When Azia Parris joined the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation’s vendor academy she was unsure if she would make it through the full course.

She was expecting her third child around the time that the Vendor Academy ended.

Her daughter was born on the last day of the seven-week programme.

“The last day was actually a showcase of our products and services,” Ms Parris said. “I actually had a team already in place to go ahead and serve mocktails, just in case I could not attend.”

Her business, The Sipping Lab, is a full‑service mobile bar and cocktail experience company.

Years ago, she started out as a young, single mother doing waitressing.

“It didn’t pay enough,” she said. “I enjoyed the social aspect of it, but I wanted to do something that was more hands on and involved less traipsing up and down the restaurant.”

In 2019, she took a bartending course at the Bermuda College and loved it.

“I have been bartending ever since,” she said. However, even that got a little repetitive after a while.

“I did not want to keep doing the same thing,” she told The Royal Gazette. “I wanted something that was going to make me feel like all the hours and sacrifice I had made had built something.”

In April 2024, her cousin sent her a TikTok video of a styled cocktail class and asked if Ms Parris could do something similar for her 18th birthday.

The bartender started researching the idea and realised it could be a business, not just a one‑off.

“I started to write my business plan and got really excited about it,” Ms Parris said.

She went big on supplies for her cousin’s birthday party.

“I bought so much stuff,” she said. “I over prepared for that event, but that left me with stock and inventory to start a business.”

When Ms Parris posted a reel on Instagram of her doing a sipping event, there was immediate interest.

Since then, she estimates she has done about 50 Sipping Lab classes.

She runs cocktail and mocktail events for parties, and community and corporate events.

In the “lab” she teaches the basics about the spirit being used such as tequila or rum, the ingredients and how to balance sweet and sour.

At the end of the demonstration everyone gets recipe cards so they can recreate the drinks at home.

The class is meant to be fun and educational, but not formal bartending training.

“The hardest part is being consistent with my marketing, and then also, even when I don’t feel like it, showing up at 150 per cent,” she said. “It is my business. It is my name.”

The BEDC Vendor Academy gave her practical information such as how to legally and logistically set up a vendor stall and how to handle business banking.

“We had bank executives come and talk to us about setting up a business account and what that looks like, and what criteria is needed,” she said.

A payment gateway firm spoke to the group obtaining and setting up a credit card terminal.

Ms Parris took part in the BEDC’s recent pitch competition, making it to the finals. She did not win, but it did gave her exposure.

“I was selected as a judge for the Best of Bermuda competition,” she said. “Those type of opportunities would not have happened if it was not for the BEDC giving me that confidence.”

• For more information see @thesippinglab on Instagram