Raise your hand if you’ve been to a wedding or fundraiser or corporate party that had an open bar, but the drinks were weak, the choices were limited, and the wine was bad. We’ve all been there, but the drinks are what make a party, so the bar service should be stellar. But, what makes a stellar bar service, and what even is bar catering?
If booking a bar for your upcoming event has ever seemed overwhelming, confusing, or limited, we break down everything you need to know so you’re equipped to have the best possible bar catering experience.
WHAT IS BAR CATERING AND WHAT DOES IT INCLUDE?
Bar catering, also referred to as beverage catering, is just like choosing food caterers, but for your beverage service. When choosing the food options while planning your event, you expect the food to wow and delight your guests. Bar catering aims to do the same with your drinks. Sometimes, food caterers can also provide a beverage service, but their expertise is the food, so the drinks often become an afterthought. By hiring a company that only provides the bar service, you’re guaranteeing a hassle-free and easy planning experience that will wow the guests at your event.
A bar service includes trained and certified bartenders, alcohol, mixers, ice, equipment, glasses, and garnishes at the minimum. But, bar catering can be elevated to anything you can dream of from signature cocktails to amazing products at reasonable prices. At Peak Beverage, we focus on the bar, and know how to provide the perfect service for any event at any budget. Check out our blog on How to Hire a Wedding Bartender if you’re looking for more information.
TERMS TO KNOW
All-Inclusive
At Peak Beverage, we provide an all-inclusive bar service, and when we say all-inclusive, we mean it. Our all-inclusive hosted packages include all products, TABC/TIPS-trained bartenders, glassware, garnishes, mixers, setup and breakdown, and a guarantee that we will never run out of product during an event. With our packages, you pay one price per guest for an unlimited open bar — a fixed price per hour at the beginning that won’t change based on consumption levels. Learn more about what makes Peak’s all-inclusive bar packages unique.
BYOB (Bring Your Own Booze)
When you choose to do a BYOB bar for an event, you’re choosing to provide your own alcohol. You can hire different bartending companies that provide ranges of service, from labor-only (where all they provide is the bartenders) to including mixers and equipment. BYOB open bars are often difficult to organize, and determining alcohol quantities, as well as managing safety issues, lies with you.
If you’re curious about which option is better for you between all-inclusive or traditional BYOB services, read more HERE.
Cash Bar
If you host an event with a cash bar, your guests pay for the alcohol. Cash bars are great for fundraisers and charity events, but for most weddings, hosts tend to choose consumption or all-inclusive models.
Consumption
When you host a bar on a consumption-based model, the bartenders keep track of the alcohol served during the duration of the event, then charge you for the amount consumed at the end. Consumption model bars can be useful when you know you have a crowd of very light drinkers. Some bar services, including Peak, can offer hybrid models of cash bar and consumption.* You could have a bar that’s consumption-based until the guests drink to a determined dollar amount, at which point the bar becomes a cash bar.
*This depends on the state liquor laws – see our FAQs for more info on what type of bars we can offer in your state.
Open Bar
When you think of the bar service at weddings or other parties, you may be used to hearing the term “open bar.” This just means that you, the host, are paying for the alcohol, not the guests. Peak’s all-inclusive packages and consumption model are both open bar service models.
TABC/TIPS-Certified Bartenders
When hiring wedding bartenders or any event bartenders, you’ll want to make sure they are certified to bartend in the state they’re operating in. Each state has different requirements for bartenders and it usually involves taking a class and passing an exam to safely and legally bartend. Having TABC (Texas) or TIPS (Colorado) trained bartenders is essential to ensure the safety at your event. At Peak, we make safety a priority. Our bartenders are TABC or TIPS certified and extensively trained by us to follow safety protocols and manage responsible consumption. You can trust us to make your favorite drinks while also looking out for you and your guests.
BAR CATERING HOSTED PACKAGES
Peak Beverage offers several types of fully-hosted bar catering packages. Our packages range from House Beer & Wine to Top Shelf packages, and we even have a package that features all local liquors! We include complimentary champagne toasts with every package, and have a wonderful menu of over 60 signature cocktails. We also can customize any package to make sure you have the perfect bar for your event.
Package Feature – Local Spirits
Do you dream of having a bar that represents your state? We’ve created packages for both Colorado and Texas that feature all local liquors special to your state. Choose Taste of the Rockies or Taste of Texas when filling out your proposal to get a quote with all local products.
There are so many options for customizing your bar. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. We’ve compiled a list of unique bar catering options to wow you guest and have them talking for years to come.
WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT TO BUDGET FOR YOUR EVENT BAR?
Budgeting for a bar service can be tricky. You can expect to allocate around 10-20% of your budget to the bar. There’s the bartenders, the booze, the glassware, the mixers, the garnishes, the bar supplies, the ice, the tables, and linens, and trash cans. If you pay for each individually, you’ll want to make sure not to forget anything, and account for each guest to have on average 2-3 drinks per person. Bartenders range in price, but are typically about $50 per hour per bartender. And you’ll want at least one bartender and one bar back for every 50 guests. If keeping track of that sounds complicated, consider using Peak’s all-inclusive service instead. Our prices begin at as low as $18 per guest. We provide a fixed price per guest based on the number of event hours for unlimited alcohol and top-notch service.
HOW TO BOOK AN EVENT BAR
Great! You’ve booked your event venue and now you’re ready to book the bar. Booking a bar with Peak is incredibly easy.
1. Reach out to our team by filling out a proposal.
2. While you wait for a response, browse our amazing package options to see which all-inclusive package makes the most sense for your event and needs. And check out our Instagram page or Pinterest profile for inspiration on ways to make your bar unique.
3. Our dedicated Client Sales Representative will get back to you within 48 business hours with a personalized and detailed quote.
4. Lock in your date and price with a down payment.
5. Schedule a private tasting for a highly personalized experience to pick your perfect wine and cocktail list.*
6. Have the most amazing event of your life and rest easy knowing the bar will be handled to perfection!
*Private tastings incur an additional fee.
Want to know more about bar catering, check out our blog for more articles.