b'Open BarHoliday Cocktail SuggestionCRANBERRY Hospitality MULEYIELD: 1 cocktailNew York openbarhospitality.com INGREDIENTS1ounces vodkaI n 2006, Open Bar Hospitality (OB), an off-ounce lime juicepremise bar catering company, opened in New ounce ginger simple syrupYork City. We saw the void in the marketplace6 frozen cranberriesfor a company like Open Bar that clients could callGinger beer to top offon for high-quality signature cocktails, bar set-up, professional bartenders and mixologists, says LisaMETHODLindo Duval, owner, who previously worked as anIn shaker, muddle frozen cranberries, releasing event planner in the fashion and entertainmenttheir sweet tart flavor and signature red color. industries. Co-owner George Duval, her husband, isThen add all other ingredients, except for ginger a mixologist.beer. Add ice and shake vigorously, bringing all Known for its fresh and seasonal craftedthe flavors together. Strain over fresh ice in a cocktails, OB will work with clients to create one-of- highball glass, and top off with carbonated ginger a-kind drinks. We pay extra attention to glasswarebeer. Garnish with a sugared ginger candy. and garnishes, as those items help with the wow factor for a guest experience at the bar, says Lisa. Catering for events of all types and sizes, OB typically averages about 10 to 15 events per month, with more during the fall and holiday season. Big-name corporate clients have included Facebook, Oracle, H&M and Samsung, while its celebrity client list boasts such names as Beyonc, Justin Bieber, Rick Ross and Wiz Khalifa.Since its founding, OBs services have expanded to include cocktail creations for liquor brands, new restaurant consultation, and staff training for lounges and bars. It sells a line of organic simple syrups, and offers its own experiences for clients, including mixology classes, Moms Nights Out, and Rum & Rhythm, a mixology class it offers in Jamaica during July and August. The OB Mixology Box Set, launching in the fall, will include bar tools, recipe cards, and OB-brand ginger and jalapeo simple syrups. POST-COVID PIVOTWith COVID-19 hitting New York City hard in MarchMOST POPULAR COCKTAILSand April, OB started offering virtual mixologyOBs customer favorites include the Guava Cosmo, Moscow classes and virtual consultations, and has hostedMule (made with OBs fresh ginger simple syrup), Sweet live cocktail demonstrations on Instagram, to stayPepper Moonshine cocktail, Cranberry Mule and Blueberry connected with clients and followers. The companyWhiskey Sour.now offers two options for servingpre-batched cocktails that are passed, to reduce the number ofTRENDSguests at the bar; and a traditional bar set-up withInterest has spiked in spirit-free cocktails; grilled, roasted or fire-social distancing requirements for guests. OB staffblasted garnishes on cocktails; and tea-infused spirits and syrups, members, who are tested frequently, wear PPEsays Lisa. We have clients that have requested kegged cocktails (clients have the option to provide branded PPE),that are quick and easy to serve at the bar, she adds. Clients use hand sanitizer and have their temperaturesare still requesting small crafted beers, and we have quite a few checked before each event.clients that are requesting more natural organic wines.PHOTO BY LIZ CLAYMAN cateringmagazine.com CATERING MAGAZINE27'