When it comes to knowing what to drink (and how and why) Natalie Bovis-Nelsen is your personal guide through Cocktail Land.  As Creator and Editor of TheLiquidMuse.com, (website, blog, cocktail consultation, classes and an online show) Natalie judges cocktail competitions for liquor companies, worldwide, teaches cocktail classes and develops The Liquid Muse Signature Cocktails for private and corporate special events.

Natalie’s customized cocktail recipes have been featured at the Celebrity Poker Tournament at the Playboy Mansion; bodog.com’s Kentucky Derby promotion; M.A.G.I.C. in Las Vegas; fundraisers for Planned Parenthood and the Great American Condom Campaign; weddings, birthdays, baby showers and product promotions.  She was even hired to concoct gambling mogul-cum-billionaire Calvin Ayre’s own signature drink named “Billion-Ayre’s Bet”, which received a lot of attention in the media.  E! Online featured Natalie’s non-alcoholic cocktail “Pop Princess on Parole,” created in honor of Lindsay Lohan’s 21st birthday.  Recently, both Trump Vodka and Domaine Carneros Winery (owned by Tattinger Champagne) have requested Signature Cocktails from The Liquid Muse for the launch of their new products.

Natalie’s original cocktail recipes are also featured in her many national, regional and online magazine luxury lifestyle articles, such as: Every Day With Rachael Ray, November ’06), Pregnancy Magazine featuring four non-alcoholic Preggatinis ™ (November ’07) and Natalie’s internationally syndicated monthly “Cocktail Corner” on the Travel Buzz page in Where Magazine, which appears across the US, London and Paris (over a million pages per month).  She also contributes to: Daily Candy, Captiol File, Northern Virginia Magazine, The Tasting Panel, Real Talk LA, Valley Life Magazine, Metro Mix.com, mediabistro.com, and was recently hired by National Geographic Traveler / Personal Explorer to write six walking tours of Los Angeles, drawing from her pop-culture and lifestyle expertise.

The Liquid Muse Blog has enjoyed a strong readership since its launch in April 2006, and has been recommended in the Washington Post Express (April ‘06), DC Modern Luxury (November ’06) and Marie Claire Magazine (December ‘06).

When in need of a quote or recipe, the Washington Post and USA Today have called on The Liquid Muse.  In November 2007, DC Modern Luxury will feature Natalie again, only this time as a “Look Who’s Talking” subject, in their “decadence” issue (November ’07).  Los Angeles-based radio personality, Carolyn Fox (on KHZ) invited Natalie to inform listeners about Mardi Gras and Carnival cocktails and Hang Over Cures. (Feb. ’07), Revolution Health tapped her expertise on low-calorie cocktails (April ’07) and TheFamilyGroove.com interviewed Natalie regarding healthier cocktails for the holidays.  (Nov. ’07).  Additionally, the publishers of both Rachael Ray’s new book and of Food and Wine Magazine’s Cocktail Book have asked Natalie for cocktail recipes.

Natalie’s passion for pop culture has also landed her on the small screen, covering the Golden Globe and Emmy Awards (‘05 and ‘06) for Alhurra Television, broadcast live across the Middle East.  And, her coverage of the spirits industry and cocktail trends result in her strongly branded presence as The Liquid Muse with liquor companies, event planners and cocktail enthusiasts the world over who turn to her for collaboration and / or guidance.

Personal Bio:
Natalie currently lives in Los Angeles with her wonderful husband, Jason, and two Spanish cats.  She was born in San Francisco, California, becoming the first American in her family.  Her English mother and French father came to the United States in 1964, drawn by their passion for Native American art and culture.  In 1974, when Natalie and her sister, Amy, were small children, the family moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico where her parents owned Winona Trading Post, a Native-American art gallery and crafts store, and the Bovis Gallery of Primitive Art, featuring tribal pieces from the South Pacific and Africa.

Natalie and her sister spent summers in France with their grandparents and as a consequence speak fluent French.  Natalie majored in French Literature and minored in Theatre at the University of New Mexico, before moving to Los Angeles in 1993 to pursue a career as a writer and performer. 

Natalie has traveled the world from Bora Bora to Lapland, Marrakesh to Rio de Janeiro, Auckland to Bangkok - and became a certified skydiver while living in Spain for 2 1/2 years.  She speaks conversational Spanish (but would like to get better!) and dreams of buying a farm house on the Costa Brava where she can spend several months per year writing novels, and whipping up cocktails for summer “fiestas” with her husband, friends and family.

*PHOTO CREDIT:  Claire Barrett