Sarah Bretz, ContributorHolland America has announced that it is elevating its onboard beverage program by offering guests regionally-inspired cocktails by notable mixologists. The new menus will reflect the scenery and culture of the destinations that the line visits.
Sam Ross
Having sailed in Alaska for over 75 years — longer than any other cruise line — Holland America’s expertise has led to the line teaming up with veteran bartender and cocktail crafter Sam Ross.
The collaboration includes six drinks that capture the essence of the Last Frontier for this season’s upcoming sailings. Ross was named the 2011 “U.S. Bartender of the Year.” His flagship bar, Attaboy, won the 2022 award for “Best Bar in the U.S.” by The World’s 50 Best Bars.
Ross is known for his innovative reinterpretations of classic cocktails and is credited with creating two of the most famous modern classic cocktails: the Penicillin and the Paper Plane.
Ross is bringing that innovative spirit to Holland America by crafting drinks like the Juneau, AK, a twist on the traditional Alaska cocktail featuring locally-sourced gin, as well as the PNW Penicillin, a contemporary adaptation of Sam’s very own famous Penicillin originally created at Milk & Honey Bar.
Here are the new cocktails created by Sam Ross that will be served on Alaska cruises:
- Juneau, AK: Juneaper Gin, Fino sherry, Yellow Chartreuse, and Orange Bitters
- Klondiker: Sazerac Rye, Lairds Apple brandy, allspice, fresh lime, and Angostura chocolate bitters
- PNW Penicillin: Westland Flagship Single Malt, fresh lemon, ginger, honey, and a float of Westland Peated Single Barrel Select (exclusive to HAL)
- Mosquito: Del Maguey Vida mezcal, Campari, fresh lemon, and ginger
- Midnight Sun: Hennessy VS, Fernet Branc, and Crème de Menth
- Frontier Champagne Flip: Angel’s Envy bourbon, honey, vanilla, cream, egg, and Champagne
Tess Posthumus
Holland America has also curated a unique line of cocktails for European voyages in partnership with Tess Posthumus. An award-winning bartender and bar owner, Posthumus’ passion for mixology began during her studies at the University of Amsterdam.
In 2017, Posthumus opened her first bar and now owns three in Amsterdam: Flying Dutchmen Cocktails, Dutch Couralge, and Belly of the Beast, where she and her team mix cocktails while focusing on building a true cocktail culture in the Netherlands.
Her extensive knowledge of European cocktails is reflected in the comprehensive menu she created for Holland America’s European sailings, from the olive oil fat-washed Dutch Courage Martini to the raisin-infused Rotterdam Runner.
Here are the new cocktails created by Tess Posthumus that will be served on European cruises:
- Dutch Courage Martini: Olive oil fat-washed De Lijn Gin, dry vermouth, and St-Germain
- Copenhagen Dram: Johnnie Walker Black, Carpano Antica Vermouth, Aquavit, and Benedictine
- Rotterdam Runner: Raisin-infused Mount Gay Eclipse Rum, fresh lemon, Galliano, vanilla, and egg white
- Amsterdam Ambrosia: Bols Olde Jenever, lemon, Galliano, Crème de Cacao, and sea salt
- Orange Elixir: Patron Reposado, lemon juice, spiced orange syrup, Campari, and Double Dutch Double Orange Tonic
“Sam and Tess bring an exciting dimension to our beverage offerings, adding a new element in the cocktail space on sailings to two of our most popular regions,” said Drew Foulk, Holland America Line’s senior manager of beverage operation and dining innovation.
“We take pride in providing our guests the opportunity to explore the world, and now we can take our guests on a simultaneous journey of taste and discovery, perfectly complementing the stunning scenery and cultural experiences of each destination.”
These beverage collaborations expand upon Holland America’s recently announced partnerships with award-winning bartender Ivy Mix on South America and Mexico sailings, as well as James Beard award-winning author and mixologist David Wondrich on Caribbean voyages.
The cruise line’s growing beverage program also includes other exclusive offerings guests can only find onboard. Holland America introduced its own De Lijn Gin, partnered with award-winning distillery Buffalo Trace to curate an exclusive barrel for the fleet, and it is debuting a new “Killer Whale Pale Ale” on all 2024 Alaska cruises.
Comments
Have you tried any of Holland America’s new or exclusive beverage offerings on a recent cruise? Are you sailing HAL to Alaska or Europe this summer? Drop us an anchor below and let us know!
2 comments
Bruce
Really enjoyed the (many) Rotterdam Runners we had on our recent cruise. Was hoping to find the recipe online when we got home, but after reading it was custom created for Holland America, I suspect it is HAL’s intellectual property. Other than massive experimentation, any ideas on how to reproduce at home (i.e., get HAL to part with the recipe)?
Don Bucolo
Great question. We haven’t sampled the drinks so tough to try and replicate. I guess we will need to book a cruise to try them out! When is your next cruise?