About Me

I’m Veronica Hartman, thirty-six years old and happily settled in the heart of Austin, Texas. The sun here pours its own kind of sweetness into every sip, and I wouldn’t trade it for anywhere else.

I grew up in a small Midwestern kitchen, watching my grandmother stir bubbling pots of fruit compotes and fresh-pressed juices. Her laugh wove through the steam like the perfect garnish, and from my first tangy lemonade to infusing basil into iced tea—which I affectionately called “edible perfume”—I knew simple ingredients could spark pure delight.

After earning a degree in culinary arts, I spent my early twenties bouncing between kitchens, from trendy farm-to-table bistros in New York City to beachfront cafés in Santa Monica. Whenever the dinner rush died down, I would sneak behind the bar to practice balancing bitters, syrups and unexpected twists like lavender or jalapeño. It wasn’t quite the glamorous life I’d imagined. I burned more batches of rosemary simple syrup than I care to admit, and once nearly blew up a stovetop with a misguided attempt at caramelizing pineapple flambé. But each mishap taught me that the heart of cooking and mixing lies in curiosity, patience and a willingness to laugh at yourself.

Today on Daily Drink Recipes I’m thrilled to share the fruits of those lessons with you. Whether you’re hunting for the perfect summer sangria, a cozy spiced apple cider for chilly evenings or a rejuvenating cucumber-mint mocktail after a long day, I approach each recipe as a little love letter to the senses. My philosophy is simple: drinks should be approachable enough for beginners yet layered enough to surprise seasoned sippers. I believe every glass has a story waiting to be told, whether it’s the memory of your first garden-fresh mojito or that triumphant moment when you finally nail the silkiness of a classic egg-white sour.

I invite you to pour yourself a tall one, experiment fearlessly and maybe even share your own happy accidents with me. Life is far too short for boring beverages, and here we celebrate every fizz, froth and flourish together. Cheers to the next delicious discovery!