Corey Malik Steele is not just mixing cocktails; he is blending ambition, innovation, and entrepreneurship to craft a unique experience for clients across New York City and beyond. As the owner of Drink Your Fantasy, a mobile bartending service, Steele has elevated the industry by offering high-end, customized experiences beyond the traditional bar scene.
Steele launched Drink Your Fantasy in 2022 after spending three years bartending in restaurants and private events. Recognizing a gap in the market for high-quality, mobile bartending, he built his brand from the ground up, starting with small private parties before expanding to corporate events, Airbnbs, and nonprofit galas.
“The business has been very uplifting and enlightening,” Steele said. “It’s been an eye-opener — not just about bartending, but about finances, bookkeeping, and entrepreneurship. You have to know how to price your services and create invoices. Bartending and business go hand in hand.”
One of the biggest misconceptions Steele aims to break is that bartenders only work in nightlife or party scenes.
“A lot of my events are corporate,” he explained. “People assume bartending is just for nightclubs or strip clubs, but in reality, I’ve done events for nonprofits, baby showers, and even mocktail services for pregnant women.”
This diverse approach has allowed Steele to carve a niche in an industry often misunderstood.
Born to a Trinidadian father and a South Carolinian mother, Steele deeply appreciates his heritage. One of his goals is to host an exclusive event in Trinidad and surprise his father with a return trip to his homeland for the first time since childhood.
“I want my father to see how things have changed,” Steele said. “Through hard work, I want to give him that experience.”
Building Drink Your Fantasy was not without its challenges. Steele started by bartending at small gatherings, sometimes charging as little as $100 to get his name out there. His first major corporate sponsorship came with Luc Belaire, a premium champagne brand, which opened doors to more significant events, including mixology classes and rooftop gatherings.
One of his most memorable moments was teaching a mixology class in Brooklyn sponsored by Belaire to over 60 attendees. Participants learned to craft classic cocktails like piña coladas, tequila sunrises, and margaritas.
“After three hours of making drinks, we ended with a giveaway,” Steele recalled. “It was a surreal moment, realizing how far I’d come.”
Beyond bartending, Steele is committed to mentorship. He recently partnered with Eagle Academy to create a hospitality internship for high school students. Though students won’t be making alcoholic drinks, they will learn essential service, presentation, and professionalism skills. At the end of the program, participants will receive a stipend and an opportunity to work at one of Steele’s events.
“This is about more than bartending,” Steele emphasized. “It’s about preparing young people for the workforce, teaching them discipline, and giving them a head start in hospitality.”
As Steele continues to grow his business, he’s also expanding his reach in community empowerment. Recently, he participated in Women’s Wealth and Wellness Month, engaging in discussions about entrepreneurship and financial literacy.
“I want to highlight the importance of communication in our community,” he said. “If we can improve how we interact with each other, we can break cycles and create better opportunities.”
