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Guest-first beverage solutions for gatherings that deserve better.
Cocktails Are Dead brings the precision of a beverage director and the warmth of a neighborhood bar to wherever you need it—tap trailer, pop-up, private dinner, or a draft program that finally runs the way it should.
Services
What Mike offers
Cocktails Are Dead, LLC provides beverage solutions for private events, pop-ups, and select consulting projects. Whether it’s a backyard party, a neighborhood bar pop-up, or developing a draft cocktail program, the goal is simple: make the experience better for everyone involved—hosts, guests, and businesses alike.
Full-Service Private Bartending
Full-service private bartending designed to be effortless for hosts. Every event includes a consultative planning call, custom cocktails, ingredient guidance, and complete setup and breakdown. I bring the tools, handle the details, and focus on taking care of your guests so you don’t have to.
Community-First Bar Pop-Ups
Hosted at neighborhood institutions during off-peak hours to drive traffic and prioritize regulars. This isn’t about cocktail ego. It’s about hospitality, connection, and giving guests a great experience wherever they drink.
Select Consulting
Select consulting for bars and restaurants looking to improve or expand their beverage programs. Practical solutions rooted in guest-first hospitality, discipline, and preparation.
About
Meet Mike Lu
Cocktails Are Dead, LLC is led by a career hospitality professional with nearly two decades of experience across bartending, management, and beverage leadership. My work has been recognized by Tales of the Cocktail in multiple markets, and my approach has been shaped by years spent working alongside four James Beard Award–winning chefs.
I’ve served as a General Manager, Beverage Director, consultant, and bartender, building and executing beverage programs rooted in guest-first hospitality, discipline, and preparation. This is practical experience, earned on the floor and in the weeds, and applied calmly and efficiently.
Mike Lu
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