Micky Finn's has been making a lot of moves over the past 14 months. From opening a third location across from Buc-cee's to generous donations to a number of local charitable causes and a Bourbon Barrel Pick Program that is by far the largest in area, there's always something new coming from the Florence area institution.

But the most recent development from Micky Finn's may be the biggest yet.

Micky Finn's is announcing the opening of The Sapphire Room, a long awaited addition to the Florence area, coming after years of requests from locals for just such a facility.

Located directly behind Micky Finn's' Southside location on Pamplico Highway, The Sapphire Room will function primarily as an event center. The facility will contain ample room for business meetings, wedding receptions, birthday parties, family reunions and more. The Sapphire Room will offer tables and seating as well as an optional bar. In addition, the facility will have high speed internet and large screen TV's. Micky Finn's and The Sapphire Room are committed to maintaining the latest technology available so that any event, business meeting or social gathering, goes off without a hitch.

Catering will also be available through Tubb's and King Jefe, two locally owned Florence restaurants, both of which are known for their food quality and service.

While The Sapphire Room will stand out as the premiere event center in Florence, there is another aspect of the facility that makes it stand out the most, particularly the manner in which it is affiliated with Micky Finn's.

In early August, Micky Finn's announced a series of Bartending workshops to take place over the subsequent weeks. To say the response from the public was overwhelmingly positive is an understatement. Just after the first announcement, a thousand people signed up for the classes, forcing Micky Finn's to open new classes in new locations.

Enter Micky Finn's' new venture.

The Sapphire Room will function as the campus for all of Micky Finn's' bartending workshops and bartending classes going forward. The facility will have the space, setup, and materials needed for even more effective classes and an easier space for students to focus and learn the craft and science of bartending.

Even more unique, however, is the fact that the Sapphire Room will be host to Micky Finn's Bourbon Barrel tastings, the events where Micky Finn's tastes and selects the barrels for its Bourbon Barrel Pick Programs that will eventually be bottled and sold exclusively at Micky Finn's locations.

But The Sapphire Room will also host Bourbon Barrel Tasting events that are open to the public. According to Micky Finn's, not only will the public be able to taste the exclusive bourbons, they will also be able to vote on the barrels they like the best. Micky Finn's will then carry those barrels in store as part of its Bourbon Barrel Pick Program.

Micky Finn's Bourbon Barrel Pick Program was already the most expansive in the region, allowing the public to vote on and select their favorite barrels now makes the program the most unique as well.

"It actually seems very simple when you think about it," said Rick Havekost, owner of Micky Finn's. "The public is going to be who purchases the bourbon we select from the barrels. Why not just let the public pick the barrels in the first place?"

The Sapphire Room will also host Wine, Beer, and Liquor tastings throughout the year as well as other Micky Finn's sponsored events.

All in all, Micky Finn's has heard the call of many Florence area residents who have long wanted to see a more modernized event center as well as a facility designed to more effectively meet the demand of Micky Finn's Bartending Classes.

In keeping with Micky Finn's reputation, however, the company has found a way to once again revolutionize the liquor business by opening its Barrel Pick Programs to the public and putting the barrels up to a vote.

Stay tuned to the Micky Finn's website and social media accounts (Facebook and Instagram) for more opening dates, event dates, and further information on The Sapphire Room.