Hive Bartending

04/08/2026

Food and beverage service remains one of the least unionized sectors of the US economy, with union density around 1.8 percent.

If the bartenders and other staff are successful, the effort would make Attaboy the first independently owned cocktail bar in the city to unionize: jacobin.com/2026/04/attaboy-unionizing-nyc-bar-independent

02/26/2026

Here’s something that has been on my mind for a long time. The reconciliation between being a serious bartender and my tenuous history with alcohol.

This video highlights a lot of that. I want to start focusing on “mindful drinking”. Low abv, no abv, excess and moderation.

We all know someone that takes alcohol to an extreme. And I would like to tackle my love for bartending while also promoting safer drinking habits.

Derek Brown was named one of the best bartenders in America, author of Mindful Mixology, and now a leading voice in the mindful drinking movement. In this ep...

02/14/2026

When you hire a bartending team that loves the details… this is what that looks like 🥂

We created this champagne cocktail as part of a fully styled Valentine’s table — and the flavor is just as good as it looks.
Fresh ingredients. Thoughtful pairings. A little romance in every sip.

Want the full recipe + behind-the-scenes look at the entire rose-filled tablescape and vendor team?

📸 - HIVE Photography

Blog link is in the comments 👇

02/07/2026

We had the pleasure of working a very fun galentines event last night AND it was our Wanieta’s birthday!

We always have so much fun at these events, and the drinks were killer!

02/02/2026

✨ This Friday we’ll be pouring at Clara's Hope Annual Fundraiser! ✨

Behind the scenes this week, Dustin has spent the better part of a few days crafting homemade syrups for fancy Italian sodas that will be served at the event. Pictured here is an orange oleo-saccharum, the base for our house-made orange syrup 🍊

Oleo-saccharum dates back to the early days of punch and cocktail history. Made by drawing the natural oils out of citrus peels using sugar, this old-world technique captures intense aroma and bright, fresh citrus flavor. Historically, oleo-saccharum was a staple in classic punches and cocktails, adding depth and balance without relying on artificial syrups.

Today, we love using it in both craft cocktails and elevated non-alcoholic drinks—like the Italian sodas we’ll be serving this Friday. Thoughtful ingredients, traditional methods, and a whole lot of care. 💛

Cheers to great flavors and even greater causes.

01/22/2026

Angostura bitters — the quiet backbone of the bar.

Created in 1824 by Dr. Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert, Angostura bitters were originally developed as a medicinal tonic to aid digestion and boost health. Nearly 200 years later, they’ve become one of the most iconic ingredients in cocktail history. Made from a closely guarded blend of herbs, roots, and spices, bitters add depth, balance, and complexity — that little something you’d miss if it wasn’t there.

A few classic cocktails that wouldn’t be the same without them:
• Old Fashioned
• Manhattan
• Pink Gin
• Champagne Cocktail

📸 - HIVE Photography

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Now for a little life update 🤍
If you’ve noticed us showing up here a bit more consistently, it’s because a lot is happening behind the scenes. We recently purchased a historic home here in Flint Township — possibly the oldest in Genesee County — and most of our free time has been spent restoring, dreaming, and planning what’s next.

Next week, we officially put our lawyer on retainer to help with a possible residential-to-commercial rezone. If approved, this property will become our very own wedding venue — complete with a beautiful greenhouse space, full commercial kitchen, and a stunning old house for our clients to prepare in. Our entire vintage inventory from Hive Wedding HIVE Wedding Design & Services will live there, ready to be used.

And yes… a liquor license is part of the plan 🍸
Dustin has been making connections with local merchants and distributors, crafting custom cocktails, and laying the groundwork for what we hope will be his own bar in the near future.

Building something from the ground up is never easy — but quitting isn’t in our vocabulary. We’re excited, nervous, hopeful, and working our tails off. Until we know how the next few months play out, you’ll find us right here sharing pieces of the journey. The Aitken Estate

Send us all the good juju — we’d sure appreciate it ✨🍊

01/21/2026

Who doesn’t love a good infusion? 🌿

The beauty in the glass is a gin + rosemary infusion—fresh, aromatic, and endlessly versatile behind the bar.

Some of our favorite cocktails featuring rosemary-infused gin include:
• Rosemary Gin & Tonic
• Rosemary French 75
• Rosemary Gimlet
• Rosemary Bee’s Knees
• Rosemary Negroni
• Rosemary Collins

Infusions like these add depth, aroma, and that extra wow factor to your event cocktails. ✨

Have you had one of these cocktails? Which is your favorite ?

01/18/2026

🍯🥃 RECIPE CARD DROP — The Penicillin 🥃🍯

We’re excited to share our first official cocktail recipe card with you!

The Penicillin is a modern classic — smoky, citrusy, a little sweet, and perfectly balanced.
👉 Have you had a Penicillin before?
👉 Did you love it — or would you try it?

Drop a comment below and tell us! We want to hear your thoughts 👇

We’ll be sharing new recipe cards every chance we get, so if you love cocktails, bartending inspo, or just learning something new —

✨ invite your friends to follow our page and come along for the ride.

More drinks. More knowledge. More good times. 🥂

📸 - HIVE Photography

01/17/2026

The wife was in Fenton taking senior photos in the high school pool, so I treated her to a drink 🍸

She snapped this pic before she headed out.

Come on upstairs at The Vault Downtown Fenton and come say hi!

12/27/2025

Thinking of doing a pop up promo night featuring 3 to 4 drinks, only available that night. All the while, live streaming my pov through my meta glasses. I’ll start crafting new recipes as long as I know that I’m going to have a good turnout. Who would be interested?