Kim Haasarud
Beyond being a James Beard-honored mixologist and celebrity in the world of spirits, Kim Haasarud is also bringing a sustainable flair to Arizona’s bar scene with the Garden Bar Phoenix—a farm-to-table mixology experience that’s as fresh as it is delicious.
Best part of working in the Valley’s mixology scene: I love the vibrancy of Downtown Phoenix, the growth and the sense of community. There have been so many new and amazing places opening up in and around Downtown Phoenix with new and different voices–I just love the level of diversity and being a part of it.
Go-to drink: For Garden Bar PHX, it’s probably the Bee’s Knees. Everything about it just screams deliciousness. The gin, the lemon and, of course, the honey. We work with a local proprietor that works with dozens of beekeepers across the Valley, so we’re able to really incorporate honey on many different levels in our program. But, the Bee’s Knees is also a great way to introduce people to gin. For some, gin can be a polarizing spirit, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a person that didn’t like a good Bee’s Knees.
Advice for an aspiring bartender or mixologist: There are so many amazing resources at your fingertips that I didn’t have coming up the ranks. I would say, locally, join the local USBG (United States Bartenders Guild) chapter as it will connect you to potential job networks, our mixology community, competitions, educational seminars, etc. I think that’s a great first start.