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 in Palm Springs and the surrounding desert valley.
Whether it’s inspired creations made just for you, or classic cocktails done perfectly – we'll work with you to design a unique menu with signature cocktails that reflect your aesthetic based on the criteria most important to you, be it types of spirits, flavor profiles, color scheme, etc. When creating cocktails we always focus on locally sourced ingredients, freshly pressed citrus, quality handcrafted syrups and interesting infusions.
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.
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.
Wedding Receptions
Dinner parties with punctual perfect 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.
Private Parties
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.
Corporate Events
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!
Cocktail Classes
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.
Cocktail Tastings
testimonials
“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!” -Rachelle M.
“Amaro 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 via Google search and reached out in hopes that they weren’t yet booked. We got so lucky with our date and Dean’s availability! When I say Amaro 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!” -Alison S.
“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.” -Francesca H.
about us / pricing
Amaro was founded in 2016 in Portland, Oregon by longtime bartender Dean and his partner, Twila - a local small-business owner of 15 years. As of early 2024, we’re excited to expand services to Palm Springs, California!
Together we design and host all sorts of events – fun and casual tiki pool parties, classy holiday office affairs, lively cocktail tasting parties, classes and group lessons for any skill level, and elegant signature cocktails created specifically for the guests at your event.
All bartenders partnered with Amaro are professional, experienced and licensed to serve in California. We create bar programs to reflect our client’s individual style, pair with cuisine, and fit in with the aesthetic of your event. Fresh squeezed juices, unique mixers, hand crafted syrups and infusions are all selected with a critical eye, favoring local, seasonal, and home grown components.
Before your event we provide a structure of specific consultations and are available to you at all times, so we can be sure to work out all the details. For larger events and/or wedding receptions, this is elevated by a super fun cocktail tasting party! When the big day comes, you can rest easy knowing we have all the details sorted out and ready to go.
The following guide is intended as a rough outline of typical cost ranges. Of course each event is unique and there’s no “one size fits all” pricing structure. Fortunately, as a small business we are incredibly flexible, and willing to work together to find the right budget for your party.
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:
AmaroPDX@gmail.com
