As far as bar gigs go, catering is easily my favorite. You show up, set up and clean up. Throw in a few obligatory smiles with minimal chit-chat and leave with your pockets full.

Erika and Chris McCausland, a married couple from Wildwood, have taken that concept and hope to make it top shelf.

"We just wanted to work together somehow," Erika says. "After researching different ideas, we thought a mobile bar could be a great fit. Our love of people, good drinks, and great service inspired us."

Seeking to be closer to family, the duo relocated from Ohio in 2022. He is a veteran who works in private security and she is a nurse. Two young daughters round out their family. That is when they launched Barfly, a mobile bar service.

Operating under a "dry" bar model, Barfly handles every aspect of beverage service except supplying the alcohol. Erika and Chris bring the bar, mixers, supplies, ice, tools and even a collapsible, custom-made satellite bar, giving them flexibility for events of all sizes.

"We're somewhere between hiring a person just to pour drinks and having a fully-catered bar," Chris explains. "It's a cost-effective solution, especially if the client only wants a few specific types of drinks."

They also use batching, which is a method of scaling individual cocktail recipes for large groups. Instead of making drinks one at a time, the bartender can prepare everything in advance so guests can enjoy themselves without waiting.

Though they initially expected weddings to be their bread and butter, they quickly discovered that residents of The Villages tend to celebrate a variety of events.

"We've done everything from anniversaries and retirements to birthdays and even driveway parties," Chris says.

For now, Barfly Mobile Bar remains a part-time venture.

"We're taking it one step at a time," Erika says. "We're young enough to build this over time, learn from our mistakes, and figure it out together.

Bourbon Bliss

To Batch (Makes 10):

Photos: Nicole Hamel