We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Leslie Loomis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Leslie below.

Hi Leslie, thanks for joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

Luxury mobile bar companies are pretty new on the scene considering the longevity of the wedding & event industry. With the arrival of choose your own vendors wedding venues, couples and clients had to find their own bar services if it was not offered by the venue they chose. Catering companies started offering bartenders as add-ons not because it’s what they specialized in, but there was a demand for it. Because of this the industry standard was set pretty low – folding tables set up as bars hidden in the corner – not aesthetically pleasing with bartenders only pouring basic cocktails with no variety or uniqueness and the tables littered with bottles in view of guests.

We differ from that industry standard because we offer our clients a specialized & customized bar that contributes to the overall guest experience & vibe of your wedding or event. We don’t offer it because we have to, this company was created because we WANT to.
We fresh squeeze all juices & scratch make syrups & shrubs for signature cocktails that’ll make you feel like you’re sippin’ on something from a speak easy. We provide a well thought out & fun cocktail menu for our clients to choose from or create something custom for them based on their flavor preference and theme.

We offer our clients two unique bar options. We have an adorable horse trailer bar or a custom designed & built, foldable satellite set-up. Even our satellite bar is gorgeous & eye-catching!

Our staff is experienced in the industry & dedicated to providing clients and their guests with a memorable experience they won’t find at most weddings or events. From start to finish we are guest & client forward, with a focus on giving our clients an easy & stress-free planning experience.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have 20 years of customer service experience, having started with corporations like McDonald’s & Darden Restaurants in high school & college. Along the way I’ve worked in many different restaurant/bar settings as a server & bartender, from nightclubs to local taphouses & breweries, to fine dining & high volume in national parks. Using the knowledge & skills I’ve gained in my career as a customer service professional, I knew there was a need for more quality options in the mobile bartending sector.

Mountain Sips provides a luxury bartending experience for our clients & their guests for weddings, corporate events, parties, showers, business grand openings & events, you name it! Due to Colorado law, we cannot provide the alcohol, but we bring everything else to make your wedding or event a success. Many clients are stressed about the logistics of offering beverages at their event, and we make that planning process as easy as possible! We provide our clients with a detailed shopping list for their alcohol, so they know what to buy & how much. We show up with mixers, garnishes, supplies, ice and great attitudes so our clients don’t have to do any of the heavy lifting associated with providing cocktails!

We staff only experienced bartenders that are efficient, friendly & adaptable. We only provide quality ingredients for your signature cocktails, giving your guests an unmatched, unique bar experience that makes them feel valued & appreciated. Guests spend a lot of time at the bar, make it something they’ll remember!

Does your business have multiple or supplementary revenue streams (like a ATM machine at a barbershop, etc)?

I’ve had a lot of guests at events request recipes or a way to make our cocktails at home. So new this year, in addition to offering bartending services, we now offer our cocktail mixes bottled for people to enjoy at home or on the road! The mixes are all fresh pressed juice & scratch made syrups, created for you to easily make a craft cocktail at home without the fuss or mess! Simply add over ice liquor for a cocktail, or sparkling water or n/a spirit for a mocktail and top with our mixer! You can find us online at www.mountainsipsmobilebar.com/store or at markets around the city! Our bottled mixes are great for hosting parties at home, taking camping or on a road trip, or just to make a delicious cocktail for yourself without the mess and buying a bunch of ingredients.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

We all know the Covid story, things got turned upside down at that time. The market hit hardest was the restaurants & bars…at the time my husband and I were waiting to go back to our jobs in Olympic National Park. We were delayed multiple times by the company, then eventually told we were not going to be hired back on for that year due to no indoor dining in Washington. We were looking forward to it so much, it was a huge blow for us. We were both wondering if we’d even go back to the industry.

I didn’t have any experience running my own business, but I’ve had experience in management. I knew it wasn’t going to be the right time to open my own brick & mortar bar, so I decided on the mobile route. I thought, so easy to buy a horse trailer and bartend! I was not prepared for the incredibly stressful experience of learning how to tow & back up a 3500 lb horse trailer, maintaining the equipment inside & exterior is a full-time job, and I did not anticipate working anywhere from 12-15 hours on days of weddings or events, not to mention all the hours of prep earlier in the week for the cocktails we serve.

Battling an ever-changing industry & educating potential clients on the value of a luxury bar service has been difficult. Obtaining & keeping quality staff, all of the expenses involved & the overall stress of owning your own business and balancing that with another job, owning a house & life in general has been a learning process. The journey has not been easy, and there has been some dark moments. I am proud of my growth as a business owner, and as a person. Sharing our weaknesses and vulnerabilities as well as our wins so others can be inspired is important. Knowing we’ve provided many happy clients with memorable experiences on their special days is what keeps me celebrating & continuing to rise above the tough times!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mountainsipsmobilebar.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mountainsipsbar
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mountainsipsmobile/

Image Credits
Dani Haims Photography Cassie Urban Photo