<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Saints & Spirits]]></title><description><![CDATA[Private bartending, cocktail classes, and menu consulting with custom drinks, polished service, and a refined bar experience.]]></description><link>https://www.saintsandspirits.co/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:56:17 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.saintsandspirits.co/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Clarified Cocktails: Why Everyone Wants a Crystal-Clear Drink]]></title><description><![CDATA[Some cocktails are designed to be loud. Clarified cocktails make their statement differently. They look clean, polished, and almost impossibly clear, but the flavor can still be rich, layered, and complex. That contrast is exactly why clarification has become one of the most talked-about techniques in modern cocktail bars. What Is a Clarified Cocktail? Clarification is the process of removing suspended particles, proteins, and other solids that make a cocktail cloudy. The goal is not to water...]]></description><link>https://www.saintsandspirits.co/post/clarified-cocktails-why-everyone-wants-a-crystal-clear-drink</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a67b089b59210289e96226c</guid><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 20:03:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6c5062_55be982c870043f489604a500354787a~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kendall Bartelheim</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Cocktail Competitions Have Taught Me About Creativity, Pressure, and Growth]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cocktail competitions look glamorous from the outside. Guests see the finished drink, the presentation, and a bartender confidently explaining the story behind the glass. What they do not see are the failed test batches, last-minute adjustments, ingredient restrictions, timed presentations, and countless decisions that happen before that cocktail ever reaches the judges. I have entered competitions featuring brands such as Empress 1908 Gin, Angostura Rum, Cointreau, Rémy Martin, iichiko...]]></description><link>https://www.saintsandspirits.co/post/what-cocktail-competitions-have-taught-me-about-creativity-pressure-and-growth</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a66d55835380d3132b70eaf</guid><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 04:10:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6c5062_d4036e4c62384183b7328c808b455b52~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_480,h_640,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kendall Bartelheim</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Three Signature Cocktails That Work for Almost Any Event]]></title><description><![CDATA[A great event doesn’t need an oversized cocktail menu. Too many choices can slow down service, overwhelm guests, and make it harder to maintain consistency behind the bar. For most private events, three thoughtfully selected signature cocktails provide the right amount of variety. The goal is to begin with familiar drinks guests already recognize, then add creative touches that make each one feel distinctive and personal to the occasion. Here are three of the most popular and reliable...]]></description><link>https://www.saintsandspirits.co/post/three-signature-cocktails-that-work-for-almost-any-event</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a6084f088d0bba1346bd469</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:18:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6c5062_9c1d94007f2f449e9cec4c9a420c0490~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kendall Bartelheim</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How I Find Inspiration for New Cocktails Every Week]]></title><description><![CDATA[One of the questions I get asked most often is: "Where do you come up with all of these cocktail ideas?" It's a fair question. For more than four years, I've had the opportunity to create an entirely new cocktail menu every single week at one of Phoenix's most respected speakeasies. That's hundreds of original cocktails, countless hours of research and development, and more recipes than I could ever fit into a single menu. People usually see the finished drink—the beautiful garnish, the...]]></description><link>https://www.saintsandspirits.co/post/how-i-find-inspiration-for-new-cocktails-every-week</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5ecf55bd30a9e3e57c05e6</guid><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:26:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6c5062_cc10c43231ff42a5b01d8f52a6bb3232~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kendall Bartelheim</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Four Years of Creating a New Cocktail Every Week Taught Me]]></title><description><![CDATA[Creating one original cocktail sounds exciting. Creating another one the following week—and continuing that process for more than four years—teaches you something entirely different. Working as a mixologist at one of downtown Phoenix’s premier speakeasies has required me to regularly develop new cocktails across vodka, gin, rum, tequila, and whiskey. Each drink needs its own identity, but it also has to be balanced, visually intentional, practical for service, and enjoyable enough that a...]]></description><link>https://www.saintsandspirits.co/post/what-four-years-of-creating-a-new-cocktail-every-week-taught-me</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5d097c52127e49e08662ec</guid><pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2026 18:00:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6c5062_efe084bc59b04832a39f0e16c3fd6489~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kendall Bartelheim</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[5 Things to Look for Before Hiring a Mobile Bartender]]></title><description><![CDATA[Whether you are planning a wedding, birthday party, corporate event, anniversary, or private gathering, the bartender you hire can shape the entire guest experience. The bar is often one of the busiest gathering places at an event. It is where guests meet, conversations begin, and memorable moments are created. The right mobile bartender does much more than pour alcohol. They help keep the event organized, create drinks your guests are excited to try, and allow you to enjoy your own...]]></description><link>https://www.saintsandspirits.co/post/5-things-to-look-for-before-hiring-a-mobile-bartender</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a560fe335b23b2427e61f78</guid><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:49:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6c5062_c0087017a2454dbfba0454e701913d2b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_652,h_869,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kendall Bartelheim</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Meet Saints &#38; Spirits: From Speakeasy Mixologist to Arizona Mobile Bartending]]></title><description><![CDATA[Welcome to the official Saints &#38; Spirits blog. Discover cocktail techniques, behind-the-scenes R&#38;D, competition insights, and professional bartending tips from the mixologist behind one of Phoenix’s premier speakeasies.]]></description><link>https://www.saintsandspirits.co/post/meet-saints-spirits-from-speakeasy-mixologist-to-arizona-mobile-bartending</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a54ccda8d687bb305a7903c</guid><pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 21:56:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6c5062_0f04f9b5e51d4a9bad610bbb2ab2cd58~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kendall Bartelheim</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>