Bender Mixology Event Services

06/22/2026

What grows at the very edge of the Garden of Eden? A place where contrasting elements come together in perfect harmony. My Eden’s Edge Margarita is a delicate balance of completely opposing flavors mingling in one glass. You’re first met with an alluring, vegetal opening of sweet aloe and a cool kiss of mint. Just as you’re drawn in, a spicy sting of jalapeño flips the script. Sweet, cool, spicy, and perfectly wild. 🍃

06/17/2026

This past weekend marked a true milestone for Bender Mixology as we launched our very first community-style workshop, The Art of the Old Fashioned.
From the meticulously crafted curriculum and handmade bitters to the curated appetizer pairings, every single detail was designed to deliver an experience that was just as incredibly fun and high-value as it was educational. I could not be more grateful for the amazing energy, the memories made, and the appreciation shown by everyone who joined. I hope the foundational techniques we explored will be used and enjoyed for years to come!
Cheers to our first workshop, and I can't wait to bring this to life again soon. 🥃✨

06/14/2026

Something special has been brewing (actually steeping) at Bender Mixology: handcrafted bitters! 🪵🥃
From the hand-selected botanicals to the tiny hand-cut labels, it’s this level of care and attention to detail you can expect from us. These are unlike anything sold commercially.
They’ll be for sale to the public soon, but for now, our clients get to be the very first to taste them!
Which flavor are you trying first: Molasses, Peach, or Black Walnut Cardamom? 👇✨

06/04/2026

Why hire Bender Mixology Services if you and your guests aren’t into cocktails? Because you deserve more than a pitcher of koolaid, you and your guests deserve an unforgettable experience!

After taking the summer completely off to hit pause and be incredibly picky about our calendar, the vault is finally reopening. 👋✨

We are officially booking a limited number of Fall & Winter 2026 events. We don’t overbook because we refuse to rush the details. If you want a story-driven, upscale experience that your guests will talk about all year, email [email protected] secure your date before the calendar locks back up. 🍂🥂

06/01/2026

August is truly one of the best times of the year to get married, and the biggest reason I love August weddings is because of the wide range of readily available ingredients that I can easily source for my clients to craft amazing cocktails and mocktails with fresh, handcrafted ingredients!
August is the one time of year that you can find just about anything, from floral ingredients still in season, to the last of the peaches, melons, and delicious tropical fruit!
This vibrant menu for our upcoming August wedding features 3 distinct cocktails, including the perfect peachy fizz that tastes like an elevated cross between a hairy navel and a peach Bellini. This Stonefruit Sunrise Sparkler features fresh pressed orange juice and juicy, ripe peach syrup, lifted by citrus and tonic water, hitting every element from the fresh aromatics to the layered balance of sweet, tart and crisp, for a perfect summer wedding cocktail. 🥂

05/25/2026

What’s your favorite Memorial Day cocktail?
For me, the early summer classic was always the beloved Lemon Drop. And since Memorial Day is the very beginning of stone fruit season, I absolutely had to create a Stone Fruit Lemon Drop!
This is something I actually came up with back in my dive bar days. It’s a simple, fun variation that you can easily play with at home. You can switch up the base spirit to a lemon or peach vodka, or even swap the apricot liqueur for peach schnapps and add a fresh apricot purée.
If you have a hankering for something fruity today, this is a must-have. Happy Memorial Day, everyone! 🍸

05/18/2026

I’m thrilled to announce that we were able to fill all of our seats for the upcoming workshop in just 48 hours! I am so excited to bring this to the Edwardsville community, and since there were quite a few people that we weren’t able to accommodate for this date, I will definitely plan to do a follow-up date for another workshop later this summer, and hopefully at some point soon, I’ll be able to bring this to those of you in Southern Illinois! If you or a group would like to pre register for the next date, send me an email at [email protected] 🥂

05/14/2026

Have you ever wanted to learn how to make the perfect Old Fashioned? 🥃

Behind the scenes, I’ve been working hard to develop something I’m so excited to share: our first-ever Cocktail Masterclass! I’m giving our followers the first look at this launch with a very special introductory price.

This is a deep-dive workshop on the history, science, and technique of the Old Fashioned so you can master the craft at home.

The Details:
🗓️ June 14th | 4-6pm
📍 The Bender Mixology Speakeasy (Private Invite Only)
🥃 BYOB: Bring your favorite Bourbon and Rye! (Small Bottles are Fine)

Tiered Experience Options:
✨ Tier 1 ($45): 2-hour curriculum, shared tools & ingredients, and convenient shuttle access.
💎 Tier 2 ($65): Full individual take-home kit (tools, handcrafted syrups, and recipe cards), plus preferred parking.

We’ll have snacks and beverages waiting for you!

Because there are only 12 spots available, tickets will be by invite only. If you’d like a ticket, send a DM to Kelsie Bender or email [email protected]. Can’t wait to see you there!

04/28/2026

The LuxLife Global Media listings are officially live!

I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported Bender Mixology along the way. Growth hasn’t been overnight—but moments like this are a reminder that the work is being seen and appreciated, and that means everything.

I’m committed to continuing to create something distinctive for my clients, and I’m excited to keep building—and step back into competition this summer.

Best Luxury Mobile Bartending Service 2026 – MidwestLUXlife Craft Mixology Excellence Award 2026