How to Create Your Own Signature Cocktail Recipe

First, think about the kind of drink you prefer and look for ways to put a creative twist on it.

Does carbonation appeal to you? The subtle bubbly sweetness of a St. Germain cocktail blows a boring old vodka-and-club-soda away. Are you typically a wine drinker? Maybe a delicious sangria will appeal to you. Do you like juices in your cocktails? A pomegranate martini might be just the thing for you.

The next step in choosing a signature drink in pairing flavors.

An easy rule of thumb is that you should avoid pairing two very strong flavors because they have a tendency of drowning each other out. For example, though the standard is to pair tequila with heavy lime and orange juices to make a margarita, we prefer the much more delicate flavors of mixing high-end tequila on ice with a few squeezes of a lime and some club soda.

Also, if you're going to use fruit juices or other mixers, stick with one. Use Pomegranate juice in that martini, along with the subtle addition of citrus-flavored vodka, rather than any other juices.

Finally, and most importantly, whatever you like is what you should drink. Enjoyment and fun are the easiest rules to remember in making a signature drink.