Kim Haasarud is a James Beard-honored mixologist, author, and beverage consultant. She conceives her signature cocktails much as Alice Waters would create a specialty dish, taking inspiration from market-fresh, high quality ingredients. “Cocktails, like food, should be culinary experiences,” says Haasarud. “It is about combining ingredients to create a sensation on the palate and entice all the senses with a combination of flavors, textures, aromas, and garnishes.”

You won’t find the standard Cosmopolitan or mix-based Margarita on Haasarud’s ever-changing bar card. Instead, depending on the occasion or the season, she might shake up Martini infusing teas with fresh muddled fruits, or concoct a Margarita with ripe kumquats or a combination of kiwis and fresh herbs.

Like many of her peers, Haasarud bartended her way through college. But what was just a job for most became a creative outlet for her keen sense of taste. It also sparked an enduring passion for building great cocktails, one that Haasarud still longed to indulge after graduating and going to work in film and television. She found her opportunity in the many industry parties she attended. “The drinks and the bars were always the same and always boring, despite very creative food and themes,” says Haasarud. “I recognized that a great cocktail experience would add a rich element to each event.” And thus, Haasarud’s company, Liquid Architecture, was formed.

Haasarud’s liquid cuisine has stirred up a huge following in both New York and Los Angeles. She works with such groups as: PF Changs, Wyndham Worldwide Hotels & Resorts, OMNI, Ritz Carlton, Mastro’s, Z’Tejas, Darden, Brinker, TGI Fridays and hundreds of restaurant and wine and spirit clients have commissioned specialty cocktails by Haasarud, including Moet-Hennessy, SKYY Spirits, Future Brands, Diageo, Maxim, and Pepsico to name just a few.

Kim has been a judge on Iron Chef America, as well doing guest appearances on the “The Today Show,” CBS’ “Early Morning Show,” “Fox & Friends Live,” “Montel Williams Show”, “Sonoran Living”, “Your Life A to Z” and Plum TV. She has been featured on various radio programs including “Good Food” with Evan Kleiman, Martha Stewart’s “Everyday Food”, “Cosmo Radio” and ABC & CNN Radio syndicate. Her cocktails have been seen in hundreds of magazines and newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal, NY Times, LA Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Post, Saveur, Edible LA, Vogue, SELF, Wine Enthusiast, BRIDES, Woman’s World, Lucky, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and Associated Press to name a few. She is also REDBOOK Magazine’s “Mommy Mixologist” providing recipes in a monthly column as well as an online blog.

Kim is the author of the best-selling “101... “ cocktail series with Wiley & Sons (101 Margaritas , 101 Martinis , 101 Sangrias & Pitcher Drinks, 101 Champagne Cocktails, 101 Blended Drinks and 101 Mojitos and other Muddled Drinks.)

She lives with her husband Kevin, two children Holden & Maddy, and dog Emi in Phoenix, AZ.