About Us
Apiary Fine Catering & Events is Lexington’s premier high-end event venue and caterer. Known for culinary prestige and unwavering attention to detail, we create extraordinary hospitality experiences rooted in elegance, innovation, and precision.
Our beverage program is an integral extension of our culinary vision, supporting events both at Apiary and at off-site venues throughout the region. We are seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking Beverage Manager to lead this vital component of our operations.
Position Summary
The Beverage Manager is responsible for the strategic direction, execution, and day-to-day operations of all beverage services at Apiary. This includes overseeing private events, off-site catering, seasonal programming, public events, and high-volume functions.
This is a hands-on leadership role that blends creativity, logistical acumen, client communication, and team management. The Beverage Manager will develop seasonal beverage menus, manage inventory and procurement, lead a professional bar team, and ensure excellence at every service touchpoint.
The role also serves as a beverage resource for clients and the events team, helping translate each client’s preferences, event vision, guest profile, and budget into a thoughtful and well-executed beverage experience.
The ideal candidate combines deep beverage knowledge with a passion for hospitality and thrives in a fast-paced, high-expectation environment.
Key Responsibilities
Event Planning and Preparation: Review event details in advance to determine product needs, equipment requirements, staffing levels, service flow, and bar placement. Ensure beverage plans are clearly communicated to the appropriate operational teams.
Off-Site Beverage Operations: Oversee beverage service for off-site events, including the preparation, packing, transportation, setup, execution, and breakdown of bars and beverage equipment. Adapt service plans to accommodate varying venue layouts, loading conditions, infrastructure, policies, and logistical limitations.
Purchasing and Inventory: Oversee beverage procurement and inventory management using established standard operating procedures to ensure product availability, cost efficiency, proper storage, and minimal waste.
Team Leadership: Hire, train, schedule, and manage beverage staff across a variety of events and service environments. Provide performance coaching, reinforce service expectations, and cultivate a professional, knowledgeable, and hospitality-driven bar team.
Client Beverage Communication: Collaborate with clients and the events team to develop beverage selections that complement the event style, menu, guest experience, and budget. Provide informed recommendations regarding beverage packages, signature cocktails, wine selections, service formats, quantities, and specialty requests.
Menu Development: Create and maintain innovative, seasonal, and event-specific beverage offerings, including craft cocktails, curated wine and beer selections, and thoughtful non-alcoholic options.
Service Execution: Lead beverage operations during events as needed, ensuring bars are properly staffed, organized, replenished, and operating according to the established timeline and service standards.
Compliance and Safety: Ensure full compliance with all local and state liquor laws, responsible alcohol service requirements, transportation procedures, venue policies, and workplace safety regulations.
Operational Excellence: Maintain clean, organized, well-stocked, and fully functional on-site and mobile bar setups. Ensure all beverage equipment, tools, glassware, garnishes, mixers, and service materials are properly maintained and event-ready.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with culinary, events, logistics, sales, and service teams to ensure beverage operations are fully integrated into each event and executed seamlessly.
Cost and Waste Management: Monitor beverage costs, event consumption, transfers, breakage, spoilage, and waste. Identify opportunities to improve efficiency while maintaining the quality and integrity of the guest experience.
Reporting: Accurately complete daily service reports, inventory documentation, product transfers, and post-event reporting. Communicate operational concerns, client feedback, product needs, and service opportunities to leadership.
Qualifications
- Minimum of two years of progressive experience in beverage or bar management, ideally within a high-end, event-driven, catering, or hospitality environment.
- Proven ability to conceptualize, execute, and manage elevated beverage programs.
- In-depth knowledge of spirits, wine, beer, mixology, non-alcoholic beverages, and beverage sourcing.
- Experience planning or executing beverage service in off-site or mobile event environments.
- Strong client-facing communication skills with the ability to present recommendations clearly, professionally, and confidently.
- Strong organizational and leadership skills, with the ability to manage teams, inventory, timelines, and event logistics simultaneously.
- Ability to anticipate operational needs and adapt quickly to changing venues, event conditions, and service requirements.
- Passion for creating memorable guest experiences through thoughtful, high-quality service.
- Availability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and variable hours based on event schedules.
- Ability to safely lift, transport, and organize beverage products, equipment, and event supplies as required.
If you are passionate about hospitality, have a sharp palate and an eye for detail, and want to be part of a team that values creativity, precision, and excellence, we invite you to apply.
Job Type: Full-Time
Work Location: In person, including events at Apiary and off-site locations
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
