Frequently Asked Questions

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We offer a wide variety of drinks, including freshly squeezed lemonades and dirty sodas, both with endless flavor options, and delicious mocktails.  If hired for private events, we can also serve your favorite alcoholic drinks as long as you purchase the alcohol.  We are happy to work with you to customize the perfect drink menu for your special event.

We provide top-notch service with a smile, disposable drinkware, garnishes, flavoring, ice, bar tools, and a customized menu.....everything needed for your beverage service except alcohol and mixers.  If you would like alcohol served at your event, we are happy to do so, but following Michigan law, we are unable to purchase the alcohol.  We will gladly provide you a detailed shopping list of suggested spirits and quantities.

We are excited to speak with you regarding your big event.  By filling out the inquiry form and gathering some basic information, we will put together some ideas and get back to you quickly.  You can also email us directly at info@thebigswig.com or call 231-499-9029.  

After consultation and event planning, if you wish to reserve your date with The Big Swig, a non-refundable deposit of 25% of the total invoice is due.  The total remaining balance will be due 4 weeks before the event.  The Big Swig will not perform any services until payment is received in full.  If unforeseen circumstances arise on behalf of The Big Swig, and we have to cancel, we will refund all payments in full.

The Big Swig's home base is Ludington, MI.  We will happily service any area within a 45-mile radius of Ludington with no associated travel fees.  Any destination over this distance requesting The Big Swig trailer will be charged $2.00 a mile.  For example, if you are 60-miles away, the first 45-miles there and back do not incur a charge.  The additional 15 miles there and back will be charged 30 miles total x $2.00=$60.00 travel fee.

The Big Swig mobile beverage bar is guaranteed to provide a unique and unforgettable statement piece to any event.  The Big Swig is perfect for wedding receptions, graduation parties, birthday parties, bridal/engagement parties, corporate events, festivals, post-prom parities, and reunions.  Honestly, The Big Swig is pure perfection for any occasion!

The Big Swig invoice will include the base charge, travel fees if necessary, and potentially a bartender gratuity.  Gratuity for bartenders can be handled one of two ways.  Option 1 allows us to place a tip jar at the service window for guests to leave tips.   For option 2, you the host, pays the gratuity and thus eliminates the tip jar.  Standard prepaid gratuity is $1.00 per person per bartender in attendance.

In Michigan, standalone liquor licenses are not issued for mobile bars.  To operate legally, The Big Swig operates as a "dry hire" where the client or host of the private party purchases all alcohol from an appropriate off-premise retailer.  The Big Swig can only charge for bartending labor, mobile bar equipment rental, and non-alcoholic consumables like ices, mixers, and garnishes.  The Big Swig will never purchase alcohol for your event and will never run a cash bar, sell drink tickets, or take direct payment for drinks.  All bartenders are TIPS and TAM certified.  The event host ultimately bears responsibility for guests however, The Big Swig does carry Liquor Liability and General Liability insurance.  These certificates are available upon request.  It is recommended that event hosts purchase Host Liquor Liability for their event as well.  The Bartender will require proof of age for all guests partaking in alcoholic beverages.  Alcoholic drinks will not be served to anyone under the age of 21.  The Big Swig reserves the right to refuse service to anyone that appears to have had too much to drink.  Bartenders will not be held liable for minors who receive and consume alcohol given to them by those over the age of 21.  But as a reminder....we don't have to serve alcohol.  Custom mocktails, fresh squeezed lemonades, and dirty sodas are also perfect for any event.