Don’t set your wedding drinks list before you read this: Insider tips from The Banksia Beverage Company

Planning your wedding bar menu is about more than just picking a few spirits and a house wine. It is an opportunity to inject personality into your celebration and ensure your guests are well looked after from the first toast to the final dance. We recently sat down with Rav from The Banksia Beverage Company to get an insider’s perspective on what makes a wedding drinks list truly memorable.

For Rav, the process is deeply personal. “The whole process is very sentimental to us, being trusted with the beverages on huge occasions,” he explains. Whether it is modifying an Espresso Martini to recreate a specific holiday memory for a groom or featuring bespoke menu designs with animations of a couple’s beloved dogs, Arlo and Ava, these small details create the biggest smiles. “In another favourite example, we stepped away from cocktails to source a specific whiskey for the father of the bride. Seeing him enjoy that with proper snifter glasses was incredibly special.”

When it comes to the drinks themselves, Rav notes that modern couples are prioritising inclusivity and balance. From the rise of sophisticated mocktails to the resurgence of tropical Tiki classics, here is the professional guide to building your wedding cocktail list.

1. The low-ABV star: The Banksia Spritz

If you are looking for the ultimate wedding drink, Rav names this as the winner by a landslide. “It is tall, refreshing, fruity, and not very boozy at all,” he says. It is the perfect choice for those lovely summer weddings when you have to be on your game for the entire day and night. This signature serve balances local craft spirits with bright, native botanicals.

Ingredients: Beyond Distilling vodka, signature lemon myrtle sherbet, and zingy citrus.

2. The inclusive choice: Hazy Days Margarita (Mocktail)

Modern weddings are moving beyond basic juice and soda for non-drinkers. Rav suggests offering a non-alcoholic counterpart that feels just as celebratory as the original. This bright, citrus-heavy margarita ensures every guest feels included in the toast.

Ingredients: Fresh lime, fresh orange, blood orange, and house-made lime sherbet.

3. The holiday vibe: Dark and Stormy (Tiki style)

Tiki drinks are making a major comeback because they encapsulate the holiday spirit that comes with a wedding celebration. Rav notes that these drinks sit on the stronger side and highlight tropical flavours. They look incredible in photographs and add a punchy, adventurous element to the bar.

Ingredients: Sailor Jerry rum, Kraken Dark Rum, house pineapple shrub, ginger bitters, lime, and Bundaberg ginger beer.

4. The comfortable classic: Aperol Spritz (Tall drink)

Tall drinks and soda spritz varieties are a fantastic angle for weddings because they are comfortable drinks that go the whole way. They provide a great mix of sweet syrups and bright citrus, elongated with sparkling wine or soda to keep the energy light and bubbly.

Ingredients: Aperol, Prosecco, soda water, and a slice of fresh orange.

5. The crowd favourite: Amaretto Sour

While trends shift, the classics remain in a league of their own. Rav confirms that drinks like the Amaretto Sour, Espresso Martini, and classic Margarita aren’t going anywhere soon. The Amaretto Sour is a sophisticated choice for the cocktail hour or as a transition into the evening reception.

Ingredients: Amaretto liqueur, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white (or aquafaba), and a dash of Angostura bitters.

Your wedding drinks should be as unique as your love story. Whether you want to recreate a sentimental memory or ensure your non-drinking guests have a premium experience, the right team makes all the difference.

Ready to plan your bar menu?

Browse our directory of expert wedding caterers and mobile bars

Click here