, then write down the total fluid ounces.
Transfer the ingredients to a highball glass, add ice and stir until you achieve the desired taste and consistency.
Once it tastes perfect, strain the mixture into the measuring jug and take note of the increase in fluid ounces. The increase signifies the amount of water per serving you need to batch the recipe.
Now that you have the correct amount of water, just multiply all the ingredients in a pitcher or bowl until you have enough servings to satisfy the whole party.
Display the lime garnishes and a set of highball glasses next to the bowl or pitcher to complete the scene. That’s it!

Recipe Note

Since this recipe has a high amount of citrus, you should try to make the batch as close to your boat trip as possible and keep it refrigerated to ensure freshness.

Dark ‘N’ Stormy

The old Dark ‘N’ Stormy — also known as the sailor’s drink — is a cocktail made exclusively with dark rum, a healthy dose of ginger beer, and a touch of lime juice. These ingredients will affect the batching process more than you think. Here are the specific measurements:

Ingredients

2 oz. Dark rum
3-4 oz. Ginger beer
1/2 oz. Lime juice
Lime for garnish
Ice

How to Batch

Measure and pour the dark rum and lime juice into the measuring jug first, stir, then add your preferred amount of ginger beer last.
Transfer the ingredients to a double old-fashioned glass, add ice and stir again.
Once it tastes perfect, strain the mixture into the measuring jug and take note of the increase in fluid ounces.
Multiply all the ingredients in your 2-liter bottles until you have enough to serve an entire group.
Place the lime garnishes and double old-fashioned glasses next to the bottle.

Recipe Note

A bottle is a good choice for serving Dark ‘N’ Stormy because of the drink’s pirate theme. Don’t use a bowl for this recipe. Although the amount of ginger beer is up to you, you must keep the measurement consistent throughout the batch. Don’t bounce back and forth between 3 and 4 ounces.

Bright ‘N’ Windy

Bright ‘N’’ Windy is the yin to the Dark ‘N’ Stormy’s yang, both in name and flavor. It has similar ingredients, except rum gets swapped out for gin to create a contrasting pearl-white color. Here is the concoction in detail.

Ingredients

2 oz. Gin
3 oz. Ginger beer
Lime for garnish
Ice

How to Batch

Measure and pour the gin into the measuring cup, squeeze a touch of lime juice into the gin, and stir. Add the ginger beer last.
Transfer the ingredients to a double old-fashioned glass, add ice and stir again.
Strain the mixture into the measuring jug and take note of the increase in fluid ounces.
Multiply all the ingredients in a bottle or pitcher until you have enough servings for an entire party.
Put the lime garnishes and double-old-fashioned glasses next to the bottle or pitcher.

Recipe Note

The recipe calls for less ginger beer and no lime juice to emphasize the gin’s pine-like flavor notes. Since this cocktail doesn’t have any citrus liquids, you can mix it several days before your boat trip and still have a fresh batch.

Anchors Away

Anchors Away is perhaps the most citrusy cocktail on the list, with healthy doses of orange juice, sweet vermouth, gin, Cointreau, and soda water. This summery drink is perfect for sipping on a hot day.

Ingredients

1-1/2 oz. Gin
3/4 oz. Sweet vermouth
3/4 oz. Cointreau
3/4 oz. Orange juice
Soda water
Orange slice for garnish
Ice

How to Batch

Measure and pour the liquor ingredients first, followed by the orange juice and soda water.
Transfer the ingredients to the cocktail shaker , add ice and shake.
Strain the mixture into the measuring jug and take note of the increase in fluid ounces.
Multiply all the ingredients in a bowl or pitcher until you have enough servings to make enough servings for the entire gathering.
Lastly, place the orange garnishes and a set of snifter glasses beside the pitcher.

Recipe Note

Although the other cocktails on this list are best served in highball or old-fashioned glasses, the snifter is the best choice for this citrus-heavy drink. It looks like a wine glass, but a wider bottom allows plenty of room for the various ingredients to mix amicably.

Fog Horn

The Fog Horn is one of the simplest cocktails around, which makes it ideal for batching. It's invigorating, light, and uses only three liquid ingredients.

Ingredients

1-1/2 oz. Gin
3/4 oz. Lime juice
4 oz. Ginger ale or ginger beer
Lime for garnish
Ice

How to Batch

Measure and pour the gin and lime juice first. Stir the gin and juice before adding the ginger ale/beer.
Transfer the ingredients to a double old-fashioned glass, add ice and stir again.
Strain the mixture into the measuring jug and take note of the increase in fluid ounces.
Multiply all the ingredients in a bottle or pitcher until you have enough servings for the whole party.
Display the lime garnishes and a set of double old-fashioned glasses next to the bottle or pitcher.

Recipe Note

Ginger ale might be the better option if you get seasick, while ginger beer is the clear choice if you want to throw a real party. Either way will yield a delicious result.

Tips for Batching Cocktails

If you're using citrus juice , squeeze it fresh before adding it to the pitcher or jar.
Avoid using cheap, bottom-shelf liquor. Good quality spirits will make a big difference in the taste of your cocktails.
Add some sparkling water to help dilute the cocktails and make them more refreshing.
Garnish each drink individually so that everyone can choose their garnish, or you can leave them off altogether.

Batch Cocktails FAQ

How are batch cocktails calculated?

The most important thing is to decide how many cocktails you want to make. A good rule of thumb is to make enough for four people, giving you a good amount to enjoy without having too much left over.

Another thing to remember is that you want to use higher-proof alcohol (at least 80 proof) for your batch cocktails. This is because the liquor will be diluted when mixed with the other ingredients.

How far in advance can you batch cocktails?

You can batch cocktails up to two days in advance. Just make sure to keep them refrigerated until you're ready to serve.

How long are batched cocktails good for?

Under normal circumstances, batched cocktails will last up to two weeks in the fridge. But if you're batching for a boat trip, you'll want to consume them within a week to be safe.

Can you batch any cocktail?

Yes, you can batch any cocktail as long as it doesn't require fresh citrus or other fruit juices that will spoil quickly.

How do you serve a batched cocktail?

There are a few ways to serve a batched cocktail. The most common method is to pour it into a pitcher or punch bowl and let everyone serve themselves. You can also pre-pour the cocktails into glasses and put them on ice until guests arrive.

If you're feeling fancy, you can even garnish each glass with a sprig of fresh herbs or a slice of fruit. No matter how you choose to serve your batched cocktails, remember to be safe and have fun!

Conclusion

Managing food and beverages on a boat trip can be challenging, but batching cocktails in advance can be a huge time-saver if you're hosting a party or gathering for friends and family. Choose your favorite cocktail from these five options and follow the step-by-step batching instructions so you can stay refreshed out at sea!

Do you have any recommendations for batching cocktails? Share them in the comments below!