Daily Inspiration: Meet Keeli Cornelison

Today we’d like to introduce you to Keeli Cornelison .

Hi Keeli , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m Keeli Cornelison I’m a SLO COUNTY native I am a Bartender and started Bartending when I was 21 years old and have only Grown and perfected my craft since. I am a single mother to three beautiful kids. Carson 11, Cayde 8, Madilynn 7. I have always worked three jobs and bartending is how I supported three young children on my own working 16 hour days 65 days straight to make sure they always had what they needed. Starting at 6am opening bars to 3am closing late night bars. I never thought it was gonna be a career until it was. The places that bartending has taken me is incredible. I have found myself through what goes in to a cocktail and the story it has behind it so much more then just liquid in a cup it’s a memory of happy moments and places and people we enjoy our time with. I have bartended In every bar setting you can possibly imagine dive bars fine dining biker bars club settings but craft bartending has changed my life and shown me so much more then I ever thought possible. My evolvement the last 12 years in this industry is nothing short of incredible and challenging. From being privileged enough to learn about lush life productions which is incredible people who created these events such as camp runamok which is a summers bartenders camp in Kentucky where you get to spend a week with complete wonderful strangers in the Industry and form bonds and network with these incredible people from all over and go to distilleries and learn about amazing bourbon history which was one of the most remarkable experiences of my life I can’t believe that these kinds of programs exist and the love that this industry shows you is beyond words I also look forward to being able to continue my future involvement in these experiences at Portland cocktail week and tales of the cocktail in New Orleans I currently work at the alchemists garden in Paso Robles ca in the heart of downtown. The places working for these incredible people has taken me from being a dive bar queen to learning growing and evolving and competing in competitions and becoming a award winning cocktail bartender. I can’t wait to see what my involvement in this industry takes me in my future as a career bartender.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The last 12 years of my life and uncoming in the industry has not being an easy road from starting this out as a easy no brainer to support my three children and all I knew was I’m great with patrons I love hard and my heart is as big as they come and I get to show compassion in my everyday life and leave a impression on you when I meet you. I had all my kids super young by the age of 25 I was married and had three small children and the industry and community and the love and support they bring is what really carries you through the hard times. When I was in my lowest my patrons and bars I worked at got me through it. I lost my husband and kids father three years ago pretty suddenly and I only got through it because of the people in my life my places of work people believing in me and finding the strength to keep going. I walked into my current place of work a year and a half ago and my life changed forever I was introduced to the wounderful world of craft bartending. I’m pretty sure Louis Armstrong wrote a song about it what a wounderful world is all I heard when I realized what I was getting myself into TERRIFYING is a understatement I have never been challenged so much in the last year but also have my cup over flowing with gratitude and appreciation for how far I have come and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon but I have challenged myself so much studied countless hours learned about myself as a human and that I’m incredible and talented and that was all became of 4 people who believed in me and knew I was destined for more then just jack and cokes and Tokyo teas I have cried the ugliest tears spend hours creating cocktails and hating them to placing 2nd place in a in house fernet branca competition for my cocktail 1845 which was a rif on a well loved Argentinan national cocktail a fernet branca and coke where I created a cocktail featuring fernet branca a house made rhubarb coco cola cordial topped with San pelligrino sparkling water a toasted cinnamon stickthen finished with a honey biscoff dusting on the side if you would have asked me to come up and create that a year ago I would have asked you what you were talking about learning about flavors and pairings and what works and how you can come up with a Cesar salad martini and make it incredible sky is the limit is something I have learned in the last couple years and I can’t wait to work my way up and put my blood sweat and tears into competing in the future and just having fun and growing I learned that anything is possible and bartending has been challenging and pushed me to every limit I have in me I will always be a dive bar girl at heart it raised me and the people you meet in those dive bars are the most incredible humans but the craft world is the challenge I crave and the limits you have to push to have what it takes to make it to placing in competitions and showing who you are through slinging drinks is a indescribable feeling and I can’t wait to see where it takes me

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work at the alchemists garden in Paso Robles ca I am a craft bartender there I started off as a diva dive bartender and transformed into a creator of alchemy i spealize in marrying the two styles of bartending creating high quality unique bar recipes that pay image to incredible new twist on classic cocktail recipes taking them to the next level we are known for our incredible rotating monthly zodiac cocktail each month we create a special cocktail recipe based on the stars we have a phenomenal food menu and feature a lot of vegan gluten free and vegetarian options as well as steak pasta and seafood dishes and incredible wine and cocktails to pair with it I get to share these incredible recipes With my patrons everyday creating a experience they will never forget along side my amazing team where we work together to challenge the status quo using alchemy and creativity that they will remember forever food and cocktails based astrology alchemy pyshics chemistry incredible next level creative minds pushing the limits of all things cocktail and fine dining experiences we are set apart based on the creations we have coming out of our establishment we are owned by dreamers who love to inspire creativity and they show that in the love and time they pour into their staff and the items on our menu I’m proud to be apart of a vision that takes the ordinary to the extraordinary and can’t wait what this year unfolds for us

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
For those starting out my advice is get up show up never give up come hungry and don’t ever stop chasing your dreams ever challenge yourself and believe in your team and study your craft learn good habits learn from your team and make memories soak it all in learn about lush life productions apply to be a squirrel for camp runamok from a fellow squirrel herself as of this last year apply to Portland cocktail week go to tales of the cocktail meet everyone and anything this industry has to offer hug and love your neighbor and keep going even when you doubt yourself and create a life and career for yourself

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Keeks_805
• Facebook: Keeli Noland

Image Credits
Lush life productions Tony Bennett