Meet Kaylee Nedley | Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kaylee Nedley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaylee, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work-life balance has taken on many shapes and forms over the past few years of running a small business. Naturally, the first few years, hustling and grinding is something that’s encouraged. It can quickly consume you, thinking it’s the only way to “make it.” It’s about how you want to measure success. What does success mean to you? For me, success was being able to work for myself, set my own hours, travel freely, etc. So it’s just a matter of checking in on that when you find yourself feeling worn down. Many times, I had to remind myself that building the life I wanted was the whole reason I started a business. Once I got that down, “turning off work” became so much sweeter.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am the co-owner of Iconic Cocktail Co. with my fiance, Matt Farrow. We make small-batch, flavor concentrates for the home bartender. They’re perfect for elevating the craft cocktail or making a fresh mocktail or all-natural soda. We started our business in hopes of someday opening a brick and mortar restaurant/bar but found much joy in running this little mixer company. So for now, we’re very happy with cultivating a happy work environment for ourselves and our small team. Our mixers are proudly made fresh in small batches with real ingredients. We celebrate the home bartender by inspiring them to take their craft cocktails to the next level. For me personally, my favorite part of the job is creating new content through informational blog posts and unique cocktail recipes featuring our mixers. Matt’s been a bartender for 20+ years and I’ve learned a thing or two over the years. It’s really exciting to make the bartending culture a little more accessible and approachable.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Matt’s from Missouri and his very best friends live in rural cities in Missouri and Montana. We are so excited to show them our Arizona and that would include a trip weekend farmers market where we can stop by each vendor and get a little taste of what people are doing here in Arizona. It would also stock our fridge with the best of the best local foods to cook. Then we’d schedule a day trip to Jerome for wine tasting, a haunted hamburger, and views. While in our own neighborhood, we’d visit Otro Cafe, the Parlor, Famé, Worth Takeaway and Arizona Wilderness for food and drink. We’d stop by our favorite shops like Frances, Local Nomad, Urbana, and Stinkweeds. And a true #treatyoself experience would happen at Hillstone or Centruy Grand (my two most favorite dining experiences) I’d hope we’d run into our favorite people like Lauren Bailey of Upward Projects or Bo Mostow who runs the Uptown Farmers Market. Vendors we’d definitely stop and chat with would be Jacob from Cunito Hot Sauce, Anothy from Los Muertos, Brian from Proper Beast, and Christopher from Benny Blanco Toriallas (if he doesn’t have a line.) I’d love to be able to say hi to Doug if I caught him in the kitchen at Otro or Kelsey and Jim Bob from Worth Takeaway. Then perhaps a little staycation at the Mountain Shadows.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout is dedicated to my group of lady group of badass business owners. I don’t know what I would do without my close circle of friends who all run their own business.

Website: www.iconiccocktail.com
Instagram: @iconiccocktailco
Facebook: www.facebook.com/iconiccocktailco

Image Credits
@bepeachie