State Theatre bartender Kristen Garrard likes experimenting with flavors

In the middle of a rush at the bar at State Theatre, Kristen Garrard works from pure muscle memory. Garrard has been a bartender for the past three years, and prefers to work without measuring utensils as she makes her concoctions. The fun comes in the experimentation. 

“I enjoy it, simply because it pushes me. It makes me ask, ‘Can you do it?’” Garrard said. “I challenge myself. Somebody came in one day and asked if we have something banana and strawberry. And thankfully, thankfully, we carried Parrot Bay strawberry… and banana liqueur. So the banana liqueur and the strawberry, you can put that with sprite or lemonade and make variations on it. And that’s what excites me. You never know what somebody actually likes.”

Garrard said she loves all kinds of drinks, regardless of the liquor used.

“I love it,” Garrard said. “It brings me joy. When I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do for my favorite drink… This guy walked in to check out the bar, and I asked him if I could make him something random. And I just started running with it and playing with it and making all kinds of different things. 

“That’s what makes me happy about this job. There are some nights where everybody wants a vodka and sprite or a vodka and cranberry, and then sometimes you get to go crazy and make things that are unique. … It’s so fun to see those reactions, because you never know what someone is going to like.” 

State Theatre is located at 213 E. Main Street in Starkville. 

Story by Abigail Sipe Rochester

Photo by Rory Doyle

Peach Blueberry Lemon Drop Martini

This twist on a Lemon Drop Martini adds light fruity flavors to the typical drink without creating an overly sweet or syrupy aftertaste, letting drinkers of any age enjoy a familiar lemon flavor. It is served in a chilled martini glass with a half sugar rim, with a blueberry and peach skewer on top. 

1 oz. peach vodka (Western Sun)

1 oz. blueberry vodka (Western Sun) 

½ oz. triple sec

¼ oz. simple syrup

2 oz. lemon juice 

For skewer: 

Blueberries

Peach slices 

Step 1: Run a lemon over one half of the edge of a chilled martini glass. Dip in sugar, creating a rim. 

Step 2: Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Fill shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain drink into martini glass. 

Step 3: Skewer together two blueberries and a slice of peach. Lay across the edge of the glass and serve.