Frequently Asked Questions
Everything people ask us before they book, answered honestly. If your question isn't here, just ask.
Getting started
What does Spirit Forward actually do?
We are a Philadelphia based craft cocktail mixology team. We show up to your space with a full bar, a menu built for your occasion, and bartenders who do this for a living. Want a full cocktail package? We can do that. Just need excellent bar staffing for a night? We do that too.
Where do you work?
Philadelphia is home. We work across Montgomery County and the Main Line, Chester County, Bucks County, Delaware County, and into South Jersey. We are based in Philadelphia but we love to travel, and we have gone as far as the Jersey shore and Lancaster County.
How far ahead should I book?
Sooner is better for the busy stretches, which are the holidays, graduation season, and late spring and fall. December fills first. If your date is close, ask anyway. We can almost always make it work.
Do you have a minimum guest count?
No hard minimum. Most of our events run 50 to 350 guests, and we have a micro-event package for intimate weddings and smaller parties. Tell us the number and we'll size the bar to it.
What if I have no idea what I want to serve?
Good. That's the fun part. We can work with anything from "I have no idea, but I love vodka" to "I'd like you to recreate this gin cocktail that has strawberry shrub and basil that we ordered on our first date", we can make that happen.
The alcohol
Do I really have to buy the alcohol myself?
Yes, Pennsylvania law requires it, and it is good news for your budget. Alcohol costs are merely a passthrough as opposed to a bloated package you have to find room for. As specifically event and mobile bartenders, Spirit Forward doesn't hold a physical liquor license, as we do not sell alcohol in any capacity.
Can you buy the alcohol and add it to my bill?
No, and be wary of anyone without a liquor license who offers. In Pennsylvania that would be an unlicensed sale of alcohol.
How much alcohol will I need?
We tell you exactly. Once we have our bar concept fully idealized, we will send through a short shopping list of bottles and can even recommend beer and wine quantities for the evening as well. It is built from your guest count, the length of the event, the menu, and the occasion.
What happens to what's left over?
It's yours. You bought it.
Can you do beer and wine only?
Yes. We'll pour whatever you've bought and keep it running smoothly.
On the day
What do you bring, and what do I provide?
We bring everything except the alcohol. Custom designed and framed cocktail menus, every ingredient made fresh in house, cocktail-ready ice, professional bar tools and equipment, cups and straws, elegant event tables when needed, and the bar team. You provide the alcohol from our list. Beyond that we need a water source and somewhere to build the bar.
Where can you set up?
Almost anywhere. A counter, a corner, a tent, a backyard, a rooftop. We could (and have) literally throw an amazing event in the middle of a field.
How long do you need before and after?
We are thoughtful of the space and we will arrive and exit within 90 minutes on either side of event time. We will ensure that our working space is cleaner than we found it, it's what bartenders do.
Do you provide glassware?
Rental glassware is available as an add-on. We don't shoehorn it into our base pricing as there are often many different platforms where glassware may be included, i.e. the venue or caterer. That said we do provide elegant disposables as part of our package and we have a few different rental options curated for the bar.
Can you handle a big party?
Yes. We've poured for rooms of 350, and we'll talk about anything bigger. We size the staff to your guest count and make sure that lines and queues are always managed with grace. We want the bar to be crowded because they are interested in what we are doing as opposed to simply waiting for a drink.
Do you have a bar cart or a truck?
Not yet. We build the bar in your space, using your surfaces or ours, and design the setup around the room you actually have.
Money and paperwork
What drives the cost?
Five things, mostly. How many guests, how long the bar is open, how involved the cocktail menu is, how many bartenders the room needs, and how far we're traveling. Glassware rental sits on its own line when you want it. Tell us the date, the location and roughly how many people, and we'll give you exactly what you need, nice and neat.
Do you carry insurance?
Yes. We carry General Liability, and we can add your venue as an additional insured. Our team is certified and insured.
Can you invoice a company?
Yes. Standard invoicing through QuickBooks, and we can work with your procurement process.
What if my guest count changes?
We ask for your final guest count two weeks before your date. We understand things always change and we're happy to accommodate and adjust to your circumstances.
Do I tip the bartender?
There's a jar on the bar and guests use it if they'd like to. It's never expected, and gratuity isn't built into what you pay us. Your guests decide.
Cocktail classes
Do you teach cocktail classes?
We do, privately, for groups of 8 to 30. It's a hands-on workshop. We've put together multiple interactive concepts for every level of aspiring drink maker. Classes work a little differently from event bartending, so ask us and we'll walk you through it.
What do we need to provide for a class?
The space. That's it. We bring the stations, the tools, the ingredients, the fresh fruit and herb bar, and yes, even the tables.
Still have a question?
Ask it. We answer every one.