Venue charging extra for signature drinks? What was your experience?

Also the drinks we wanted were a dark and stormy (rum, ginger beer and lime) and blueberry press (blueberry vodka, sprite and soda).

What was your experience?

I thought it sounded strange too LMac! We are paying $24 per person for 4 hours. I understand the reasoning that cocktails and martinis would be extra, but a simple 2 ingredient drink? That I'm already paying for as well as providing the extra mixer? I feel like they are just reaching for reasons to change extra at this point.

Luckily we are doing top shelf premium bar so as long as they have the liquor and juices, etc. we can make a signature drink (no extra cost). I am paying $180 per person though so my place isn't cheap.

Thanks for you input Colleen, that helps validate my point. Your paying significantly more than what I'm paying though, but I hope you and your guest enjoy lots of delicious drinks

Yes, I'm in AZ. We definitely got a great price on our bar package $24 per person isn't the norm in this area, actually several other venues refused to do a fixed open bar price. But still, it's kind of nuts. I'm curious to see if anyone else has had the same experience

We are paying per drink and anything that is more then just a shot and a mixer is extra. So rum and coke is $8.50 and a lemon drop is $12.50. It may be unreasonable but good luck getting them to change their mind. I'd be happy to be paying $24 for 4 hours for alcohol!! You may just have to stick with the basics which your guests will still love having.

@swolemates I know, it's a good deal, we worked hard to negotiate it! I don't know if you saw, but my "specialty drink" is just rum and ginger beer. I'll probably scrap the idea entirely, but I curious to know if others had gotten the same feedback from their venue, because it sounded weird to me to charge extra just because it's a "specialty drink" even though it's a simple mixed drink with two ingredients.

That seems ridiculous!! My venue gives us 2 signature drinks no charge but we have top shelf open bar.

It may be the ginger beer. Since it's so popular right now they can charge more and people will still pay. If you were able to negotiate the per person price maybe you can negotiate that too. We couldn't negotiate on anything. Let us know what happens!

Oh man, I haven't gotten that far with my venue yet, but I know at the other venue I was looking at it said right in their packet that signature drinks were additional $. I think the cheapest was $4 and went up from there.

I'm not sure what to expect from the venue I'm going with since I chose a package where the food and drink is all lumped together at 60/person.