How I Find Inspiration for New Cocktails Every Week
- Kendall Bartelheim
- Jul 20
- 4 min read
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 unique glassware, the final flavor.
What they don't see is everything that happens before that first sip.
The truth is, inspiration rarely arrives all at once. It's something I collect every day.
Inspiration Is Everywhere
I've learned that some of the best cocktail ideas don't come from sitting behind a bar.
They come from paying attention.
A dessert at a restaurant.
A walk through a farmers market.
A seasonal fruit display at the grocery store.
The aroma of fresh herbs.
A favorite perfume or candle.
A memorable vacation.
Even the colors of a sunset can spark an idea for a drink.
When you start looking at the world through the lens of flavor, you begin connecting ingredients that most people would never think to pair together.
Cocktail creation becomes less about following recipes and more about noticing
possibilities.
Sometimes an Ingredient Starts the Conversation
Every now and then, I discover an ingredient that immediately sparks an idea.
Maybe it's perfectly ripe peaches in the middle of summer.
A bottle of amaro I've never worked with before.
An unusual tea.
A new liqueur.
Or a seasonal herb that only appears for a few weeks each year.
Instead of asking, "What cocktail should I make?"
I ask,
"What flavors would make this ingredient shine?"
From there, the rest of the drink begins to build itself.
Other Times, the Story Comes First
Some of my favorite cocktails don't begin with ingredients at all.
They begin with an idea.
A place.
A season.
A piece of art.
A memory.
Over the years I've designed cocktails inspired by summer vacations, Japanese artwork, Arizona landscapes, cocktail competitions, and themes that challenged me to think differently.
I love creating drinks that tell a story.
Because when every ingredient has a purpose, the cocktail becomes more than something you drink—it becomes something you experience.
Guests may not remember every ingredient in a cocktail.
But they'll often remember how it made them feel.
The First Version Is Almost Never the Final Version
One thing social media doesn't show is how many cocktails never make the menu.
A drink might go through five or six different versions before I'm happy with it.
I'll adjust the citrus.
Swap one spirit for another.
Change the sweetness.
Experiment with different bitters.
Completely redesign the garnish.
Sometimes a cocktail looks incredible but doesn't taste balanced.
Other times the flavor is perfect, but the presentation doesn't match the story.
That's all part of the process.
The best cocktails usually aren't created in one attempt.
They're refined through patience, tasting, and countless small adjustments.
Balance Always Comes First
No matter how creative an idea is, one rule never changes.
If the cocktail isn't balanced, it doesn't make the menu.
Every ingredient has a job.
Some provide structure.
Others add brightness, texture, aroma, or depth.
If one ingredient doesn't improve the finished drink, it probably doesn't belong there.
I've found that restraint is often just as important as creativity.
Sometimes removing an ingredient makes a cocktail better than adding another one.
Simplicity Is Often the Hardest Part
One of the biggest misconceptions about craft cocktails is that more ingredients automatically mean a better drink.
In reality, some of the world's most iconic cocktails contain only three or four ingredients.
The challenge isn't making something complicated.
The challenge is making something memorable.
A simple cocktail that's perfectly balanced will almost always outperform a complicated drink that's trying to do too much.
That's a lesson I continue to learn every week.
The Creative Process Never Really Stops
Even when I'm not behind the bar, I'm still collecting ideas.
Reading books.
Trying new restaurants.
Talking with chefs and bartenders.
Visiting cocktail bars while traveling.
Exploring local markets.
Watching how flavors change with the seasons.
Inspiration has a way of showing up when you least expect it.
The key is staying curious enough to recognize it.
That's what keeps this craft exciting after all these years.
There's always another ingredient to discover.
Another technique to learn.
Another story waiting to become a cocktail.
Final Thoughts
People often assume creativity is something that simply appears.
I've found it's something you practice.
The more you taste.
The more you travel.
The more you observe.
The more curious you become.
Every new experience has the potential to become the next great cocktail.
That's what I love most about this craft.
No matter how many drinks I've created, there's always another story waiting to be poured into a glass.
Ready to Experience Something Different?
Whether you're planning a private event or enjoy learning about craft cocktails, Saints & Spirits is built around creativity, hospitality, and unforgettable drinking experiences.
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If you're planning a wedding, birthday, corporate event, or private celebration in the Phoenix area, explore my mobile bartending services and let's create a cocktail menu that's as memorable as your event.
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