Community Highlights: Meet Krystal Dudas of Cocktail & Key

Today we’d like to introduce you to Krystal Dudas.

Hi Krystal, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Hi Everyone! I’m Krystal. 🙂 I decided to turn my hobby into a business and started Cocktail & Key, a Nashville based mobile craft cocktail bar for weddings and events.

Prior to starting Cocktail & Key, I was just a girl who loved going to craft cocktail bars and would then go home to learn how to make them. For me, going to a craft cocktail bar means more than going to a bar for a drink, it’s an experience. I quickly became fascinated with every aspect related to cocktails. From learning the history of speakeasies during the prohibition to the way mixologists shake cocktails to how they are presented, I could go on and on!

New Years Day 2021 was the day I started working on what would become Cocktail & Key. I was sitting on my couch thinking about what I had planned for that year and what I wanted to accomplish. I was in the middle of getting my Masters in Computer Information Systems and had a class starting in the middle of January. Honestly, I was dreading for the class to start. I knew it was something I wanted to do to further my career in IT but it wasn’t something I was passionate about. I started thinking about if I could do anything I wanted, what would that be? For years and years, I’ve dreamed of owning a bar but owning a bar never felt realistic to me. I started researching what it took to open a bar anyways. During my research, I came across the mobile bar concept and got so excited because that was something I had the resources to do. I cancelled my class and decided to sell all of my fun toys – motorcycle, jet ski and sports car to go all in to start my business.

We had our first events in July and then our calendar quickly filled up with bookings. I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many great people through this business and I feel very lucky to be doing something I love and dreamed of. Unlike last year, I spent New Years Day feeling overwhelmed with gratitude and excited for the future!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I remember being a little nervous to launch Cocktail & Key. The what if’s and fear of failure was in the back of my mind. I mentally prepared myself for many obstacles and challenges but I feel fortunate that my first year went much smoother than I thought it would!

The challenges I faced are challenges most small business owners experience – building a business from scratch, using new software and tools, learning laws and requirements, creating and automating processes, etc. There is so much work that happens behind the scenes! There were also some random unexpected curveballs I didn’t plan for such as disposable cup shortages. Who knew this would be such a thing?!

All in all, I wouldn’t change anything. Each challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. Plus, obstacles and challenges are much easier to overcome when you’re doing something you enjoy!

As you know, we’re big fans of Cocktail & Key. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We bring the bar to you! We are hired for weddings and all sorts of private events – birthdays, graduations, bachelor and bachelorette parties, corporate events, holiday parties and much more.

My goal with Cocktail & Key is to create memorable experiences through cocktails. It’s very important to me that we create cocktails that visually and tastefully impress our clients and their guests. Our cocktail mix is made in house and we only use high quality and fresh ingredients. We also add little touches to provide our clients with a unique and customized experience.

Don’t know how much to order? We make planning an event simple, we take care of calculating how many bottles of liquor, wine, beer, cocktails, ice, cups, etc. are needed.

Our services include:
* Mobile bar rentals
* Fresh ingredient cocktail mixes
* Bartenders for hire – TABC licensed and insured
* Specialty ice
* Drink garnishes
* Drinkware – Glassware and disposable cups
* Alcohol ordering assistance

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@cocktailandkey.com
• Website: cocktailandkey.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cocktailandkey/

Image Credits:
Jazmin Scheitel (@jazminscheitelphotography)