9 Clever Cocktail Stations and Displays for Summer Events

After the Univision Upfront presentation at Center415 in New York on May 13, guests were invited to make their own sangria. The D.I.Y. wall, which was created by Riviera Caterers in partnership with First and Univision, held glasses filled with fruit that guests could grab and fill with red or white wine from a spout.
Read more: 23 Highlights You Missed From 2019 Upfront and NewFront Season

When Moet & Chandon debuted its champagne vending machine in 2016 it became an instant hit at benefits, parties, and galas. Now, the brand is launching a new augmented-reality photo booth version that features Moet’s limited-edition “Living Ties” Impérial Rosé collection.

Making its debut at the Pendry in San Diego, the new vending machine combines facial recognition and video, along with custom backgrounds, so guests can share augmented reality-enabled ecards. The original version of the vending machine can be found at Mama Lion in Los Angeles; the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans; the Dalmar Hotel in Fort Lauderdale; and even Kris Jenner’s home.

In June 2017, during VidCon—a online-video convention held annually at the Anaheim Convention Center—the Route 66-inspired YouTube partner reception, held at the Hyatt Regency, featured a beer bar that was modeled after retro gas stations, with pumps serving as beer taps.
Read more: See How YouTube Created Five Distinct Events at One Convention

Guests could order hibiscus-infused tequila drinks at a pour-over station from Twist by Pinch at Swedish banking company Klarna’s first U.S. event, held in January at Michelson Studio in New York.
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At this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, in New York in April, guests at the Bulleit 3D Printed Frontier Lounge sipped on high-tech drinks such as a specialty cocktail known as the Bulleit Beta Test Cocktail that featured Bulleit bourbon and floating doodads. These liquid “objects” were built inside the cocktail via a robotic arm that injected droplets that formed a set pattern like a dot matrix spiral; the shapes jiggled in the drink but kept their shape. The drops were edible oils (in this case lemon oil) that were suspended in the bourbon.
Read more: See the 3-D Printed Cocktails This Whiskey Brand Served at the Tribeca Film Fest

This cocktail station by Pinch Food Design features hanging glasses on hooks with large dangling pitchers filled with specialty cocktails, allowing guests to pour themselves a drink.

In January, at an event in New York for British beauty brand Soap & Glory, champagne flowed from a custom champagne tap built into a vintage sink.
Read more: Champagne Flowed From a Vintage Sink at This Beauty Event

At Two Bit Circus in downtown Los Angeles, a robot bartender creates and serves drinks. (A human bartender is on hand to interact with the robot and make sure nothing goes wrong.) Signature drinks are also designed to be an experience, incorporating elements like fire and liquid nitrogen.
Read more: Is L.A.'s Two Bit Circus the Future of Corporate Teambuilding?

A portable ice luge created by New York-based ice-carving studio Okamoto Studio, the Fun Luge is a smaller version of the giant branded ones often found at corporate events. More than 50 designs are available for occasions such as birthdays, New Year’s Eve, bachelorette parties, and more. Each Fun Luge ($220) measures 24 inches high, 15 inches wide, and 15 inches deep, and comes with a battery-powered LED light with eight different settings. Customers can pick up at Okamoto Studio in Long Island City or have it delivered within the five boroughs for a delivery fee.