Bars

During the recession, a limited bar of beer and wine—or no alcohol at all—seemed to be the go-to choice. But now the fully stocked open bar is back, with 45 percent of companies opting for one last year, according to the BizBash survey. Industry pros predict that number will be even higher in 2013: “The open bar is not where clients are cutting back this year—they’re doing a full bar, plus a few specialty cocktail options,” Gorjestani says. Speaking of which, the interest in craft cocktails remains strong. “Society is still attached to classic cocktails and chef-driven mixology—guests get excited by throwback, Prohibition-style drinks made with bourbon, as well as cocktails made with fresh herbs and house-made syrups,” Neubauer says. But the latest trend may be something you remember from your high school prom, updated with a boozy twist: the drink fountain. While punches have been popular at holiday parties for several years, booze-filled fountains were one of the top trends spotted at this year’s Tales of the Cocktail, the annual drink festival in New Orleans. “I think these will gain popularity at corporate events because they are both fantastic for serving signature cocktails to larger groups and also serve as a gorgeous decorative element for an event,” Belvedere’s head of spirit creation and mixology, Claire Smith, told BizBash. Still, it’s never a bad idea to make sure nonalcoholic options are on hand, and Neubauer suggests offering more than just Diet Coke. “House-crafted sodas and elixirs make nonalcoholic options seem more enticing,” he says. Pictured: A private holiday event produced by Hollywood Pop Gallery featured a fully stocked custom circular bar covered in images of ornaments.