Around the World in a Beverage Glass

I can't recall the first time I had a kir or a kir royale. Surely it was during one of my youthful trips to France. Or maybe it was just La Crêpe Nanou in Uptown New Orleans, where I often rode my bike to dinner.

I alway had more "exotic" tastes in alcoholic beverages than many of my counterparts when I was a young person. I was the girl who wanted a Yellow Bird rather than a Hurricane, a Pimm's Cup rather than a gin & tonic, a kir rather than a beer. That hasn't changed.

A kir royale--or more likely a kir pétillant--is my drink of choice on a river cruise, and it's thankfully included in most "free" Happy Hour menus (at least unofficially--so tip your bartender). 

A splash of crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur) adds a beautiful ruby tone to your glass of still or bubbly white wine, along with a delightful fruity note, slightly tart and slightly berry-like. The must-have accessory for me is a fine twist of lemon peel rubbed around the rim of the glass, which plays perfectly to the natural tartness of the blackcurrant.

Are there drinks--not only alcoholic ones--that remind you of a trip you've taken? Or perhaps a cocktail that drives up your desire to experience a destination associated with it?

Here are a few of my favorites.

Peru, Spain, and Portugal

You don’t have to be a local to know how refreshing a pisco sour is after a long day of hiking in Peru. It even has its own national holiday! Whether it’s the first Saturday in February or not, enjoy this creamy sour cocktail when you travel down to Peru. 

When vino tinto just won’t cut it anymore, reach for a frosty cool glass of sangria. Don’t be surprised by the deep spicy undertones in authentic Spanish sangria--it balances perfectly with sweet fresh fruit and the spicy notes of that vino tinto at its base. Who are we kidding, just order the carafe!

No trip to Lisbon is complete without a shot of traditional ginjinha. Upon first sip, its velvety texture coats the tongue, giving way to a burst of cherry that is simultaneously sweet and pleasantly tart, with subtle hints of cinnamon and clove lingering in the background. It’s also a great mixer for creative cocktail inspiration, and a ginjinha toast is the perfect way to conclude a walking tour of historic Lisbon.

Vietnam, India, and Scotland

You may not think of Vietnam and coffee together, but the French colonial period married the two, never to be separated again. Vietnamese coffee is typically slow-dripped with a tiny, one-cup phin filter. It's very much a micro version of the French drip coffee pot that was used every morning in our house when I was growing up in Louisiana. While we normally drank our coffee with hot milk (café au lait), in Vietnam the coffee is dripped over a spoonful of sweetened condensed milk to make a rich concoction that's delicious hot or cold. If you're a fan of Thai iced tea, you'll love Vietnamese coffee. Naturally, when you take your Mekong River cruise and travel to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City before and after, you'll be wanting at least one of these every day!

Another creamy and delicious treat is the Mango Lassi. A great dessert replacement, a Mango Lassi is one of my favorite after-dinner drinks. In a country of such fragrant cuisine as India, it’s easy to understand why. Not only will it be the perfect ending to a meal, it will soothe your fiery mouth after you've indulged in a hit parade of spicy flavors. I haven't been able to savor one in India--yet--but you can likely enjoy one at your favorite Indian restaurant at home.

At the complete opposite end of the spectrum, there's a whole world of whisky (and whiskey) awaiting you in Scotland and Ireland. Be sure to try some of the Irish examples when you're on the Emerald Isle, and ask me about creating a multi-day private distillery tour of the legendary island of Islay, off the western coast of Scotland. Explore and discover if you like a single malt, a blend, a peaty or smoky flavor, or even a fruity note.

The Mighty Cuban Mojito

If you've ever been to Cuba, you've probably had a Mojito. Or maybe a lot of Mojitos. When I took a group to Cuba several years ago, quite a few of our meals were organized by my local partner and had set menus. Typically two beverages of our choice were included: juice, soft drinks, water, or "national drinks." This last category included local beer, Mojito, Cuba Libre, and Daiquiri. As a result, most of the group enjoyed two Mojitos with both lunch and dinner. (They must have been awfully weak because no one ever seemed intoxicated.) We definitely compared every restaurant's mojitos to all the others we had consumed. Was it frozen or on the rocks? What was the proportion of mint to lime? Was the mint crushed and muddled enough? How was the presentation? What kind of glass was used? Were there garnishes? There was never any sort of fancy exotic or highfalutin' Mojito--always the classic lime and mint with a base of white rum. I think after a week on the island we all felt like experts.

How about aguardiente? It's Colombia's most famous drink, an anise-flavored liquor made from sugar cane.

I think I'd prefer trying this strong stuff in a cocktail, and I hope to do that on our upcoming trip to Colombia. Let's try this one together on the Magdalena River...

RED ALERT!!

Wonders of Colombia (Jan. 28-Feb. 4, 2026, plus optional land extensions to Cartagena, Medellin, and Panama): This brand new AmaWaterways itinerary is selling out in dramatic fashion--every time I check, the available inventory has dropped even more.

The beautiful AmaMelodia river ship only has 32 cabins and 22 of them have already sold, leaving just ten available: two junior suites, seven in category A, and one in category B. 

Mon Voyage currently occupies six cabins and we’d love to have a few more in our group. But this is most likely a major “you snooze, you lose” situation. While I could theoretically take a dozen more clients with me, the clock is ticking and I expect the ship to be completely sold out any week now. Once they're gone, they're gone.

Read more here and snag one of the few remaining staterooms with your $400 deposit—contact me for details.

Speaking of drinks, I'll be enjoying some Greek wines soon...

Of Myths and Moussaka (Greece, Aug. 31 to Sept. 15, 2024): I have released unsold rooms but please inquire for availability if you’re feeling spontaneous. We have only nine in the group and if there is another room to be had, I am happy to add you for this trip. Click for the brochure.

For the beer lover: Bravo, Berlin! (March 16-23, 2025): As promised, I offered this trip first to clients who had specifically responded that they were interested in Berlin as a destination. As a result, it is essentially sold out. I could possibly add one more room but would need to verify this with my local partner. I am accepting wait list requests for this trip. View the prospectus here.

Irish Country Idyll (May 14-28, 2025): There’s still ONE ROOM LEFT on this glorious escape to the Emerald Isle. Read more here and contact me right away to snag this last room. Naturally, there will be Irish stout in the fridge at our country manor.

Last but not least, a gem of an opportunity:

Gems of Southeast Europe (June 22-29, 2025, plus optional land extensions pre- and post-cruise): This cruise aboard the elegant and spacious AmaMagna will take us from Giurgiu, Romania, to Budapest--to the countries of Eastern Europe that were sealed behind the Iron Curtain for much of the 20^th century. 

You can read more here. 

Post-cruise land extension with wine tour and Budapest:  

If you are already part of this Gems group and wish to add the post-cruise extension, please confirm right away so I can send your deposit invoice. Limited to twelve guests. Read more on the fabulous and carefully-curated post-cruise extension here.