The bottle-costing formula
Divide the bottle price by the bottle size, then multiply by the pour amount. Add mixers, garnish, ice, and packaging only when they are direct costs for the drink you are checking.
Spirit cost per drink = bottle price ÷ bottle size × pour amount
Illustrative cocktail example
A $30 bottle contains 750 ml and the recipe uses 45 ml. The spirit portion is $30 ÷ 750 × 45 = $1.80. With $2.00 of direct mixer or other cost, total example drink cost is $3.80. At a $20 example selling price, profit is $16.20 and margin is 81.0%.
Keep the bottle and recipe inputs clear
- Use the same compatible volume unit for bottle size and pour amount.
- Enter a bottle purchase price for this calculation; the tool is not an inventory valuation system.
- Add direct mixers or recipe costs separately so a change is easy to review.
- Compare a possible selling price without treating the result as a guarantee of business performance.