Bar Tips Archives | Party on the Rocks

Why We Have a Liquor License

January 21, 2020

Party on the Rocks loves serving the Puget Sound with bartenders and event staff for all of their party needs. But, what you may not know about us is that we are also one of the only mobile bartending companies in Seattle with a liquor license. What does that mean for you? We can provide the beer, wine, and liquor for your next event!

Obtaining and maintaining our license was a lengthy process, but we decided to take that step because it provides so much extra value for our clients. Here’s what having our liquor license means to you.

Support Local Companies

Washington is stocked full of amazing alcohol producers, and we are thrilled to have partnerships with several local breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Through our partnerships, we are able to offer competitive pricing and a great selection for you and your guests. Some of our tasty options include Columbia Valley wines from Snoqualmie Vineyard and Skyfall Vineyard, as well as a variety of beers from Georgetown Brewing, Fremont Brewing, and Pike Brewing. We are always updating and expanding our offerings, too!

Simplify Your Party

When it comes to party planning, the fewer details you need to take care of, the better! We are finding that more and more couples don’t want to supply the alcohol at their wedding, or only want to pay a certain amount before turning it into a cash bar. When you hire Party on the Rocks for your event you can bundle your bartender and liquor purchase all-in-one. We will save you time by providing everything you need for your bar and make sure you don’t end up with excess alcohol. This option works great whether you are providing a hosted bar for your guests or having them pay for drinks individually.

Maintain a Fun and Safe Event

Our liquor license requires us to meet strict requirements, such as monthly reports of all events we pour alcohol at and inspections of the alcohol we carry. When you hire us, you know that we will create a safe and fun environment for you are your guests. All of Party on the Rocks bartenders are MAST12 certified and are covered by our liability insurance.

Interested in learning more? View our menu here for information on selection and pricing. Contact us with any questions and to start your booking request!

Enjoy Your Own Party By Hiring Event Staff

October 28, 2019

Wedding season is winding down, and we are gearing up for house party season! Now, we aren’t talking about the kind of house parties you had in college. We’re talking about a more refined, private party, and how you can take it to the next level by hiring event staff or bartenders.

We all know how stressful hosting can be—so many details, so little time! If you are already offering up your home for an event, why not ease the burden a bit? Whether you are planning family gatherings, a corporate holiday party, a private fundraiser, or an engagement party—hiring a few event professionals can help everything run smoothly. It also frees you up to actually enjoy your event!

Here are the top ways event staff or bartenders can help you enjoy your private party.

Help with Event Setup

Event staff are your go-to helpers for party setup and management. We can install decor, set up tables and place settings, and help manage your other vendors. We’ll take care of the details, freeing you up to engage and have fun with your guests.

Serve Food Efficiently

Planning a lovely cocktail party? Enhance the experience with one or more servers offering passed hors-d’oeuvres to your guests. Servers can also support a seated dinner or help set up for a buffet-style meal. Servers keep you out of the kitchen and bring a whole new level of class to your event.

Offer Specialty Cocktails

Add a unique touch to your event by offering a specialty cocktail, mixed and served by a professional bartender no less. Your guests will appreciate the delicious beverage without the hassle of making it themselves.

Ensure a Safe Drinking Environment

When you are hosting a private event and offering alcohol, you take on liability for the actions of your guests. Protect yourself by outsourcing to a licensed, insured bartender who will maintain a safe drinking environment and prevent over-consumption. Party on the Rocks is covered by a $1 million liability insurance policy and only hires professionally licensed bartenders.

Avoid the Cleanup

After planning and hosting an event, we know that the last thing you want to do is deal with the cleanup. Event staff can do the dishes, take out the trash, and everything in-between. We work behind the scenes keeping everything running. At the end of the night, you won’t even be able to tell you had a party!

If you’re ready to elevate the experience of your next event, visit our website to submit a booking request! We offer competitive bartending and event staffing services. Party on the Rocks is also pleased to be able to supply the liquor for your event. Contact us to learn more!

Bottles vs. Kegs

September 12, 2019

If you are planning a wedding or event, chances are you have beer on the brain! It’s the number one question our clients ask us when planning their bar menu, and we’re here to settle the age-old debate: bottles, or kegs?

Well…. it depends!

We know. Not what you were looking for. But the truth is, bottles and kegs both deserve a spot in the beverage lineup. What is important is determining what will work best for YOUR EVENT by considering a few key factors.

Before we get into the nitty gritty details, take a moment to think about the amount of beer to serve at your event. Things like time of day, season, and guest preferences all factor in. Our rule of thumb is to plan for 60% wine and 40% beer. If you will also be serving spirits, we suggest 30% spirits, 30% beer, and 40% wine. We dive into this topic when planning your perfect bar menu, read it here if you haven’t yet!

Bottles

Here are the key reasons that bottles might be the right choice for your event.

Variety

With beer variety on the rise – it can be hard to decide on just one flavor that your guests will like. Bottles allow you to purchase different types of beer in smaller quantities, all the way down to six at a time if you like. If you go with bottles, we suggest offering no more than four types of beer in order to avoid decision-paralysis, for both you and your guests!

Leftovers

Another great perk of beer in bottles is that they stay fresh for about a year when unopened. Kegs on the other hand, last less than 24 hours unless they are stored in a kegerator. If you want to avoid wasting any unused beer, bottles are the way to go.

Ease of Service

The number one reason to choose bottles, in our opinion, is ease of service. Bottles are fast to open and serve, whether they are given to guests directly in the bottle or taken a step further and poured in a glass. For a quick and happy bar line, bottles beat kegs every time. If you only take away one thing from the bottles vs kegs debate, it should be this: Kegs take 4x longer to serve than bottles. We repeat, four times!! This is a big factor to keep in mind when you are envisioning your event, as we all know that long bar lines can throw off your schedule and cause frustration among guests.

Kegs

If you are feeling like bottles are the way to go – keep reading! Kegs still pack a punch when it comes to adding value to an event. Here are the key reasons why kegs might be right for you.

Cost

Kegs allow you to buy in bulk in a way that bottles never can because you can skip the individual packaging and labels. In some cases, kegs can be 40-60% cheaper than bottles. If you are planning to serve a large portion of your guests beer, kegs are the most economical option.

Waste

What makes bottles easy to serve is also one of their downfalls—waste. Bottles are resource-intensive to manufacture and distribute, and can end up in landfills if not properly recycled. On top of eliminating packaging, kegs are reusable. If reducing the impact of your event and bar is important to you, kegs are the way to go.

Variety (again)

While bottles won over based on the number of beer options you can offer at your event, kegs can expand the brands of beer at your disposal. Many local microbreweries don’t can or bottle their beer, but they do fill kegs. If you have a particular brewery or a specific beer that you want to share with your guests, getting a keg for your event may be the only way to serve it! While we recommend serving a maximum of four types of bottled beer, for kegs we recommend a maximum of two.

There you have it folks, our thoughts on the bottles vs kegs debate! When it comes to serving beer, bottles and kegs both have their pros and cons. Consider the factors that are most important to you when it comes to cost, variety, waste, and servability. Whichever route you end up taking will ultimately support an amazing event!

Tell us, do you have a preference between bottles and kegs? Tag us on Instagram with your thoughts!

What Every Bartender Should Have In Their Bar Kit

August 8, 2019

From measuring ingredients to muddling herbs to straining cocktails and opening beers, bartenders need a variety of supplies to get their job done. Having a good bar kit stocked with the right tools can make the difference between a quick bar line, happy guests, and a happy bartender!

We’re taking you behind the scenes to show you the top ten items every bartender should keep in their bar kit. Whether you’re a professional bartender or just looking to up your at-home mixology game, this post is for you!

1. Cocktail Shaker

A bartender’s best friend, a cocktail shaker is a necessity for your bar kit. We use Boston Shakers, which are two-part shakers consisting of a glass and a metal tin. Another option is a cobbler shaker (which includes a strainer), but we find the Boston Shaker to be the most user-friendly!

2. Cocktail Strainer

The sidekick to the shaker, a cocktail strainer keeps the ice and other non-liquid ingredients out of your final cocktail. Shown above is the Hawthorne Strainer, which works perfectly with a Boston Shaker.

3. Muddler

Mash fruit, herbs, or spices into the bottom of a glass (think a mojito!)

4. Jigger

A jigger is an hourglass-shaped measuring device for accurately pouring alcohol. They come in multiple sizes, with the standard being 1.5 oz on one side and 1 oz on the other.

5. Flat top Bottle Opener

Speed open beer bottles in quick succession with this handy tool.

6. Wine Key

The preferred wine opener, a wine key has a knife to cut the seal on top of the wine bottle, and corkscrew to remove the cork.

7. Pairing Knife & Cutting Board

Cocktails aren’t just about the liquor. For garnishing and flavoring drinks, you’ll need a versatile pairing knife and cutting board to peel and chop fresh fruit and herbs.

8. Pour spouts for the five most common types of liquor

A pour spout fits snugly into the top of a liquor bottle and is essential for smooth, consistent pouring and measuring. We keep pour spouts for the five most common types of liquor in our bar kit: Vodka, Gin, Tequila, Rum, and Whiskey

9. Cocktail Stir Spoon

Not just any old spoon! Also known as a Bar Spoon, this spoon has an elongated handle and is specially designed for mixing around the inside edge of a glass.

10. Two Bar Towels

Thick absorbent bar towels always come in handy. From wiping up spills to drying off your hands and polishing glasses – we always carry at least two with us in our bar kit!

With these ten essential items you are ready to tackle anything the bar throws at you. Feeling inspired to make some cocktails? Check out our recipes for classic and beginner cocktail recipes!

How to Pick Signature Cocktails

March 21, 2019

Trying to decide what “signature cocktails” to offer for a wedding or event? Signature cocktails are a fun and creative way to personalize your bar menu – and picking them should be too!

In our recent post on how to plan your perfect bar menu, we broke down the amount, type, and variety of beverages to serve at any event. Today we are taking it one step further to talk about how to pick your signature cocktails. Hint: simplicity is key!

Here are our top no-stress tips for picking signature cocktails that you, and your guests, will love.

Offer only one or two options

We suggest having one, or a maximum of two, signature cocktails at an event. The more options you give, the longer it takes your guests to choose and move through the bar line. You should spend your time drinking signature cocktails, not waiting in line for them!

Stay on theme

If your wedding or event has a theme, incorporate it into the bar! We often pair specialty cocktails based on food, such as mojitos or margaritas with Mexican food, or a Negroni with Italian. You can also pick based on your colors!

His & Hers, His & His, or Hers & Hers

If you can’t decide on just one, this is a great option for couples! Base it on each person’s favorite drink, or, just pick something that you’ll enjoy.

In honor of

A special way to memorialize someone who can’t attend your event is to serve their favorite cocktail. Your guests will love sharing in that special memory with you.

Have fun!

Signature cocktails do not need to perfectly sum up your past and future relationship in a glass – that’s a lot of pressure for one cocktail. If you DO have a drink that is meaningful to you – use it! But if not, don’t stress. Above all, signature cocktails are a fun way to share a beverage with your guests. The most important criteria, of any beverage, is that it’s delicious!

Don’t try to please everyone

Our clients often get concerned that their guests won’t like the cocktails they pick. To that we say, don’t worry about it! As long as you are providing another option like a wine or beer, your guests will be more than taken care of. Think of specialty drinks as another fun way to include your family and friends in things that you really like.

Pick a spirit that you normally drink

If you don’t know where to start, first pick a type of alcohol that you normally drink. This will help you narrow in on the types of drinks that you will probably enjoy. If you are offering two cocktails, we suggest having one clear spirit and one brown spirit. Whiskey and Vodka are the two spirits we work with the most!

Rename a classic

Make your drink feel extra special with some personalization. Instead of a vodka soda, rename it!

Sample, Sample, Sample!

Our number one tip is to sample cocktail options before you commit. Go out to your favorite bar and try out a few that you are interested in. This saves you from buying all of the ingredients that you may or may not use again, and it’s the perfect date night! You can also go on Pinterest, Etsy, or Instagram for inspiration … there are so many great options to chose from!

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Still having trouble deciding? Ask your bartending service for recommendations. Here is a short list of some of our favorite tried-and-true specialty cocktails. You can’t go wrong with one of these!

Moscow Mule
Margarita
Mojito
Old Fashioned
Whiskey Rose (try this one!)

What are your favorite specialty cocktails? Leave a comment or tag us @partyontherocksseattle to let us know!

Greening Your Bar Service

February 17, 2019

Five tips for a sustainable bar

Last summer, we started thinking more about our practices and the ways that we, as a company, are having an impact on the environment. We know that there is a great deal of waste generated in the food and beverage industry, and in large events especially.

To help reduce our impact we started with what we know the best – the bar! Here are a few of the things we changed in our own practices, including tips for how you can green up your bar service.

Reusable or compostable

The first step was eliminating or reducing as much single-use plastic as we could from the bar. The best way to do this is to incorporate reusable glassware whenever possible. However, we also recognized that availability for glass was dependent on the venue and sometimes the caterer. Our second-best option was to switch to compostable glasses. Compostable glasses typically break down in 90 days or so, compared to hundreds of years for plastic. No brainer!

Ditch the Straws

According to an article by Kate Bratskeir, in the US alone, over 500 million straws are used every day. Another simple way to reduce waste is to get rid of straws. There are new fantastic stainless steel reusable straws for personal use, but that doesn’t necessarily work in an event setting. In most of our cocktails, we simply use our stir spoon and present a ready to drink cocktail!

Make the Most of Ingredients

Greening the bar means also focusing on what goes in the glass. For cocktails, we often need fresh fruit and herbs. But, a lot of recipes call for only a portion of those ingredients, such as the zest of a lemon or the peel of an orange. This can lead to a lot of unused food waste at the bar. One way we combat this is by advising our clients to select only one or two specialty cocktails, which allows us to minimize the number of ingredients we are working with. Then, we also consider our full menu of drinks and how the ingredients can work together. For instance, if we are using the peel of orange for an old fashioned, we might pair that with a cocktail that uses the juice of the orange like a Campari Cosmo. (note I like this and try to use it in practice)

Water Stations

Eliminating plastic water bottles from the bar is another great way to reduce waste. All you need is a dispensable water container and the same reusable or compostable glasses that you are serving cocktails in. If your caterer doesn’t provide these, we can! This also provides the opportunity for your guests who don’t drink to have a yummy fruit/herb infused beverage. Just ask us if you want some fun recommendations!

Closing the Loop

At the end of the night when it’s time to pick up, the bar is when all of our green practices come together. It’s been great to see so many new venues and catering companies starting to provide composting service. We make sure that all waste is segregated at any venue that offers this service.

These are a few small steps that Party on the Rocks has made so far, and we continue to look for new ways to reduce the resources we use and the waste we generate. We are also thrilled to see the wedding and event industry also moving in this direction. What are your best tips for

The Perfect Bar Menu

January 24, 2019

There are a lot of ways you can set up the bar for your wedding or event. If you haven’t hosted large events before, it can seem overwhelming to decide! How much alcohol will you need? Should you serve only beer and wine, or spirits too? What about signature cocktails?

Getting the right balance of the type of alcohol and the amount of alcohol is key.

To help you plan your perfect bar menu, we’ve put together the most common questions we get asked by our clients, along with some of the biggest do’s and don’ts that we’ve seen.

Question #1 – How much alcohol do I need?

This is hands down the most common question we get asked. You don’t want to run out, and you also don’t want to end up with cases of wine leftover. To ensure our clients have just the right amount and stay within their budget, we use a simple guest to alcohol ratio.

First, take the number of guests at the event, and multiply by the number of hours of bar service. You will do this for up to a maximum of 4 hours.

Our rule of thumb is to plan for no more than 4 drinks per person during an evening. This helps to ensure everyone is safe and responsible, and that you have the right amount of alcohol. Let’s take a 100-person wedding as an example that has a total of 6 hours of bar service. Even though the bar is open for 6 hours, we will multiply our number of drinks by 4. In this case, you would need 400 drinks. Then, depending on the type of drinks you will be serving, we can determine the exact amount to purchase.

Question #2: What type of alcohol to serve?

This is a big one, and there are a lot of options to consider! We have a few common ratios to help guide you, but the most important thing to take into consideration is your guests. You know them the best – are they strictly beer drinkers? Or will they have an occasional cocktail? This can help you decide whether to offer simply a beer and wine selection or to add in spirits, and the relative amounts of each.

If you aren’t sure of your guests’ preferences, here are a few common ratios: For beer and wine, we suggest 60% wine and 40% beer. If you will also be serving spirits, we suggest 30% spirits, 30% beer, and 40% wine.

Question #3: How much variety?

A lof our clients worry about offering a wide-enough variety for their guests and “having something for everyone”. While it’s important to offer a mix of options, offering too many is one of the biggest mistakes you can make! The goal is to offer a selected group of alcohol that your guests can enjoy. Too many options will only end up backfiring.

Imagine that you open your fridge and you have 20 different types of beer, 10 varietals of wine, and the makings for 8 cocktails. How will you ever choose?? You will be standing there all night making up your mind!

That’s exactly how option-overload can feel for your guests. This can lead to long bar lines, frustrated guests, and a frazzled bartender.

To avoid this common mistake, follow these guidelines to determine the variety within each alcohol type.

Wine

Offer at least a white and a red wine, and perhaps a rose. Then, provide a maximum of two different types of each.

Beer

It’s easy to over-buy on beer, especially in Washington where we have an amazing selection of local beer. But, this is not the time for variety packs. Here’s what we suggest:

For kegs: provide two different types of beer
For bottles and cans: provide no more than four types of beer.

Another important note is that serving beer in kegs takes four times as long as bottles or cans. If you really want to keep your bar line moving, you may want to stick with bottles and cans.

Spirits

If you are going to include spirits on the menu, simplicity is key. We suggest a maximum of two cocktail options. This will help your guests avoid decision stress, and allow the bartender to efficiently serve your entire event.

Question #4: What type of cocktails to serve?

Specialty drinks can be a lot of fun, and there are so many directions you can go in! As with the rest of your bar menu, having a couple of select options for your guests is more than enough. Batch drinks that are non-carbonated are a great option because they can be prepped in advance. Some of our favorites are margaritas, Moscow Mules, and mixed drinks such as whiskey and coke. Keep it simple!

Question #5: How many bartenders do you need?

The number of bartenders needed will increase with your number of guests and the complexity of your bar menu. One bartender can effectively serve about 100 guests if you are only serving beer and wine. As your guest list grows to over 100, think about adding a second bartender. If you are also serving spirits, you will want a second bartender if you have more than 75 guests.

As bartenders, our number one goal is to make sure your guests have a fun, safe, and enjoyable experience! Keeping your bar menu simple is the number one piece of advice that we hope you follow.

For more ideas, check out our sample bar menu below. What would you include on your perfect bar menu? Let us know!

Why you should hire a licensed and insured bartender for your party

October 29, 2018

Whether you’re hosting a private party for twenty, or planning a wedding for 200, hiring a bartender for your event has a ton of perks. Not only do they ensure your guests are taken care of, they keep things running smoothly and free the host up to enjoy the event too! However, not all bartenders are the same. Here is why you should hire a licensed and insured bartender for your party (and not a friend or family member).

Protect yourself from liability

Serving alcohol inherently comes with liability, plus regulations that vary based on venue and location. In the State of Washington, a bartender can be held liable for damages if they serve alcohol to someone who causes an accident or inflicts harm to a third party. Known as dram shop laws, this means that anyone injured by an intoxicated person has the right to sue the individual who provided the alcohol. Without an insured bartender, event hosts could be held liable, especially if minors are involved.

Know your state liquor laws

Your best friend’s cousin might make a mean cocktail, but you still shouldn’t hire her for your wedding. A licensed bartender is more than a mixologist, they are also well versed in the laws and regulations of your state. They are trained to spot fake IDs and know when a guest may have had too much to drink. Many venues even require the use of a licensed bartender.

It’s important to know that liquor liability varies widely from state to state. Be aware of what your local regulations are so that you can protect yourself, and your guests.

Licensed and insured bartenders really make all of the difference when it comes to the safety of your event. If you are planning an event in Seattle or the Greater Puget Sound area, consider Party on the Rocks! We take partying (and safety!) seriously. All of our bartenders are licensed, professionally trained, and are covered by our $1 million liability insurance. We offer full-service bartending, event staffing, and we can even supply the alcohol for your party.

Learn more about our services and how they can help you take back your right to party.