11/30/07

Tennessee Volunteer Cocktail Recipe!

.5 oz vodka
.5 oz gin
.5 oz lt. tequila
1.5 oz OJ
1.5 oz Pineapple
Splash of Mountain Dew
Garnish with a "Big Orange" wedge

This drink is one of my most favorite creations. I call it the Tennessee Volunteer. The drink recipe tastes great and represents those vol colors well! First pour all liquors over ice in your shaker along with the OJ and pineapple juice. Shake the ingredients well then pour in a tall glass on the rocks. Top the concoction with a splash of mountain dew or sprite and garnish with a nice orange wedge. A great drink for any volunteer tailgating fan to whip up! Rate this drink and view more recipes at www.TennesseeBartenders.com/theme_packages.html.

11/29/07

A reception at Bluff Mountain Inn





Bluff Mountain Inn is a beautiful reception venue located high in the moutains near the center of Pigeon Forge. With an excellent catering staff, great food, photography packages, and beautiful scenery, this is an excellent choice for any reception. The site is large enough to host two receptions at the same time, has it's own chapel, and features a large pavilion for outdoor events. Tennessee Bartenders has provided numerous bars here, and we can provide a bar that fits your imagination. Typically, bars are positioned outside on the rear deck or the pavilion, but can be located anywhere. If you're looking for a beatiful secluded location for your wedding guests to stay you should check this place out.

11/28/07

Use the Knoxville Museum of Art for your party!


The Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA) is a great place for any event. My company Tennessee Bartenders has bartended many functions here and some of those events can be viewed on our photos page. The photo above was a very simple bar we did for East Tennessee Community Services, a non-profitt orginazation in TN. This small function was held indoors but guests can also mingle outdoors. In the past, we have done some very large events here! The museum is one of my favorite venues for large scale weddings. The KMA offers a central hall that is ideal for bands, eye pleasing art, clean facilities, and the ability to move in and outdoors quickly. While any plain room will do for smaller parties, having this type of set-up is great for those 300+ person events. If you need bartending services at the KMA please contact us.

11/27/07

New Blog Site Exclusive For Bartenders

Fellow Bartenders,

There is a new site that is listing 100% bar related blogs. We have just posted our bar related blog on this site and it's absolutely free. If you get a chance go to www.BartendingBlogs.com and submit your bar blog stuff to get some free blog traffic. The page is very new so not many people have posted there yet, but I think after some time goes by this could turn into a fun read for bartenders. Well take it easy and keep Tennessee Bartenders in mind for any bar jobs you know of the Volunteer state!

www.TennesseeBartenders.com

11/25/07

Wedding and Party Bar Q&A with the Bartender.

This blog will explore some of the most popular questions we recieve from customers when planning their receptions and private events.
Should I buy kegs or bottled beer for my reception?
Typically, kegs are cheaper than bottles, but bottles will offer greater variety. Kegs are often considered when hosting parties of 80 or more people. At the end, unused bottles can be taken home, while left over keg juice is wasted.
How many bartenders do I need for my party?
The industry average is about 1 bartender per 75 guests, for beer and wine only events, and 1 per 50 at a full liquor bar event. Many good tenders can push this number to 1 per 125 (beer/wine only) or 1 per 75 (full bar), but at wedding receptions, most brides agree that it's better to be overstaffed with no waiting time for drinks.
How much alcohol will I need for our event?
Figure about 2-3 drinks per person in most situations. For more info see my custom designed formula for figuring these amounts, also on our blogs page.
Do I need liqueurs in the bar selection?
If you are serving a full liquor bar then you should buy a bottle of Triple Sec at the bare minimum. If you wish to offer a certain type of cocktail at your reception, then check out the recipes to ensure you have the alcoholic ingredients required, as many popular cocktails use them.
What about the toast?
The most common mistake is for a couple to not get schedules to the bartenders. Pouring and passing out the toast glasses will usually take the tenders about 5 minutes, and having to wait 5 minutes can really choke up a good speech. Make sure the bartenders have the schedule and this way they can coordinate a secret hand signal or send morris code to the DJ (you get the idea).
What about tip jars?
First let me say, I have no opinion on this, I am just offering the facts. In my experience about 70% of weddings request no tip jars and in this case the tip can be handled through the host. The other 30% could care less. I have never noticed a guest having a problem with a tip jar and a decent number of guests will tip even when told there is no tip jar and its covered. However, many hosts are absolutely against this. Personally, I can give great arguements for both sides and you should make the decision you are comfortable with. Most wedding planners will advise against tip jars. If you are unsure of what to do here just handle it yourself.
What liquors do I need?
The standard bar will have vodka, tequila, rum, gin, and whiskey. However, I will attempt to rate the liquors I think are most important and popular by experience. If you wish to offer a smaller than above, start at the top of the list and go down according to your budget limits.
1. Whiskeys (Crown or Jack will go very fast in most circumstances)
2. Vodka (Rarely asked for by name, so buy a lot of one brand and your good)
3. Gin (Martinis are always asked for by someone, but not in huge numbers)
4. Rum (Great for the person who always asks, what can you make me?)
5. Tequila (Maragaritas are hit or miss, meaning youll go through a ton or none at all)
6. Scotch (Typically, not so popular, but if you have a family member who likes it you may want to buy a bottle)

This concludes our blog, but if you have a question you dont see here just shoot me an email at sales@tennesseebartenders.com. We'll even help you if your not using our services. We love good bar questions.
www.TennesseeBartenders.com

11/22/07

Theoretical Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipe

Cocktail Name: Turkey Dinner
Created By: Andy Lakatos
Inspiration: Who Knows

Usually, I have to try recipes and adjust the ingredients to come up with what I think is yum yum. This recipe question just seemed to float to the top of my head this morning. How do you make a Thanksgiving cocktail? Here is the methodology of how I arrived to this combination of mixology selectionizations.

First, I tried to remember the most popular liquor for Thanksgiving, and ofcourse, I came up with Wild Turkey.

Second, I asked myself, self, other than being named after a turkey what does wild turkey have to do with thanksgiving? Eureka, it was corn! Wild turkey is a bourbon so that means it has atleast 51% corn mash, so we'll call this part of the recipe Corn.

Third, I thought what goes with corn on Thanksgiving and its usually potatoes, turkey, and that wierd cranberry junk, so my next step was to add the potatoes in the form of potatoe vodka, so we shall add some Chopin vodka to the mix and call it this part of the recipe Potatoes.

Fourth, we shall add some cranberry juice and call this part of the recipe Canberry Junk.

Fifth, I couldnt think of nada that's distilled with turkey so will garnish this bad boy with a sliver of turkey and this shall make up our final ingredient to the drink, Turkey!

Anyways, I am going to make one of these later this evening and give it a taste with my leftovers. I'll post a picture of the concoction above this post. Be sure to let me know how derranged you guys think this one is! Get more freaky cocktail recipes at http://www.tennesseebartenders.com


What a blast guys! Here is the photo taken of me just after making the cocktail. It was great! You may want to leave out the garnish though. Happy Thanksgiving Day everyone!

11/21/07

How to not spend a fortune on your wedding reception bar!

Ofcourse you can hire Tennessee Bartenders for those fancy bar set-ups, but we also do the basics. This bar at Whitestone Country Inn is a great example of the bare minimums for a good reception bar. Best of all, you still get the benefits that we bring like insured, certified and experienced bar service. An event like this is very cost efficient but still looks classy for your big day. Total expenditures for a bar like this including gratuity and alcohol can be done for under $400, for an average 75 person wedding. Serving wine only is a great idea if your budget is limited. For more ideas visit us online www.TennesseeBartenders.com and browse some more of Tennessee Bartenders blogs.

Gatlinburg bars to your chalet!

High in the mountains? Don't have a reception bar? Need to party down?
Tennessee Bartenders to the rescue. Above is a recent wedding bar we set-up in Gatlinburg, a great example of what our company can do for your reception. We bring everything needed from mixers, sodas, ice, down to the bottled waters. All our customers do is supply the alcohol. Actually, we even partner with area liquor stores allowing our customers to order their spirits by phone. We'll provide the delivery of the spirits along with the rest of the bar. We even deliver and return kegs. Let us take the stress out of your reception planning and make it as easy as two phone calls. One call for your liquor and the other for us. Don't trust just anyone to your special day. Tending your bar is our full-time job.
Get tons more information on our past events at TennesseeBartenders.com


11/20/07

Business Machines 25th Anniversary Bar


Hosted at Butterfly Gap Retreat this bar created a festive atmosphere for Business Machine's 25th Anniversary. The bartenders Andy and Stephanie poured virtually every cocktail creation known. The front of the bar had customized black ribbon with the companies name and every mixer imaginable. The rear of the bar used a custom built oak prop to display the liquor selections and was in the center of two gigantic margarita glasses filled with real margarita! Private bartending at it's finest. All glassware, supplies, and props supplied by Tennessee Bartenders.

11/19/07

Fun wedding bar ideas


Featured cocktails are a great benefit you get when hiring Tennessee Bartenders. If you're hosting a fully stocked bar we can design a featured drink named after the host, company, or whatever fits the occasion, at no additional costs. Our featured drinks always consist of either fresh fruits, interesting garnishes, or fancy mix methods


However, there is no need to stop with just one featured drink. You can host a party that consists of specialty cocktails throughout the entire evening. While hosting this type of party will increase your expenditures, the benefits can be very rewarding. To understand how a party can consist of specialty cocktails all night, try to imagine eating a fancy full course meal. Your meal may have an appetizer, salad, soup, main dish, and dessert just like a specialty drink menu.





Here is an example:
Pre-Party Cocktail


Arriving guests are served a custom designed champagne cocktail.


For example, we custom create a fresh fruit puree and mix it with your choice of champagne selection. Add a Garnish of fresh fruit to compliment the puree and you have instant conversation when your guests arrive.
Pre-Meal Cocktails
Served when guests prepare for dinner.


We have cocktail servers walk to each table with a pitcher of fresh fruit sangria. Sangria can be a great compliment to many dishes served before the main course. When guests see the pitchers and listen to the servers description of the sangria, they will realize the effort put into it's preperations.
Main course Cocktails & Drinks


Served during dinner.
Here you can serve a choice of featured liquor cocktails or a nice glass of wine to compliment the meal. The possibilities here are endless, but guests will be impressed, as this 3rd course drink is made available.
After Dinner Dessert & Apperatif


Served after dinner
Now we come to an enjoyable moment of the evening, Dessert! First your guests are treated to one of our premium fondue chocolate fountains (white, dark, or milk chocolate), where they will find an array of fresh strawberries, fruits, salty snacks, and interesting sweets. As your chocolate cravings are satisfied they will be served a glass of sherry.



Planning a full course drink menu can be rewarding, but be sure to plan carefully. You don't want foods sweeter than your apperitif for example, and always sample your selections when possible. If your planning a 5 star meal, be sure to create a 5 star drink menu by pairing your spirits accordingly. You're guests will notice and appreciate the difference, as such details are often overlooked. Can you remember the last time your meal was paired with drink selections?
For help with pairing drinks contact our email address sales@tennesseebartenders.com





www.TennesseeBartenders.com

11/18/07

Tennessee Fall Wedding Reception Bar


This is the rear section of a custom Fall bar set-up by Tennessee Bartenders for the dunlop-colke wedding reception at Cumberland Gap Convention Center. The rear bar had our custom drinking, highball, and wine glassware with assorted wines, wagons, hay stacks, and our a really cool wood shelf we had made in Gatlinburg. The front of the bar is a must see too with our hand-painted pumpkin for the bride and groom and assorted squash, pumpkins, and pumpkin candles for decoration. The drink selection was extravagant with more of a selection than you can find at a fully stocked nightclub. To view more photos of this bar visit www.TennesseeBartenders.com/photos.html

Customized Halloween Bar Party




On October 27th we catered an awesome halloween bar package for a 30th birthday & Halloween costume party. You can view more photos at www.TennesseeBartenders.com/photos.html by scrolling down to Zenda's halloween party.

The rear bar featured a giant 30, that we custom cut, and had a huge spider crawling over it with webs everywhere. This was placed on one of our custom oak bar toppers with accent lighting. Glassware included drinking, highballs, and a specially bought custom margarita glass used for the fresh frozen margaritas and daiquiries. Strobe lights were strategically placed to give the hand made "Happy Zendaween" its glow effects!

The front of the bar had a talking head with light up eyes that talked, a mood light wine chiller, custom carved pumpkin menu with drink selection, bleeding skull candle, and ofcourse our margaritaville concoction maker.

For the drinks we had fresh strawberries, oranges, lemons, limes, and cherries, artfully arranged on halloween pics for garnishes. The glasses were rimmed with orange colored sugar or green margarita salt for emphasis. Special spooky halloween straws were used in all of the frozen drinks.

Also, we designed an awesome dessert bar for this party complete with a glow in the dark b-day cake. The cake was designed with a giant glow in the dark 30 that was held up by our scary little witch, who was the centerpeace. The rest of the table was filled with goodies for the chocolate fountain. The pinhead pumpkin was especially neat with cookies on a stick coming out of his head. This pumpkin remind me of pinhead from hellraiser. Each guest had to reach under a 4' huge spider to get their plates and silverware. What a blast!

www.TennesseeBartenders.com

11/17/07

Ten Reasons to use Tennessee Bartenders

1. We have liability insurance.
2. We provide professional bartenders for the most important bar of your life, no temp agencies here.
3. We offer more extras like rare mixers, cool bar props, and specialty drink items.
4. We are ABC certified.
5. Your wedding is not the place for someone to learn a new trade, like bartending. This is why we only employ experienced bartenders.
6. We let our work speak for itself. View pictures of past events and a list of references on our web page: www.TennesseeBartenders.com.
7. Bartending is not just a part-time job for us, it's our career.
8. Our standard packages come complete with all the rentals you need like glassware, linens, tables, ice, coolers, and more.
9. With chef style garnishes and custom designed drinks to match your wedding theme, we offer a bar above the rest.
10. We offer a variety of bar equipment and props to truly offer a unique bar setting.

Drink Amounts & Conversions

Just some popular conversions for your drinking information.



(1) drink = (1) 5oz glass of wine = (1) 1oz shot 80 proof = (1) 12oz beer
Note: The body eliminates about 1 drink per hour.


(1) keg of beer = (144) 12 oz. beers


(1) 750ml bottle of wine = (5) glasses of wine


(1) 1L bottle of liquor = (33) 1oz drinks


(1) 1 oz shot = 30ml = 2 Tablespoons


Need more handy tidbits about alcohol or fun drink recipes? Visit www.TennesseeBartenders.com


11/16/07

Who is Tennessee Bartenders?

Who would have ever thought I would end up in the catering business. My early college years at Pellissippi earned me a transfer degree in science. After that it was off to the University of Tennessee to study biomedical engineering. I started Tennessee Bartenders while in college because I needed extra cash to pay for books.

Not long after starting this company I realized the need for this service and decide to make a go of it. Now Tennessee Bartenders has blossomed into the largest provider of private bartending services in Tennessee. With our own health insurance program, over 20 bartenders, and a huge inventory of party rentals we now have the ability to provide catering equipment and bar services for 6-8 private events per day.

Our services focus on three main items which are chocolate fountains, cakes, and bartenders for events. Our cakes are designed by my mother Penny Mcmurry. Penny does'nt just design our cakes because she's my mom! She has designed some of the largest sculptured cakes in the world and has a vast knowledge of the cake business. She has a long history in cake design and for many years owned Penny's Cake Shop in Knoxville, TN. Bartending is my specialty and everyone we hire is trained on, not only the aspects of good bar service, but proper catering procedures to ensure we are prepared for anything. All of our bartenders often talk shop on how we can create the next best cocktail for our customers.

I believe our success has been possible for several distinct reasons. The most obvious reason for me to say is that people like us. We know how to act at each event and will strive to make sure it is a success. I feel this has been proven by our guest comments and repeat customers. Next, I think our willingness to spend big money on equipment provides a bar setting for our customers that is top-notch. While every customer may not notice this, we believe it helps to provide a high level of service. Last I believe that our drink designs help to set us apart from the typical caterer. With years of experience mixing drinks I have started to take an interest in matching cocktail recipes and pairing custom made drinks with the caterer's food selection. Deluging our guests with an assortment of never before seen drink creations adds to the excitement of a Tenneessee Bartenders hosted event. We don't make your bar good we make it outstanding!

If you need help designing or creating a bar set-up contact us anytime as we love to talk bar! Also, be sure to browse our recipes page for a listing of custom designed drink recipes.

Andy Lakatos
www.TennesseeBartenders.com
sales@tennesseebartenders.com
(865) 357-0404 office