Do you want to have that great wedding that gets people talking after? There are three things that make a great wedding: great music, energetic guest and a stocked bar. But having a stocked bar is only half of the solution, you also need a bartender that can mix the drink, and serve well them well; your guests would kiss your feet if you did this. You can hire a bartender without breaking the bank, which would save you a lot of time and get your guests smiling throughout the party. 
 
Hiring a bar tender for your party is not supposed to be a neck breaking activity; you can have it easy. Here are what to consider when hiring a bartender for wedding.
​

1. Set a date, place, and Time: This might sound like an obvious to consider before hiring, still. You don’t want to hire a person who won’t be available on the day of the party, or one who is unfamiliar with the area of your party. Make sure these basics are settled before hand.
2. Is the bartender state licensed? The magnitude of your party doesn’t matter when it comes to whether or not a bartender is licensed. Make sure you find out whether or not the bartender is licensed to serve drinks; it would save you a great deal of sad news.
3. The experience of the bartender: What is the experience of the bartender? The crowd that he would be handling, if massive, would need a n experienced bartender that would handle everybody’s request smoothly.
4. Would you like a signature cocktail? Parties like to have that one drink that stands it out, that drink that represents the theme of the party. Many people trust the bartender to come up with something special, something that would please the guests. But it would be great if the party host chooses what type of signature drink they want.
5. Get the shopping list: Having decided the amount of guests you are expecting, the next phase is deciding what to serve. The list of needed drinks and other necessities, like the ice, should be well stated. If you’re not one for shopping, then delegate the shopping to someone, if possible the bartender, to get the things in the shopping list.  Involving the bartender would save you a good amount of money. The bartender knows what would be necessary and what would not, and so would not buy the irrelevant.
6. How many bartenders would you need? The accepted – although not official – ratio of bartenders to guest is 1:50. With the number of expected guest, you should hire the number of bartenders that would seamlessly serve the guests.
7. Discuss the dress code: Bartenders usually wear all black. But in a situation where the party has a theme, it is imperative the bartenders wear what blends with the theme.
8. Make plans for underage guests: The bartender, in order to deliver excellent service, should be told whether or not underage guests would be at the party. This would enable the bartender know who to serve drinks, and whether or not to ask for IDs before serving to guests.
9. Handle the details: The success of every party depends on the meticulousness of the plan and how it is executed. The bartender should be intimated of the coordinators of the party, should have backup and other details as regards the party’s execution. Also, it is great if the bartenders know who and would be tipping them (if there would be any), and what the tips would be like. In addition, fees and other necessary logistics should be handled way before time so as to avoid any hitches. 

we are a full service mobile bar that is dedicated to creating the best bartending experience for your wedding. 

You MUST check out our website to see why you MUST hiring us for your special day. We are not your ordinary bartending service. 

We do things the right way, the way a bar is suppose to be. That's why we created our own rinser on our mobile bar! The ONLY bar to offer this! 

Feel free to submit a contact form 

OR 
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Give us a call @ (619) 206-7247

**Disclaimer** These are not our prices, these are statistics we have gathered from viable sources mentioned

• According to the Bridal Association of America,the average guest at wedding receptions are 170, with the fee for a bartender at $2,800. This means for every guest, $16.50 goes the fee the bartender charges.
• Wine and nonalcoholic drinks, a popular preserve of unlimited bars, is a good way to save cost. It costs an average of $15 to $90 per person for a four hour reception, and around an extra $3 to $4 per person for premium liquor.
• To save money, it is advisable that only wine and beer is served. This reduces the average cost per person to $11 to $33, depending on the caterer, the wine and the beer served.
• In big cities, as is won't with everything economic, the price of an open bar may double or triple.
• In order to save money, some guests bring their own drinks, while they convince their families or friends to run the bar. For dinner, we suggest two glasses per guest. For wines less than $15 per bottle, the average cost per guest would be $2, and could rise to as high as $20.
• If you are bringing in your own beers- imported or domestic – work with an estimated cost of $2 to $5 per person. The cost for creating mixed drinks differs from place to place, and with the type and quality of liquor.

 
What should be included?

• The types of drinks and mixers that should be served in an open bar ranges from vodka, to scotch, to light rum, bourbon, Seagram’s 7, tequila, domestic and imported beers, white and red wine, soft drinks to water and juice.
• It is expected that one bartender is capable of serving 100 persons, which is slightly more than the average acceptable bartender to guest ratio.
• There should be cups and napkins at the party. Clean up services should be engaged after the party.

 
Additional costs:

• The cost per bartender that caterers charge is around $30 - $200 for each event. The amount is sometimes included in the guest fee.
• Caterers prefer  hourly fees for their bartenders. This may cost around $25 per hour. This could be included in the setup fee.
• Plan to tip 10% to 20% of the total alcohol bill on the head bartender. He/she on their own part, would know how best to split it amongst the other bar staff. There are situations where bartenders set a tip jar, where guests can tip at their leisure.
• Bartenders charge $1 to $15 per bottle as corking fee if you provide the wine. Some bartenders charge around $1 to $5 for service fee for each six-pack of beer you provide.
• Add an extra $3-5 per person for glassware in place of plastic cups.

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Discounts

• To cut costs, limit your bar to some certain liquor; and a signature drink would be just perfect.

Shopping for an open bar:

• Ask the caterer, before you hire, if an open bar is included in the quoted price. Also ask if you can provide your own alcohol and if it would affect the quoted price.
• Ask for the liability insurance of the bartenders that would be serving at your party before you sign the contract.

Since bartending special events, such as weddings to birthdays, are so different from one another, we ask that you reach out to us so we can get to know you and discuss what exactly your needs are. That way we can provide you with an accurate cost to bartend your special day! 

Give us a call @ (619) 206-7247

or click here to submit a contact form and we will follow up with you within 48 hours. 

Wedding receptions can be a headache. One of such niggling problems is the amount of alcohol to buy for your wedding reception. The type of guests you’ll be having, their age ranges, and sometimes their alcohol preferences are a major determinant on the type and volume of alcohol to bring. Your budget is also a key factor in planning your wedding reception.  We have carefully laid down a workable process that would help you deal with the logistics behind your wedding reception, and how much alcohol is permitted.

Here are some things to take into consideration

We would be laying down some useful markers that you need to consider while you plan for your wedding reception. But before we delve right in, let’s deal with some of the basics, shall we?

The amount of alcohol that would be consumed by your guests has a correlation with the day and time of the day of the reception. For example, receptions held on Friday nights tend to have more alcohol consumption than those held on Sunday afternoons.

Also, the personalities of your guests should be taken cognizance. Some people prefer wine and beer to hard drinks, while others prefer soft drinks instead; make sure you know the drinks your guests prefer, and do well to make adequate provisions.

Another important element to consider is the type of wedding environment you want to have. If you want a somber, solemn, professional and classy reception, open bar would not suffice. With an open bar, you are most likely going to have more hard drinks and a free flow of drinks. But if you want something wild, then please, by all means, throw the bar open!

Your wedding reception budget is another important criterion. If the plan is for alcohol to take up a huge chunk of your wedding budget, an open bar fits the bill.
For a less expensive option, beer and wine would do just fine. Offering limited alcohol options is another cheaper alternative. Don’t beat yourself up by trying to cater for everybody’s preference, you can’t satisfy everyone. Moreover, it is your wedding reception; don’t break the bank if you don’t have the means.

Lastly, it is needful to know that not all venues have the proper license to serve liquor. Double check on the venue before booking; be sure it has been licensed to have a full bar.
 
THE DIFFERENT BAR TYPES

• OPEN BARS: With an open bar there are no limits to the amount and types of drinks to be served. This bar option is the most expensive amongst the lot because you need a wide range of alcohol, mixers and experienced bartenders to make it work. The price aside, it is the best option if you are expecting a large number of people with varying drinking preferences.

 

• CASH BARS: Progressive Pours does not operate as a cash bar. We aren't allowed by the state of California to resell alcohol under any circumstance. 

 

• LIMITED BARS: in this type of bar only a number of selected drinks are served. The drinks have been paid for by the couple, but the bar is not opened for all and sundry. For example, champagne is served during toast, wine for dinner and the signature cocktail afterwards. This type of bar helps couples save cost.

 
THE SIGNATURE COCKTAIL

Weddings don’t just happen with spontaneous receptions; a lot of thought goes into it. For wedding receptions with themes, a signature cocktail is a must-have. The theme is usually matched with a signature cocktail. For example, a roaring twenties-themed wedding might have mint juleps as its signature cocktail. This way – with signature cocktails – alcohol can be controlled, and the couple can save money by buying the drinks in bulk.
 
BEER & WINE vs. HARD LIQUOR

Some venues are not licensed to serve hard drinks; so in such situations, soft liquor like beer and wine would do just fine. To keep things simple and cost-effective, many wedding receptions serve wine and beer. For a reception with a signature cocktail, wine and beer is a good addition. For a more conservative and cost-effective reception, having a limited bar is a good option. Like we mentioned earlier, know your guest – how much they drink, the drinks they prefer – and provide the alcohol accordingly. Please note that Progressive Pours will only serve a guest a max of two drinks per order, and we won't continue to serve a guest who appears to be over-intoxicated.
 
WHO SUPPLIES THE ALCOHOL?

Many reception venues, hotels and restaurants want the drinks to be controlled by them. This arrangement is usually included in the contract as Food & Beverage cost. Caterers also demand that the drinks are coordinated through them. Should the caterer not have license, he/she would suggest they worked through a licensed vendor; in a nut shell they want to handle the drink selection at the reception.

If the venue you are to use allows for you to provide the drinks yourself, this then calls for many mathematical calculations and planning and budgeting for drinks; this can be tasking. Some venues will charge you for corkage fee – a flat rate fee per bottle opened. You can still save a lot of money if you are able to buy the drinks at wholesale prices.
 
HOW MUCH ALCOHOL SHOULD I BUY?

You have decided to take on the job of buying the alcohol for your wedding; you need to know what to do and how to go about doing it right. Here are the necessary steps:

• Decide the type of alcohol you want: Whether it is a signature cocktail or a few beer and wine, you need to be clear on the type of drink you need to buy. Beer? Wine? Would there be a few options for spirits? What brands would you work with? What kind of mixes do you want, and what drink combinations would help you achieve that mix? A rule of thumb is to have two options for each type of alcohol. For example, you could offer pinot noir and a merlot and a chardonnay and a sauvignon blanc.
• Decide on the quantity of the alcohol: The number of guest you are expecting is important in buying the drinks. Although the precise amount of drinks that would be consumed can’t be known, working with a guest estimate helps the planning process a great deal.

If you are doing a champagne toast, and that is the only time champagne would be drunk in the reception, plan for 8 people per bottle. Toast glasses must not be filled to the brim, ½ or 1/3 glass fill is enough; direct the servers accordingly. So, for a reception with a 150 guests, 19 bottles would be enough.

The rule of thumb when it comes to beer and wine is to assume that each guest would consume two drinks for the first hour and one drink per hour for every hour they spend in the reception.

For a reception of 150 guests, you would need at least 7 cases of beer (24 bottles per case x 7 = 168 bottles). This would be sufficient since not all guests would fancy beer. Receptions held in the evening have more red wine consumption than white wine consumption. Each bottle of wine contains 5 glasses, approximately. If you think your guest would consume red and white wine evenly then 20 bottles of each wine would do (5 glass x 40 bottles = 200 glasses); that’s more than enough for a hundred and fifty guests.

Note: You know your guests and how much wine they can consume. Those calculations are for average wine and beer drinkers. If your guests are heavy drinkers, provide for them accordingly.

The sorting of drinks, and their various quantities to make available is quite tricky, given that you are unsure which of the liquor options your guests would choose when they arrive. Still, planning is important. If a signature cocktail is what you would be working with, make sure you have more than enough to satisfy your guests.

Assume that a majority of your guest are tilted toward the ‘heavy’ side of drinking. Let’s assume that each guest takes one drink serving per hour. For a reception of 100 guests, 400 servings is needed to keep them satisfied for a 4 hour event. If the limited bar style is what you have decided, great! Assume that each 1.75L bottle of liquor would do 30 servings, to get four hundred servings you would need 13 bottles.
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Again, know your guest and the side of the drinking spectrum they fall in – light, moderate or heavy drinkers. 

• Don’t forget the extras: You would need mixers and garnishes to supplement the main alcohol. Some cocktails are perfect with an olive or a zesty orange peel. Get three bottles of mixers for each bottle of spirits. Some of the common mixers include soda water, juice, water, cranberry juice and ginger ale. You would also need a lot of ice; say 1 pound of ice per guest. 

We are a full service mobile bar that can provide whatever it is you need for your special day. You essentially only provide the booze, and we provide the rest! We even create a shopping list to help with your choices.

The best advice I can give you is give us a call today or submit a contact form for us to follow up with you so we can better discuss your needs. We will layout a plan that fits your budget and needs. 

Visit our contact form to submit that request or feel free to visit our website to get more info about our company and services 

Do you want to have that great party that gets people talking after? There are three things that make a great party: great music, energetic guest and a stocked bar. But having a stocked bar is only half of the solution, you also need a bartender that can mix the drink, and serve them well. You can hire a bartender without breaking the bank, which would save you a lot of time and get your guests smiling throughout the party. 
 
Hiring a bartender for your party is not supposed to be a neck breaking activity; you can have it easy. Here are what to consider when hiring a bartender.
​

1. Set a date, place, and Time: This might sound like an obvious to consider before hiring, still. You don’t want to hire a person who won’t be available on the day of the party, or one who is unfamiliar with the area of your party. Make sure these basics are settled before hand.
2. Is the bartender state licensed? The magnitude of your party doesn’t matter when it comes to whether or not a bartender is licensed. Make sure you find out whether or not the bartender is licensed to serve drinks; it would save you a great deal of sad news.
3. The experience of the bartender: What is the experience of the bartender? The crowd that he would be handling, if massive, would need a n experienced bartender that would handle everybody’s request smoothly.
4. Would you like a signature cocktail? Parties like to have that one drink that stands it out, that drink that represents the theme of the party. Many people trust the bartender to come up with something special, something that would please the guests. But it would be great if the party host chooses what type of signature drink they want.
5. Get the shopping list: Having decided the amount of guests you are expecting, the next phase is deciding what to serve. The list of needed drinks and other necessities, like the ice, should be well stated. If you’re not one for shopping, then delegate the shopping to someone, if possible the bartender, to get the things in the shopping list.  Involving the bartender would save you a good amount of money. The bartender knows what would be necessary and what would not, and so would not buy the irrelevant.
6. How many bartenders would you need? The accepted – although not official – ratio of bartenders to guest is 1:50. With the number of expected guest, you should hire the number of bartenders that would seamlessly serve the guests.
7. Discuss the dress code: Bartenders usually wear all black. But in a situation where the party has a theme, it is imperative the bartenders wear what blends with the theme.
8. Make plans for underage guests: The bartender, in order to deliver excellent service, should be told whether or not underage guests would be at the party. This would enable the bartender know who to serve drinks, and whether or not to ask for IDs before serving to guests.
9. Handle the details: The success of every party depends on the meticulousness of the plan and how it is executed. The bartender should be intimated of the coordinators of the party, should have backup and other details as regards the party’s execution. Also, it is great if the bartenders know who and would be tipping them (if there would be any), and what the tips would be like. In addition, fees and other necessary logistics should be handled way before time so as to avoid any hitches. 

For more information about our bartending services please visit our services page

To my fellow bartenders, this blog article is for you!

​It should come as no surprise that one of the most prized possessions of a bartender is the tip jar that he has! For after all, who doesn’t love to be rewarded a little extra for a job perfectly done?
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Well, as it just so happens, the right tip-jar also increases the chances of a bartender to receive a better tip overall! So, having a good, attractive tip jar is something that lots of bartenders actually do!
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As such, here are a few ideas that you simply cannot miss checking out, some ideas that can easily make tip jars more tip-worthy!

• Decorated Tip Jars: One of the main tricks that you can use is to decorate your tip jar well. A decorated tip jar receives much more tips than undecorated ones. And of course, a uniquely decorated tip jar naturally catches the eye of patrons much more, resulting in substantially greater tips overall!
• Using Memes: A lot of bartenders also use memes- they print them out and stick them on the tip jars. Memes like “Y U NO TIP” often have a great effect on the amount of tips that a bartender receives, so that’s yet another method that one can use.
• Using Puns: Again, using puns is another way to catch the eye of patrons. Plus, making them laugh is always a good way to bolster your image as a bartender and eventually receive more tips both from tourists and regulars. I once tipped a bartender myself when I saw something along the lines of “Are you Tip-sy?” on their tip jar!
• Vintage Tip Jars: While this technically falls within the category of decorated tip jars, this still deserves to have a special mention of its own. It has been noticed that a lot of bar frequenters love vintage stuff. So, having vintage tip jar might result in a greater number of tips than usual.

These are some of the most efficient methods that bartenders can and do use in order to get more tips than they would without using them. And honestly, since they make the patrons happy as well, it’s a win-win situation at the end of the day!

Progressive pour is a full service mobile bar that specializes in serving cocktails at your next event. We offer an array of services that will accommodate all your guests and your needs. For more information on our services, Click Here

Feel free to reach out to us with any questions or please submit a contact form to receive a free quote. Contact Us

Hiring the service of a bartender for your wedding is something that is undoubtedly a really great choice because of a lot of reasons: you receive help with your work and can sit back and rest assured that it’s being done properly; you can count on the place to be clean and the guests to be served quality drinks in a timely manner. In fact, you just about start to feel like a party member that was invited over instead of feeling like the organizer, that’s how much at ease you get with a professional handling things for you.

But what exactly would be the top reason as to why you need to hire the service of a bartender for your wedding?

Is it the experience and extra set of skills that bartenders have at their disposal, due to years of practice and training?

Or is it simply because you just don’t have time to put in all the effort necessary if you wanted to do the bartending and serving part by yourself?

Or is it perhaps because of the fact that it gives the whole thing a much more fancy feel, something that quite a few of your guests might actually not be anticipating but are bound to appreciate at the end of the day?

Maybe it’s because of the fact that it has proven to be actually a better idea even in terms of economic considerations because there’s minimal wastage if you hire a professional?

Well, as it turns out, the most important reason is always YOU! The main reason why you might want to choose to hire a bartender is because you’re convinced that it would be the right choice- and that’s what awesome bartending companies such as Progressive Pours from San Diego provide you with- they give you all of these benefits and will help you make the choice to hire a professional bartender to make sure that everything flows perfectly.

To get more information about our bartending services check out our services page

Check out some of our other helpful blogs! 

Why you should hire a bartender for your wedding

What bartending services to you offer?

When it comes to organizing a wedding event, the problem that one’s bound to face is that of serving good drinks to guests in a timely manner, while maintaining the overall interaction and cleanliness level of the venue.
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And while there are a lot of solutions that one could run after, what could possibly be better than getting a professional to do the job for you?

Getting a professional bartender can be of immense help to you in any wedding event or ceremony, and these benefits are actually manifold! Here are some of the main advantages to having a professional bartender over in such a scenario:

• Lessening your own pressure: One of the main things is that you can lessen your own pressure by hiring a professional. Since serving drinks is pretty much a must, you’d have to do it yourself if you don’t hire a professional. So, you can save yourself quite a bit of effort by hiring a professional bartender to ensure that quality drinks are served in a timely manner.
• Economically a good choice: You must also be aware that while hiring a professional does cost you a bit of money, it might just pay for itself in costs you save up when it comes to the quantity of booze you order. As it so happens, professionals are much better aware about how much you need to order for a specific number of guests, and the wastage is minimal. In comparison, choosing the order quantity yourself often results with a much larger amount of booze being wasted.
• Quality of drinks as well as service: Having a professional ensures the quality of drinks as well. You’re no longer just serving randomly mixed up liquids, you’re serving quality drinks that catch the eye and entice the taste (and olfactory) buds! Also, you have your drinks being served in a timely manner, which is bound to impress your guests!

So, to sum it all up, having a bartender over seems like one of the best choices that you can make at any wedding event. It’s an all in one choice, which ensures that the drinks department runs perfectly while you can sit back and relax.

Here are some more helpful reasons why you should hire a bartender provided by Thumbtack! (more reason why you should hire a bartender) 

Check Out Some Of Our Other Helpful Blogs!

What Bartending Services Do You Offer?

How To Find A Good Bartender

Despite the fact that it seems easy, one of the hardest things to do is to find a good bartender for hire! Finding applicants isn’t really hard if you do a little bit of advertising here and there. But, the hard part is to figure out who among the applicants would be the ideal bartender for you.
Well, don’t worry, because while it isn’t really easy, it’s still possible to hire a great bartender if you know what you’re looking for. Here are some of the traits that need to be on your checklist when you’re on the lookout for an amazing bartender:

• Quick Multitasking Abilities: The first and foremost thing you need is quick multitasking ability. This is the base of bartending, because he needs to quickly serve a lot of orders and thus often needs to work on multiple orders at the same time. This is something that you need to be sure the bartender for hire boasts of.
• A good memory and mathematical prowess: Another important thing to have in a bartender is the ability to remember the orders that he takes and the ability to quickly calculate how much that order is going to cost. Given the fact that the bartender is going to receive new orders while working on older ones, he needs to be really alert and needs to understand the orders quickly and remember them until they’re ready.
• A Sense of Responsibility: One of the most important things by far for your bartender is to have a sense of responsibility. Let’s admit this, mistakes happen and disasters do strike at times- what is important here is to calmly handle the situation and own up to the mistake and take responsibility for it. This is one of the most important features that you need to be on the lookout for.
• Cleanliness: And of course, since you’re serving drinks, one important thing to keep in mind would be cleanliness. People are, naturally, happier to drink in a place that is clean and well decorated. So, that’s something that the bartender should ideally take care of as well.

Make sure you check out our other blogs: 

Bartending Services We Offer

How To Hire A Bartender

Hiring a bartender is not a really simple thing to do- because there are just so many things that you need to be on the lookout for at the same time from the same person! However, if you know what you’re looking for, that makes the job a lot simpler.
But simply knowing what you’re looking for isn’t always enough. Sometimes, you need to know where to advertise for the position in order to get the best applicants to apply for the job- those are the expert bartenders that you’re looking for!
Well, here are the main things you’d want to do in order to hire the best bartender for yourself:

• The first and foremost thing you need to do in this case is to figure out what exactly you’re looking for, and what responsibilities exactly you’d like to delegate to your bartender- this is very important to decide on properly, because this would determine the type of applicants that you get. Then, you need to figure out how you’d like them to apply- most of the fancy gigs now seem to be hiring through the internet, so you might just as well choose to do that, because it makes the whole thing much more accessible.
• The next thing that you want to do is to make sure that you screen all the applications properly. You also need to screen the applicants carefully and a great way to do this is by asking for references, something that is pretty widely used. Also, you might want to talk to them about their past experience and what is expected of them and what they might expect when working for you.
• Finally, if you’ve found the employee that you’d  been searching for all along, you need to treat him the right way and reward him appropriately when he deserves to be- keeping him happy is the key to keep him with you and to keep his motivation and thereby his efficiency level at the peak- which is exactly what you’re looking for, at the end of the day.

​How, you wonder? Let me explain.
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• Companies Cultivate Skill: The Bartenders that the companies employ are generally much more skilled than the regular ones that are available out there. Even more, they often give them special training to ensure that they can do a phenomenal job at your events- which explains why they mostly tend to do things in a lot more efficient as well as fancy manner.
• Experience: Another huge reason is that the bartenders that work on behalf of companies are often much more experienced than the individual bartenders out there. Naturally, they are better at calculating the amount of booze that you’re going to need as well as at preparing the drinks. It is owing to this experience that they make better bartender choices overall.
• Minimal Wastage: Because of the higher level of skill and the greater amount of experience that the company-provided bartenders have, it is natural that they would have a much lesser amount of wastage, which is something that makes a lot of difference when it comes to the economic calculations at the end of the day.
• Taking Responsibility: It becomes immediately clear to just anyone that a company would be far more open to taking responsibility for a service that it provides than an individual. An individual might be responsible, but a company is pretty much bound to be responsible and thus it always is an added advantage to you.

The most common ground on which people consider to hire individuals is the economic one. However, as we just showed, in most of the cases, hiring a bartending company such as Progressive Pours is economically sounder as well!

For more information about our company Click the company name below to visit our homepage 

Progressive Pours
Address: 3050 Rue D'Orleans Suite 243, San Diego, CA 92110

Phone: (619) 206-7247

Email: progressivepours@gmail.com