What’s brunch without endless mimosas or a happy hour without discounted drinks? Let’s face it; a great cocktail is an important element in creating a fantastic event. Summer is full of outdoor fun, good music and food, so, of course, you want your drink of choice to reflect the same vibe. ReRe White has over five years’ experience working in the bartending world and knows all there is to know about mixing up a tasty adult beverage. 

What started as seeking just another job opportunity to provide for herself and her family blossomed into a passion-filled business venture. White grew tired of working in the club scene and desired to take her abilities up a notch by starting Jacksonville’s first mobile bartending business called PrettyTendas in 2016. Her business is approaching its fifth anniversary in October, and White describes her leap into entrepreneurship as a liberating decision.

“[Starting a business] is the best move I’ve made for myself as far as my wellbeing and in the workplace,” White says. “I make the rules at my bar. I deal with the customers directly. I feel in control. I feel like I’m having fun because I’m doing something I love to do.”  

Daytime cocktails might be something you drink at a day party or during brunch. It’s usually on the lighter side and acts as a refreshing pick-me-up. These are typically your cosmopolitans or cosmos, a mix of vodka, cranberry juice, triple sec and lime juice, or sangrias made with wine as the base mixed with various fruit juices and additional ingredients like ginger ale or sparkling water. And you cannot forget about the simple but popular mimosa, composed of two ingredients: your choice of champagne and orange juice.

Summer cocktails are colorful and always include fruits like strawberry, peach schnapps (key ingredient in most of her drinks), pineapple and melon flavors. Frozen drinks like daiquiris or margaritas are good options because they’re easy to make, perfect to cool off on a hot day and are smooth, easy-going drinks. Usually, these kinds of beverages, White notes, “tend to catch up with you later. You’re going to taste them right away, but you aren’t going to feel the effects right away.”

PrettyTendas is a bartender on wheels where they bring the bar to you. They provide the bartending service; you provide the liquor, and just like that, you’re ensured a successful event. Bartenders do more than just serve drinks; they also dictate the tone of the party.

“The bartender has the biggest role next to the DJ. If there aren’t any good drinks flowing, people aren’t having a good time. We make the event. If you have a great bartender, then you’re guaranteed to have a great event.”

White shared with us her top two tips for what it takes to be an excellent bartender at any event.

First, you should possess the ability to work with whatever ingredients you have. As a bartender, White does more than pour drinks at the customers’ request. She enjoys the freedom of creating different concoctions with various mixes, which she calls her mystery drinks. When someone doesn’t know what they want she always resorts to serving a mystery drink.

“It’s a mystery to the customer because they don’t know what products are being mixed. I call it a mystery drink because it’s not a signature drink of mine. Whatever I have to work with, that’s what I’m making.”

Second, you also want to pay attention to your audience. A lot of people have their go-to drink choices, but White doesn’t like to fix boring drinks. Instead, she aims to break people out of their customary mold of ordering the same old cocktail.

“I don’t care to just pour something [uninspiring]. I always talk them out of getting what they originally ordered.”

White likes to provide different options that align with the customers’ preferred drink of choice but also allows them to explore other selections. She receives good feedback about her mystery drinks, which she identifies based on color to later know what to recreate upon drink request.

Although White likes to keep her recipes under wraps, she did share one of her favorites with us. Up your bartending game and impress the crowd by adding this festive – and easy – summer recipe to your next cocktail lineup.

Strawberry Patch

• Peach Schapp’s
• Cîroc green apple & Cîroc pineapple
• Strawberry liqueur
• Grenadine
• Sweet and sour mix
• Sprite
• Pineapple juice
• Cranberry juice

There aren’t exact measurements for the ingredients. Just divide into equal parts. Mix. Shake. Pour on ice.

Yes, It’s that simple.

If you enjoyed that recipe, be sure to follow PrettyTendas on Instagram or its website because White has plans up her sleeve to release a new business venture that will allow you to taste more of her signature cocktail mixes. 

prettytendas.com // @prettytendas_mobilebartending