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Mobile bartending is a professional bar service where licensed, MAST-certified bartenders travel directly to your event - whether that's a wedding venue, backyard, office, or private event space - to provide complete full-service bartending. Unlike a traditional venue bar, a mobile bartender brings all the equipment, supplies, expertise, and personality directly to you.
Here's exactly how it works at Bootleggers Barrel: We arrive 1–2 hours before your guests to set up our vintage-inspired mobile bar, organize all bar equipment, prep garnishes, and get everything ready. During your event, our bartenders serve every guest individually, craft cocktails from your custom menu, manage the bar professionally, and ensure responsible alcohol service the entire time. When the night ends, we break down, clean up, and inventory your remaining bottles - you don't touch a thing.
The biggest advantage of mobile bartending - particularly our BYOB model - is the cost savings. Most Spokane wedding venue bar packages charge $45–$70 per person, with a significant markup on the alcohol itself. With our model, you purchase the spirits at retail prices (typically 30–50% less) using our precise shopping list, while we provide all the professional service, equipment, and expertise. Most Spokane couples save $2,000–$4,000 compared to venue packages.
Mobile bartending is ideal for: weddings and receptions, birthday and milestone parties, anniversary celebrations, corporate happy hours, graduation parties, backyard gatherings, holiday parties, and engagement events. Every Bootleggers Barrel bartender is MAST-certified, we carry full general liability and liquor liability insurance, and we can provide a COI for your venue on request. We serve Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, and the wider Inland Northwest.
Bootleggers Barrel serves the full Spokane metro and Inland Northwest region. Our primary service area includes Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Cheney, Deer Park, Otis Orchards, South Hill, Green Bluff, Airway Heights, and the surrounding Spokane County communities. We also regularly serve across the state line into North Idaho, including Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, and Rathdrum.
Travel within 30 miles of central Spokane is included in every package price - no additional charge. For events beyond 30 miles, we add a simple $2 per mile travel fee, which covers the additional distance each way. If you're in Pullman, Moses Lake, Colville, Ritzville, or another Eastern Washington community, just ask - we're often able to accommodate with the travel fee factored into your quote.
We've served events at venues across the entire region: Green Bluff farms, Liberty Lake country clubs, downtown Spokane rooftops, Coeur d'Alene lakefront properties, rural barn weddings, and everything in between. If you're unsure whether we serve your location, reach out - we'll give you a straight answer and an exact travel cost if applicable.
No - and that's intentional, and it's your biggest financial advantage. Washington State law requires that alcohol served at a private event be purchased by the host, not sold by the bartending company. Rather than working around this with inflated package pricing, we've built our entire model around it.
Here's how the BYOB process works: After your consultation, we send you a detailed, itemized shopping list - exact bottle names, quantities, and the best places in Spokane to buy them (Total Wine, Costco, and Fred Meyer are our top recommendations). Most couples complete the entire shopping run in under 20–30 minutes. You drop the alcohol at the venue or have it delivered, and we handle everything from there.
The savings are significant. A typical Spokane wedding venue bar package charges $45–$70 per head, with the alcohol marked up well above retail. For 100 guests, that's $4,500–$7,000 just for the bar. With Bootleggers Barrel, your total - service fee plus retail alcohol - typically runs $2,200–$2,500 for the same guest count. That's a real savings of $2,000–$4,000.
One more advantage: any bottles that don't get opened are yours to keep. Total Wine and Costco both have generous return policies on unopened bottles with a receipt, so you're not overpaying no matter what. We also love featuring local Spokane spirits - Dry Fly Distilling, No-Li Brewhouse, and Idaho huckleberry liqueurs add a regional touch that guests always appreciate.
Our pricing is completely all-inclusive - gratuity is never expected or required, and we will never place a tip jar on your bar unless you specifically ask us to. We believe the price you agree to should be the price you pay, full stop.
That said, if you feel your bartenders went above and beyond - kept the line moving during a busy cocktail hour, handled a tricky last-minute request, or just made the night feel special - tips are always welcomed with genuine gratitude. Many clients choose to give a cash tip at the end of the night, and it means a lot to our team. But there is absolutely zero obligation, and it will never affect the quality of service you receive.
Bootleggers Barrel's mobile bartending packages start at $950 and scale based on guest count, hours of service, and number of bartenders needed. Here's the full breakdown:
Every package includes full mobile bar setup and teardown, all glassware and bar tools, ice, mixers, sodas, juices, fresh garnishes, cups, napkins, and MAST-certified bartenders. You supply the alcohol using our shopping list - that's where the major savings come in.
For most Spokane couples, the total cost (service fee + retail alcohol) runs $2,200–$2,500 for 100 guests - compared to $4,500–$7,000 for a typical venue bar package. Corporate happy hour subscriptions start at $800/month for teams up to 50.
Add-ons like extended hours (+$150/hr), a cocktail waitress (+$150), shots menu (+$100), and travel beyond 30 miles ($2/mile) are available. View full wedding packages → View private event packages →
Your alcohol budget depends on three things: guest count, hours of service, and the type of bar you want. Here are realistic estimates for 100 guests over 5 hours:
We always send a precise, itemized shopping list before your event - exact bottle names, sizes, and quantities - so there's no guessing and no over-buying. Most couples are surprised by how straightforward it is. A typical wedding bar run at Total Wine or Costco takes 20–30 minutes and costs $600–$900 for 100 guests.
A few things that keep your alcohol cost down: we calculate quantities based on actual consumption averages (not worst-case scenarios), we account for the guest mix (drivers, non-drinkers, champagne-only guests), and we track what's used throughout the night so we can give you an accurate leftover count at the end. Unopened bottles are yours to return or keep - Total Wine and Costco both have solid return policies with a receipt.
Bottom line: for most 100-person Spokane weddings, your total bar spend - our service fee plus retail alcohol - lands between $2,200 and $2,500. That's typically $2,000–$4,000 less than a venue bar package for the same event.
Yes - in Washington State, most licensed liquor retailers accept returns on unopened bottles, typically within 30 days with a receipt. This is one of the underrated advantages of the BYOB model.
Total Wine & More has a generous return policy and multiple Spokane locations. Costco is equally easy for returns and often has the best per-bottle pricing. Fred Meyer accepts returns on spirits as well. We recommend keeping your receipt and returning any unopened bottles within a week or two of your event.
At the end of your event, we do a full inventory count of every remaining bottle and record what was used. That way you know exactly what to return. You'll never be stuck with a case of whiskey you didn't need - and if you end up with less leftover than expected, that just means everyone had a great time.
Booking timelines vary by event type and time of year. Here's what we recommend:
If your event is within 30 days, reach out immediately - we occasionally have last-minute availability and will always be honest about whether we can make it work. A 50% non-refundable deposit holds your date the moment you're ready to confirm.
The single biggest mistake couples make is waiting until the venue and photographer are booked before thinking about the bar. By then, the best summer dates are often gone. If you have a date in mind, it costs nothing to check availability now. Check your date →
The general rule for wedding and event bartending is one bartender per 50 guests for a standard bar service. However, the right number for your event depends on more than just headcount. Here's our full recommendation guide:
Other factors that affect how many bartenders you need: a complex craft cocktail menu (more prep time per drink), a heavy spirits crowd vs. a mostly beer-and-wine crowd, a very compressed cocktail hour where everyone hits the bar at once, and whether you want tableside champagne service during the toast.
We'll always give you a specific recommendation during your consultation based on your guest count, timeline, and menu. If we think you need an extra bartender for a smooth experience, we'll tell you - and if we think you can get by with fewer, we'll tell you that too. We'd rather you have the right setup than upsell you on staff you don't need.
Very little. Your job is to provide the alcohol (using our exact shopping list) and make sure we have access to the venue 1–2 hours before guests arrive. That's genuinely it.
Everything else is on us: the mobile bar unit, all bar tools and equipment, glassware, ice, mixers, sodas, juices, fresh garnishes, cups, napkins, eco straws, the cocktail menu, setup, full service, and complete cleanup. We even do a final inventory of your remaining alcohol before we leave.
A few helpful logistics to know in advance: we need a flat, stable surface for the bar (roughly 6–8 feet wide), access to a power outlet if we're running a blender or lighting, and a place to store extra ice. For outdoor events, a tent or shade structure over the bar is appreciated but not required. We'll talk through all of this on your consultation call so there are zero surprises on the day of.
Yes - fully. Every Bootleggers Barrel bartender holds current MAST (Mandatory Alcohol Server Training) certification, which is Washington State's required training for anyone serving alcohol at events. MAST certification covers responsible service practices, how to recognize signs of intoxication, proper ID verification procedures, and how to refuse service safely and professionally.
From an insurance standpoint, we carry both general liability insurance and liquor liability insurance. This protects you, your guests, and your venue. If your venue requires a Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming them as an additionally insured party - which many Spokane wedding venues do - we can provide that document in advance of your event. Just let us know during the planning process and we'll have it ready.
We take responsible service seriously. Our bartenders are trained to monitor guest consumption throughout the event, use judgment about service levels, and handle any difficult situations professionally and discreetly. Your guests' safety is never negotiable, and we handle it so you don't have to think about it.
If you have a specific venue that has asked about our licensing or insurance, feel free to have them contact us directly - we're happy to work with venue coordinators to meet any specific requirements.
Yes - completely and without exception. Cleanup is fully included in every Bootleggers Barrel package, and we take it seriously.
At the end of your event, our team breaks down the entire bar setup, washes and packs all equipment, disposes of all trash from the bar area, wipes down the bar surface, and leaves the space exactly as we found it. We do a complete inventory of your remaining alcohol - every bottle, partial or full - and organize it for easy transport or return. We'll also let you know what was used so you have an accurate record for any store returns.
Our goal is that you never once think about the bar on the day of your event - before, during, or after. You arrive to a setup that looks incredible, enjoy the night, and leave without doing a single thing related to the bar. That's the experience we're building for every client.
Absolutely - and we take mocktails seriously. Non-alcoholic options are included in every package, and we craft them with the same care and presentation as our cocktails. A guest who's not drinking should feel just as celebrated as everyone else at your event.
Our mocktail menu typically includes 2–3 thoughtfully built non-alcoholic drinks that complement your cocktail menu. These aren't just juice-and-soda fillers - we use fresh-squeezed citrus, house-made syrups, specialty sodas, and the same garnish presentation as the cocktails. Examples include a virgin Moscow mule with fresh ginger beer and lime, a sparkling blackberry lemonade with mint, or a lavender lemon spritz with elderflower tonic.
We always include clearly labeled non-alcoholic options on the menu card, and our bartenders are trained to recommend them naturally without making non-drinkers feel singled out. This matters for pregnant guests, designated drivers, sober guests, and kids at family events. We also always have a simple sparkling water and juice station available throughout the event.
If you have specific guests with dietary restrictions or preferences - or if you'd like a fully alcohol-free event with an upscale mocktail menu - we can build an entirely custom non-alcoholic drink program. Just let us know during your consultation and we'll design it around your event theme and guest list.