thoughtful cocktails for spirited occasions
Ready for Something Neat?
Amaro is a boutique cocktail caterer providing bespoke bar curation and service for private parties, wedding receptions, corporate events, and all sorts of celebrations. Our locations are based in both Palm Springs, California and Portland, Oregon & serve the widely surrounding areas of both cities.
With so many details to keep track of, we know planning a big event can be tough. Fortunately we live for the details. We offer you our extensive knowledge of wine, beer and spirits – as well as professionalism, courtesy and creativity. Our goal is for you to have complete peace of mind knowing that we have everything under control and the bar will be perfect on your big day.
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Wedding Receptions
The big day. Let us curate a bar menu that reflects the essence of your reception. Working hand in hand, we’ll design bespoke cocktails inspired by the criteria important to you.
Prior to your wedding we offer an optional cocktail tasting party. Invite some friends - and Amaro will host an intimate and lively sampling from a custom flight menu built around your unique requirements.
We always keep a focus on locally sourced ingredients, hand crafted syrups and infusions, and carefully chosen spirits - as well as fun micro brews and excellent wines.
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Private Parties
Dinner parties with perfect cocktail pairings. A rum punch for your backyard BBQ, or maybe Manhattans on the patio. Perhaps a fresh Mai Tai for your tiki pool party. Our professional opinion is most parties can be vastly improved with the addition of a bar.
Whether it’s a birthday party, family reunion, anniversary, or just an excuse to gather - let us help free up your time and elevate your event by handling the drink service.
All events can be custom designed around any theme, esthetic or occasion. Let us know what you’re dreaming up. We’ll work together to create an end-to-end bar program for your party, and provide friendly, sociable bartenders to serve your guests.
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Cocktail Tasting Parties
Easily one of our favorite types of events, and one we especially put a great deal of effort and attention into curating. This is an expanded version of the cocktail tasting that is offered with our wedding reception packages.
Tastings can be built around any theme, but typically start with the common and move quickly towards the esoteric. Each flight is served to guests with a detailed description and backstory for context. This sparks lively discussion as we parse flavors and compare tasting notes.
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Corporate Events
Office holiday parties, back to the office mixers, and hosted happy hours.
Amaro is happy to provide bar service as a backdrop to office socializing, or if you’d like something more engaging: combine a corporate event with a Cocktail Class or Cocktail Tasting format to provide a more interactive experience.
Past clients include Wieden+Kennedy, Nike, On Running, WeWork, Adidas, Everlane, Ferguson Wellman and Environments.
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Cocktail Classes
Cocktail 101: If you’re new to mixing, maybe you’ve wondered when it’s appropriate to shake a drink and when to stir - or maybe you’re curious about how to achieve that crystal clear ice found in fancy cocktail bars.
Cocktail 102: Perhaps you’re not such a beginner, and would like to have a discussion about the finer aspects of dilution, utilizing “milk washing” to clarify a cocktail, or executing Portland’s original favorite Spanish Coffee without burning your eyebrows off?
Classes can be enriching and informative for all skill levels. They work best in small to medium group settings and can also be done virtually. They’re fun, interactive and engaging - with plenty of “sampling” along the way!
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Rachel M.
“We recently hired Amaro bartending services. Dean was our bartender for a private party, and we were absolutely blown away by his talent and professionalism. Their service was top-notch from start to finish, and they truly made our event an unforgettable experience. I literally had multiple guests the next day text me to thank me for the party and how I seriously scored on a star bartender. They effortlessly engaged with our guests, making them feel welcomed and ensuring everyone had a fantastic time as well as remembering their names. Their cocktails were deliciously crafted and pleased everyone. The efficiency and ability to handle a large of 60 people crowd was truly impressive. If you're looking for exceptional service, incredible drinks, and a true professional, Dean is your guy. Five stars all the way!”
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Kinzie F.
I cannot recommend Amaro Bartending highly enough for any event! From start to finish, the entire process was seamless and incredibly personalized. The cocktail tasting was such a fun and memorable experience, with each drink thoughtfully crafted to match our unique preferences. Throughout the planning process, Dean was exceptionally responsive, knowledgeable, and a true pleasure to work with. On the day of the event, our guests could not stop raving—not just about the delicious cocktails, but about the overall guest experience and the fantastic bartending team. We truly could not have asked for a better bar service for our wedding! My husband and I will absolutely be using Amaro Bartending again for future events.
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Stacey W.
I wanted to share a unique perspective of working with Dean and his team as a fellow vendor: From the get-go, Dean was super communicative. He was clear about the services being performed about that particular event, and had a clear idea of what was needed to ensure success. I had the pleasure of working with him on a multi-day, cultural event. He was an excellent team player the whole time.
Come event day(s), we were faced with several unexpected challenges - biggest one being an especially hot day. With water going through much faster than expected, and the sun beating down on his staff and other guests, Dean was quick to offer solutions and pivot to a new plan that would ensure everyone's comfortability and safety. He and his team were absolutely incredible to work with from start to finish, and I can't recommend them enough!!
Additionally, I heard some feedback from the caterer that they were super impressed with his passion about serving excellent drinks. They mentioned that it was clear that he took a lot of pride in his recipes, and getting each cocktail perfect for every occasion. Do yourself a favor and book, cheers :) -
Haley A.
Dean is AMAZING. Literally the best bartender ever. The attention to detail was astonishing. Gorgeous set up, a custom printed out menu, the drinks he came up with were spot on and delicious. Every single detail was nailed. He really took care of us, had the best attitude, and I felt like he genuinely enjoyed being there and spending time with our group. We had him one night, and we loved him so much, I called him the next day and asked him last minute to come and bartend our pool party 2 hours before. He made it happen and didn't miss a beat. I cannot say enough nice things about Amaro. If you are in the Palm Desert area- book him, don't even consider anyone else!! Also as an added bonus - he went to 7 different stores to get a particular bourbon we asked for. He is committed to getting everything you want. AND he hand makes his own syrup, there is no artificial and nonsense ingredients, everything is clean and high quality.
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Brooke P.
I used Dean and his team for my wedding, 8-25-24 and they did an AMAZING job! The whole process for choosing/trying drinks was so much fun, they were very well priced, and Dean was super responsive and easy to work with! Everyone at our wedding raved about the bartending team and service, they really outdid themselves! I will use them for every future event I have and recommend them to all of my friends & family! They are the go to for PDX!!!! You will not regret hiring them :)
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Tawnya K.
I cannot recommend Amaro enough for events and weddings. We hired them for our September wedding and were immediately impressed. Dean reached out within 30 minutes of my inquiry, which may have just been a fluke but was so appreciated after sending so many forms with a 1-3 day timeline for follow-up. He was so fun to speak with and down to earth, we scheduled a call with him to talk through our cocktail preferences and it was such a blast. You can really tell that Dean loves what he does, and is highly skilled at the craft. He loves talking about cocktails, what makes them work, and getting nerdy about all the different fun variations you could do. When wedding day came around Amaro sure didn't disappoint! Dean and Maria were so fun, slinging cocktails quickly and efficiently with plenty of witty banter. Everything was amazing, I truly could not have asked for a better experience. If you don't go with Amaro you just aren't making the right choice!
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Cara S.
Amaro Bartending is so fabulous and I cannot recommend them enough! I am so grateful to have worked with Dean and his wonderful team to bartend our Palm Springs wedding. Dean is detail oriented, talented and communicative. He very happily set up a tasting before our big day and went above and beyond. I had so many guests come up and tell me how much they loved our bartenders. I would 100000% work with Amaro again.
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Forrest S.
I attended an event that hired Amaro Bartending and they were INCREDIBLE! We will be using them for our events in the future! Highly recommend!!!
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Lexi F.
Hiring Amaro was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding! Dean was always prompt, specific, and helpful with his communication during planning, and his flair, creativity, and eye for detail are impeccable. I could use trite phrases like "they went above and beyond," but that can't fully capture how awesome our experience with Amaro was. The drinks were delicious and unique (both boozy and non), and Dean included thoughtful touches specific to our requests. Do yourself a favor and have Amaro at your event!
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Nora A.
Literally the B.E.S.T. I can't say enough great things about Amaro Bartending. We knew from Day 1 working with Dean was the best choice, and honestly the biggest highlight of our wedding. Dean was incredibly fun, a pure joy to be around and our guests still talk about him and his wizardly cocktail crafting skills like it was yesterday. His drinks quinch the thirst you didn't know you had- his laughter and smile fill every empty nook in your heart, his professionalism and expertise were out of this world- nay, *out of this universe. He surprised us with some off menu cocktails which was a hit. We event got to get in on the action and pour some drinks for our guests which was SO FUN. We loved his pre-event cocktail tasting with the worlds most badass charcuterie board in his cozy backyard . We felt so welcomed, had the best time, drank the best cocktails and we even named one of our drinks after his sweet little pup Kevin (we loved Kevin.) If I could give Amaro Bartending 10 million 5 Star reviews- I would give him 10 million stars on top of that.
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Rachelle M.
We recently hired Amaro PDX bartending services. Dean was our bartender for a private party, and we were absolutely blown away by his talent and professionalism. Dean's service was top-notch from start to finish, and he truly made our event an unforgettable experience. I literally had multiple guests the next day text me to thank me for the party and how I seriously scored on a star bartender. From the moment Dean arrived, he exuded a friendly and approachable demeanor. He effortlessly engaged with our guests, making them feel welcomed and ensuring everyone had a fantastic time as well as remembering names. His cocktails were deliciously crafted and pleased everyone. His efficiency and ability to handle a large (60 people) crowd were truly impressive. We can't thank Dean enough for his outstanding service. If you're looking for exceptional service, incredible drinks, and a true professional, Dean is your guy. Five stars all the way!
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Sarah H.
Amaro PDX is truly a top notch bar service. I was initially concerned that Amaro may be out of our price range due to their familiarity and preference towards high end selections of craft beers and hand crafted cocktails. However, after meeting with the owner, Dean, we were able to share our maximum budget ahead of time and landed on a great package that would cover all our bases, while still giving us access to a premium product. We had Amaro do our wedding this September with full bar service for about 125 people. Dean and the rest of the team are definitely industry professionals, and they went above and beyond to ensure our guests had an incredible time and had plenty to drink. We ended up doing a selection of beer, wine, and a few signature drinks. All were incredible and our guests could not stop talking about how good they tasted. You will be glad you booked Amaro PDX for whatever event you are having.
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Lindsey L.
Dean and JeVar were so amazing to work with and made our event beyond perfect! On top of being so easy to work with, they were so thoughtful and wonderful with all of our family and friends! We will only hire Amaro for all of our events!
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Randall K.
Dean brought the perfect vibe, aesthetic and drink menu to keep my wedding well oiled and going into the late hours. He was very professional but fun at the same time. Hand down I would hire him again in a heart beat and will be recommending Amaro PDX to anyone and everyone who asks for a recommendation.
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Francesca H.
“Amaro absolutely blew our minds with their skills! We threw a tiki pool party reception for about 50 people and they put together 2 different beautiful cocktails, one dark (spiced rum and perfectly tangy), one light (coconut cream and I have no idea but it was amazing) and topped them with beautiful flowers and cute tiki decorations. Oh and they used the best crushed ice! He had them put together batch style so the line for drinks moved pretty quickly but you still got the fun bartender interaction. Those drinks will be reminisced on for many many years as they were a huge highlight to our party.”
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Kristen U.
I don't think there are really the words to express how great Dean made our wedding experience. From the start, Dean was highly responsive, energetic, and just overall enthusiastic about our event. From the moment we brought up our Princess Bride theme, he brought our fun and nerdy vision to life with a wide range of unique and flavorful cocktails that were perfectly themed and named. We are not from Oregon and were a bit out of our element while planning our wedding. Dean was amazing and made the process so simple and straight forward and even offered up some other recommendations as we needed them. When it came to our actual wedding day, Dean was just as amazing. Every one of our guests complimented the great custom cocktails for their original taste. They also really loved the interactions with Dean and his staff! He brought the theme to life and kept it going all night. We never had a line and had VERY happy guests. Dean and his staff have our highest recommendation for anyone looking for a fun, energetic, and passionate bartender.
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Lara S.
The team at Amaro is great to work with. Their experience and professionalism shows in how easy and seamless it was to coordinate a menu, amounts to purchase for the attendees, and work together in making a memorable night. Thank you Dean for the above and beyond service!
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Ashley C.
This is the second time we've hired Amaro for a company event, and every time he hits it out of the park. Dean always suggests a really thoughtful selection of beverages that have a great storytelling component. He's got an awesome knowledge of local product and sourcing from lesser known purveyors. He's really fun to work with and engaging with customers who want to hear more about the back story of the beverages served. Will definitely use him in the future!
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Hattie T.
I recently hired Amaro PDX for my parents' joint 70th birthday party at our home, and couldn't be happier with the service we received! Dean was attentive and communicative throughout the booking process, helping me identify what type of package would be best for our event. He offered suggestions on different drink varieties, while keeping my budget in mind. Amaro's bar service at the party itself was fantastic. Dean and his colleague kept the drinks flowing, and were warm and welcoming with our guests. Everyone I heard from during and after the event mentioned how much they loved the drinks and the bartenders. We also really appreciated Amaro's attention to sustainability, with compostable and eco-friendly cups and utensils. We would absolutely hire Amaro again, and highly recommend them for events of all sizes!
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Jenny K.
We had an excellent experience working with Amaro PDX for bartending service at our wedding this past weekend. We were able to work with them to find the right service package for our wedding we hosted on our private property. Dean always responded quickly, and helped us out with a shopping list for our special day. Multiple guests commented of what excellent customer service they had, as well as excellent drinks. Thank you AmaroPDX!
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Alison S.
Dean was such an amazing addition to our wedding celebration! A few months before the wedding, we realized we still needed to secure a bartender. We found Amaro PDX via a Google search and reached out in hopes that they weren’t yet booked. We got so lucky with our date and Dean’s availability! We learned that Amaro PDX typically does a whole custom drink menu spread, so we were nervous our super simple beer/wine set up wouldn’t match with Amaro PDX’s services. However, Dean’s response was an enthusiastic “This sounds like a great time! Let’s do it!” When I say Dean delivered, it’s an understatement! He was so responsive to all our questions and ideas, and he was super easy going! So many guests commented on what a fun presence he was behind the bar! Numerous times I said to my husband “I’m so glad we booked Dean as our bartender!” Just watching Dean interact with our guests, it is clear he has a passion for this work! He is professional, efficient, and just a top-notch addition to any event!
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Mark M.
Dean was awesome to work with for our wedding. He set up a cocktail tasting at our home with loads of options, tailored to fit our interests and pair with our catering choices, and worked really well with our wedding organizer and venue to make the event a huge hit. He also ensured we had plenty of zero-proof options and local beer and wine, even allowing us to make a couple of late substitutions to our menu. He was great about checking in regularly and keeping us informed so there weren't any surprises. Everything he picked out was a great choice, and anytime we asked for something, his immediate reaction was to find a way to make it work. The drinks he and his team whipped up all night were outstanding and a huge hit with our guests. We couldn't have asked for a better bartending service. Thank you, Amaro!
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Megan B.
I wish I could give 10 starts! I can not put into words how wonderful Amaro is. From my very first contact, I knew they were the vendor for our event. They made everything seamless and fun. Not only was Dean and his team incredibly personable but they are very skilled at their craft. The cocktails and service were amazing! I would highly recommend Amaro for your next event!
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Melissa G.
Finding Dean was one of the best things that happened during our wedding planning. He had absolutely everything under control, making sure that our wedding bar was top-notch. Not only did he put a ton of care and creativity into making the perfect custom cocktails for our wedding, he also was a hugely helpful addition to our wedding day. We decided not to serve champagne at our wedding, still, during speeches he had the foresight to find some bubbly somewhere, and bring us two glasses. He was always available to answer and work through any questions or concerns we had. On top of that, he's just a lovely person to work with and to have around! I'd hire him again in a heartbeat.
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Amy S.
Absolutely incredible from bid to planning to event and guest interaction to wrap up 1000% perfect experience! Couldn’t be happier!
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Jennifer S.
My husband and I had the best experience with Dean from start to finish. We are both self proclaimed cocktail nerds so it was amazing to find someone to help bring that to life for our special day. The tasting to choose signature cocktails was a blast and communication was efficient, friendly, and timely from booking to final details. The cocktails were one the most talked about parts of our wedding. Highly highly recommend.
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Maia P.
Dean and Amaro are the very best! We loved working with them so much that we hired them twice in the span of a few months. Would highly recommend to anyone seeking a bartending service!
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Camilla S.
Dean was an incredible bartender at my wedding this summer, and we also hired him for my bachelorette trip in Palm Springs—it ended up being the highlight of our weekend!
He created an interactive setup, led a cocktail-making class, and then poured drinks for us that evening. Dean has such a great presence—personable, professional, and genuinely fun—and his cocktails are fresh, creative, and absolutely delicious.
So often, drinks at weddings or private events can be strong but boring and unoriginal. Dean is the complete opposite—his use of fresh ingredients, homemade syrups, and inventive combinations truly sets him apart. I’ve received countless compliments on the cocktails and mocktails he served at both events, and now I’m just looking for an excuse to hire him again!
The Lives of The Party
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Dean
PDX born Dean has worked across a multitude of settings from posh wine cafes to formal French dining to rough & rowdy dives. From that he stitched together an ethos that bartending exists at the intersection of a perfectly made drink, a safe & inviting space, and hospitality from a host that genuinely enjoys making people happy.
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Twila
Amaro co-founder and Palm Springs native, Twila helped launch Amaro Bartending in 2016. Taking the reins of the behind-the-scenes daily operations, her deep experience as a long time small business owner is instrumental in keeping the lights on and the spirits flowing. Μιλάει και ελληνικά.
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Kate
Amaro Bartending’s chief alchemist and a badass mainstay of high-end Portland bars, Kate recently joined the team to oversee management of Amaro’s Portland operations. With a resume that reads like a who’s-who of the PDX cocktail scene, Kate has honed her drink creation skills to perfection.
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JeVar
With a flair for the theatrical, lead bartender JeVar has been with Amaro since the beginning. A master of the craft, it's an experience in itself to watch JeVar whip up cocktails with speed, precision and a ton of style. At the same time, he brings a sharp wit, a quick laugh and a sense of joy that guests love.
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Ariel
The young gun and newest bartender, Ariel got her start in the world of Tiki cocktails. She serves guests with an energetic playfulness that's always infectious. You can spot her behind the bar knocking out complex, multi-ingredient cocktails with speed - while having the most fun.
Pricing and Packages
Although pricing can vary dramatically depending on a lot of variables - we know it's nice to have an idea of the cost without sending a bunch of emails. The following are general estimates.
The per /guest structure is the best method we’ve found for calculating the final cost. Contact us and we’ll get the necessary info and give you an accurate quote ASAP without a lot of runaround.
We are a small business and very flexible, so if you have something different in mind, just let us know.
Pour Only
providing your own beverages?
Amaro is happy to provide a professional licensed bartender to serve your guests for $150 per hour of service.
one hour of consultation
one licensed professional bartender
coolers and ice
bar tools and accessories
setup/service/cleanup
additional bartenders can be hired at the rate of $75/hour
our hourly rate is only applied while the bar is open and serving guests, so setup and cleanup is always free
minimum three hours of service required.
Signature
~$35/guest
unlimited consultation
menu curation
two signature cocktails designed especially for your event
licensed professional bartenders
excellent quality spirits, beer and wine (provided in *nearly* bottomless quantity)
fresh squeezed juices, handmade syrups, mixers, bitters, etc.
gorgeous and thoughtful garnishes
coolers / ice / bar tools / compostable cups
setup / service / cleanup
bartending service up to 5 hours
Amaro Luxe
~$55/guest
our exclusive service for luxury events
includes everything in our Signature Package in addition to:
full bar: along with signature cocktails, all spirits and common mixers are provided
optional complimentary cocktail tasting party
curated premium spirit selection
expanded bar team
signature garnish artistry
elevated bar presentation, styling & lighting
concierge-style coordination with client and/or event planner
get in touch
Reach out and let us know about your event!
Emails are not collected / saved and we don’t send newsletters or spam.
All info provided is 100% confidential and will never be shared with anyone anywhere. Ever.
Our Email:
AmaroBartending@gmail.com
(please don’t send us spam, either)