Star of Texas Liquor & Wine

 At Star of Texas Liquor & Wine, we love to help you plan your wedding reception, party or special event!  Parties are fun and as the host, you should be able to enjoy the fun without worrying about all the little details that can wear you down before the first guest arrives.

Our staff takes great pride in working within your budget, whether large or small. Just tell us how many guests will be attending and we'll do the rest. We'll calculate what you need and select the perfect wines, liquors, beers and mixers for your special event.  Ask about our free delivery service in Hays County.

If you are planning a wedding, we suggest that you review the wedding FAQ's listed below.  You will find the answers to most of your questions here.  If you would like to talk directly to one of our wedding coordinators about our beverage or bartender services, please give us a call at (512) 636-4232 or send an email to kay@staroftexasliquor.com.

Frequently Asked Questions for Weddings:

How much alcohol will I need?

On average figure about 2 drinks per person per hour.  A four hour reception for 150 adult guests would require about 1200 drinks to be served.  However, the number of drinkers vs. non-drinkers in attendance, age of the group, time of day, time of year, weather conditions, indoor vs. outdoor events, type of food being served, serving size of the glass, and location of the bar are factors that need to be considered in planning an event.  Give us a shout and we can help you sort it out.

What wines do you recommend for a wedding reception?

Most guests at a wedding do not expect you to serve an expensive wine.  We recommend that you serve a red wine (cabernet sauvignon, merlot, pinot noir or malbec), a white wine (chardonnay, pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc) and a blush wine such as a white zinfandel.   Our private label house wines in these varietals are the least expensive and can be purchased for about $90 per case.  The best value is to buy wines by the case.

What about a champagne toast?

Most couples order a case or two of champagne or sparkling wine for their guests to toast the bride and groom.   An inexpensive prosecco (Italian sparkling wine) is very popular for summer and fall weddings. On average an inexpensive champagne or prosecco costs between $10 and $15 for a good bottle of bubbly.   We have lots of ideas for a toast that we can discuss.  Just give us a call.

Should I buy bottled beer or kegs for my reception?

Typically, kegs are a little cheaper than bottled beer, but bottles offer a much greater variety.   We sell kegs and can certainly make them available at your event, but we recommend bottled beer.   Why? - because you can offer your guests several brands to choose from for about the same price with a lot less hassle especially in regards to serving time for your guests (it takes a lot longer to draw a glass of beer from a keg vs. pop a top and go).   In addition, bottled beer can be taken home, while left over keg juice is wasted.   The most popular brands purchased for weddings are Bud Light, Miller Lite, Dos Equis, Real Ale Fireman's #4, Shiner Bock and Corona Light.   Long necks are preferred by guests over cans however, some venues will only allow cans.

Do you offer signature drinks?

Yes, signature drinks are very popular right now and are highly recommended especially if you are not having a full bar with liquor.  Our most popular signature drinks are Strawberry Basil Mojitos, Texas Sweet Tea Vodka, Peach Bellini, Mexican Martini, Pineapple Crush Cocktail, Blue Hawaiian and Blood Orange Margaritas.   We recommend serving two different flavors of signature drinks to satisfy a variety of tastes.  Signature drinks are a great conversation starter and your guests will rave about them.  Our professional mixologist will prepare the mix concentrate especially for your event using his personal recipe.  He will hand muddle the fruit, add the alcohol and present the signature drink in a special serving container.  One batch of Signature drinks serve about 60 - 9 ounce cups and cost about $100 including the alcohol and all the fixin's.

What liquors do I need for a full bar?

The standard "full bar" will have vodka, tequila, rum, gin, scotch and whiskey.  We recommend the following:

·         Bourbon/Whiskeys (Crown Royal, Jack Daniels and Woodford Reserve will go very fast order extra of these)

·         Vodka (Dripping Springs Vodka or Titos Handmade Vodka are Texas favorites, they mix well)

·         Rum (Bacardi Light and Captain Morgan spiced rum with a Coke are always a hit)

·         Tequila (Jose Cuervo Gold for regular margaritas or Patron Silver for those top shelf Rita's)

·         Gin (Gotta have Bombay Sapphire or Tanqueray with lots of lime and tonic water)

·         Scotch/Irish Whiskey (Typically we serve Dewar's or J. Walker Red- The Irish like Jameson or Bushmills)

·         Baileys (Served with coffee or on the rocks, it makes a great after dinner drink)

What mixers and other items will I need for the bar?

Ice, soft drinks, bottled water, juices, serving cups, napkins, olives, cherries, margarita salt, tonic water, club soda, lemons, limes, coolers/troughs for serving the iced down beer and wine, etc.  We can provide all of these items for the bar and include them in our delivery and set-up.  We do all the work for you so that you do not have to worry about these details on your wedding day.

How many bartenders will I need?

The industry average is 1 bartender for each 75 guests for beer and wine events, and 1 per 50 for a full bar event.   This is the formula we use to determine the number of bartenders needed for an event.  

What do you charge for a bartender?

Depending upon the location of the venue and the type and amount of alcohol that is being served, we charge $30 to $35 per hour with a 4 hour minimum.  In addition to the actual serving time, Bartenders will need at least 1 hour to set-up and ice down product prior to the start time of the event and 30 minutes to tear-down the bar and box the left over alcohol after the bar service has ended.  Some wedding venues require the bartender to remove all glasses, bottles and trash left on the tables that is associated with the bar (there is an extra charge for this service).  This needs to be factored into the bartenders time on the job in addition to the actual serving time that the bar is open.  Or, as an alternative you may want to consider hiring a barback (bartender's assistant) to perform this clean-up chore.  See information on barbacks below.

Are your bartenders TABC Certified?

Yes.  All bartenders who work for us are TABC certified.  We can provide your wedding venue with a copy of their TABC certificate and proof of liquor liability insurance upon request.  Remember, it is the bartenders job to comply with all TABC laws and regulations regarding alcohol service.  This means checking ID's to prevent underage drinking and monitoring consumption to make sure that your guests drink responsibly.  Our team of professional bartenders will do everything they can to make sure your guests have a great time at your wedding, but they also must make sure that alcohol is served in accordance with Texas law.  

What about tipping etiquette for the bartender?

We recommend tip jars.  Most guests at a wedding do not mind tipping a bartender for good service.  Tips are a sure way to assure good service.   Often the bride and groom (or father of the bride) will provide an extra tip to the bartender at the conclusion of the event if the service was commendable.  If you prefer NOT to have a tip jar at your wedding, let us know and we will add a 20% gratuity to the order.  We need to know your preference at the time the bartendars are confirmed.

What happens to any alcohol that is leftover after the reception?

You purchased the alcohol - therefore it is yours to keep.  Our bartenders will box it up for you so that you may take it home.  For liability reasons, most venues require that any leftover alcohol be removed from the public area immediately after the reception and locked in a secure location. 

Do you have a contract?

Yes, once the order and all details are confirmed by you, the quote becomes a legally binding contract with your 50% down payment.  See change order and/or cancellation policy below.

Do you take credit cards and checks?

Yes, we accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.  Checks must be received 14 days in advance of the event. 

When is the final payment due? 

A 50% deposit is required to confirm an order with final payment due 14 days prior to the event.

Can I change my order after it has been confirmed with a down payment?

Yes, as long as the change is made at least 14 days prior to the event and the change does not reduce the total dollar amount of the order by more than 10%.

Do you deliver liquor, beer and wine?  

Yes, we provide free delivery within Hays County. Please contact us to make special arrangements for your event. 

Can you give me a written price quote for your services?

Yes, please provide us with the details of your wedding reception such as date and location of the event, serving hours, number of guests expected, type of alcohol to be served (beer, wine, champagne, signature drinks, full bar), any special requests that you may have such as the specific brand name or type of wine or beer you want.  You can email this information to kay@staroftexasliquor.com or call our wedding coordinator at (512) 636-4232.  We will prepare a written quote and email it to you for your review.  Please provide us with as much information and advance notice as possible.     

Do you have references?

We are the beverage provider for over 200 weddings and special events each year.    Yes, we can provide you with a list of references upon request.  Also, check out the Google reviews listed on the navigation bar on the left side of this website.  In 2011, we were named Brown-Forman "Retailer of the Year" in Texas by the American Beverage Licensees.  This award was given for outstanding customer service in the beverage industry.

Do you offer any gift items for the bridesmaids and groomsmen?

Yes, we have a great selection of gift baskets, wine glasses, handmade cigars, wine openers, flasks, shot glasses, wine stoppers and gift certificates.

Do you accept returns on alcohol?
 
We do not accept returns on beer or wine.  Unopened bottles of liquor may be returned for credit provided all bottles and labels are returned in good condition.  Returns are subject to a 10% restocking fee.

Will your bartenders serve liquor, beer or wine that is not purchased from your store?

No.  Because of liability issues our bartenders may only serve alcohol that is purchased from our store.  We reserve the right to suspend bartender service if we find that alcohol not purchased from our store is being self served by you or your guests.  We do not offer "bartender only" services.

How far in advance do l need to confirm my order and secure bartenders?

Since we book over 200 weddings per year, the sooner you confirm the order the better chance you have of reserving a bartender for your event and locking-in the best prices on alcohol.  We recommend that you book at least 60 - 90 days in advance of the date of your event in order to reserve a bartender and make sure that we have all the alcohol you order in stock.  We are currently accepting bookings for 2012.  To confirm an order you will need to make a payment in the amount of 50% of the order (see cancellation policy below).

Do you work in conjunction with other bridal services and venues?

Yes, we have a great working relationship with all of the wedding venues, bridal consultants, caterers and vendors in the Dripping Springs, Wimberley, Kyle, Buda, San Marcos and Hays County area.  Please see our preferred vendor list below for more information.

Do you have barbacks available for hire?

Yes, a barback is a great addition to your bar and in some cases will save you money.  As an example, you may want to consider hiring a barback to set-up, clean-up and pack-up (and in some cases move) the bar instead of paying the higher priced bartender to perform this duty.  A barback also allows the bartender to do a better job of paying attention to your guests and providing top shelf service.  A barback is required for events with 200+ guests in attendance or where you have bar service located at multiple bar stations. Remember, a barback is not TABC certified and is not allowed to serve alcohol.  Barbacks need to be booked at the same time you confirm your certified bartender so that we can coordinate their schedules.  There is a 4 hour minimum required for a barback.

May I special order a wine or beer?

It depends.  We will contact our local wine and beer distributors in an attempt to honor your special request.  Please keep in mind that Texas alcoholic beverage laws are very confusing.  A wine or beer that is permitted to be sold in California may or may not be permitted to be sold in Texas.  Also, the sale of some beers and wines are restricted to certain local and county jurisdictions.  We highly recommend that you select national brands as these are more readily available year around.  Special order wines or beer are subject to a 10% surcharge and/or a 3 case minimum.

What is your cancellation policy?

Once an order has been confirmed with a deposit or full payment, you may cancel the order at anytime subject to a cancellation fee.  If we receive written notice of the cancellation at least 30 days prior to the event the cancellation fee is $250.  Cancellations received less than 30 days prior to the event are subject to a $500 cancellation fee or 50% of the amount of the order (whichever is less).  Notice of cancellation must be sent to us in writting and acknowledged by Star of Texas Liquor and Wine via an email confirmation. 

We would like to have a cigar bar at our reception.  Can you assist us with this request?

Yes.  Cigar and Cognac/Scotch bars are very popular right now.  We can offer you and your guests a fully stocked humidor with some of the finest cigars and Cognac in the world.   Our turn-key service includes the cigars, humidor, ashtrays, cutters, lighters and a personal "Cigar Butler".   It doesn't get any better than cigars and Cognac at a party.  We also have special cigars for the ladies.  Call for details and a wholesale price list for our cigar bar service.