For some, staying at an all-inclusive resort is about rest and relaxation in some exotic location far from home. For me, one thing I love about traveling is discovering new and exciting cocktails - or familiar ones in new locations. That's why I love staying at all inclusive resorts like Villa Del Palmar in Loreto Mexico. Even though my stay was covered by the resort, having access to an open bar means you can try new things without the fear of wasting money. You've already paid for it... so let's enjoy it!

Last fall, we spent a week on Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America as we sailed around the islands of Hawaii. One of the things I always enjoy about NCL is that they do a great job with drinks. As I sailed around the islands I realized that what I once looked at as a classic - is anything but. While all mai tai cocktails have rum and tropical juices, it seemed that every bartender had their own interpretation. This includes of course, the awesome bar staff on board Pride of America. Here's their version of the classic Hawaiian Mai Tai...

In honor of National Cocktail Day on March 24th, HAVANA CLUB and BACARDÍ are celebrating with two specialty rum cocktails sure to keep you coming back for more!

Raise your glass with Sláinte de la Noche, a cocktail inspired by the popular “Irish Coffee” as well as Teq-Kiwi, a drink as green as the Emerald Isle itself. Not into cocktails? Pick up a bottle of whiskey-like Hornitos Black Barrel, pour yourself a glass and taste what sets this unique product apart.

International Scotch Day was a few weeks ago but do you really need an excuse to enjoy Scotch? While I enjoy Scotch neat or on the rocks, I'm impressed with the trend of Scotch cocktails that has been emerging recently. Some good stuff can be made with a well-done little goldie, and the Johnnie Walker brand has both a red and a black label that’ll do the trick. Here’s some mixes you should try to celebrate the fact that there’s an International Scotch Day.

Looking for a tasty treats to keep you warm and happy this winter? Here's some suggestions from our friends over at Guiness and Bulleit!

I love fun wines and the personality behind them, so I was excited to try MERF Wines Cabernet Sauvignon a few weeks ago. All too often I feel like wine is either stuffy and boring or kitchy product designed to draw you in with a label but ultimately lacking the quality product to make you want more. I've been a fan though of Columbia Valley wines from Washington State since they generally have a fantastic quality to them that is almost a part of the lifestyle. David "Merf" Merfeld's product continues this so we wanted to get to know him a bit more. Here's his thoughts on travel, food, and why he switched from brewing to winemaking.

Theatre Box just opened up in downtown San Diego and frankly you'd have to be living under a rock to not know about it. Between celebrities posting ridiculous dessert pictures on Instagram and other buzz it honestly wasn't my sort of place I thought. After all, usually these places just have "instagram food" that looks pretty but doesn't really taste that great. However, when I was invited to check it out I accepted since I was curious. Honestly I wasn't expecting much. I figured that at very least though that it would be a good opportunity to finally see Aquaman and grab some dinner. My bias against celebrity endorsement almost caused me to miss out on one of the coolest new concepts in San Diego. 

It's that time of year when football takes over our lives and we're down to just a handful of teams. So the folks at Redemption Rye sent over this whiskey cocktail roundup. Unfortunately some of favorite teams have already reached the bottom of the glass, but I'm sure that there's at least one here like the the Black and Gold Punch in honor of the New Orleans Saints that can help make you happy again! 

A Champagne toast seems to be the icon of welcoming in the New Year or really just celebrating pretty much anything. There is a sort of excitement when you pop open that bottle of bubbly and so it's no wonder that it has been the drink of choice when it comes to a celebration. However, much of what we consider in the United States as "Champagne" is really just "Sparkling Wine" and to complicate things further that's not the only bubbly wine out there for us to enjoy. Let's take a look at some different types of bubbly wines that you can enjoy during your New Years celebration!

When it comes to fruity tropical drinks, the classic Mai Tai is among the most iconic. It's the Pacific Islands version of the classic Caribbean Daiquiri... or is it? Ironically this classic drink actually originated in California during the tiki bar craze and while two men lay claim to having created it - I DON'T CARE - because the ones found at Don The Beachcomber are the best I've had. It's a more complex recipe and the time and effort is worth it. Here's the recipe so you can make it at home.

Visiting a brewery is one of the best ways to learn about a culture and community - or at least one of the most fun ways. That's why I was so excited to visit Alaskan Brewing Company's brewery in Juneau on a recent visit to the city. Since 1986, they've been developing creative beers that serve a local / regional audience but also serve as ambassadors of Alaskan culture to the lower 48!

Fogo de Chao is hands down one of my favorite restaurants. Not only do you get a never-ending parade of meats but the place is fun and imaginative when it comes to creating seasonal updates to the menu. We were invited to check out their new Spring Menu this week, so how could I resist when it includes three new cocktails to try!

There are many great cities today that are a great choice for a beercation, but only Grand Rapids calls themselves "Beer City". It's a great destination that is located a close to Chicago, Detroit, and Indianapolis making it a great place for a weekend getaway. With more a Beer City Ale Trail boasting more than 80 breweries, it is certainly one of the top beer producers in the country. Experience Grand Rapids invited us to visit and see what all the fuss was about. Here's what we found!

Las Vegas has some of the best bars and some of the best restaurants in the world but no matter how much talent and desire to be the best... most are good at one or the other, not both. During a visit last night to Libertine Social inside of Mandalay Bay, I was treated to an experience that frankly I wasn't expecting based on the relatively unassuming entrance.

Rum sometimes has a bad rap since there are a lot of inferior products out there, but thankfully there are some fantastic rums out there too. It all comes down to craftsmanship and market demands. Luckily, over the past few years we've started to see high quality products such as Don Q Gran Añejo make it to store shelves and bars around the United States. People from Puerto Rico probably laugh at this being a new trend since they've known the greatness of rum since Destilería Serrallés started producing the spirit on the island in 1865.

Wild Turkey has a great distillery experience that is also one of the newest. Visitors will get a chance to go "Behind the Barrel" like I did as their guest, but in a much abbreviated fashion. However, for bourbon fans this is a great opportunity to learn, taste, smell, and see one of the greatest bourbons in the country right now.

When it comes to mancation in Australia, Melbourne is surely a great choice of destination for all those men who are looking forward to have some fun with their friends. Melbourne has an urban setting, luxury hotels offering upscale amenities, great outdoor activity opportunities and even unique golf settings. Here are some top ideas for your next mancation in Melbourne.

Last week I had the privilege of joining Wild Turkey for a "Behind the Barrel" experience touring not just their distillery, but some of their partners including Vendome Copper & Brass Works and Independent Stave Company. During this tour, my eyes were opened wide to how complex the science and art of making great whiskey can be. While I knew that the mash bill and number of years aging in the barrel had a big say in how whiskey tastes, there's a whole lot more than that!

Making a classic cocktail is a skill that will impress your guests at a party, but sometimes that can prove to be challenging to get things "just right". Here's a way to cheat a bit and make some classic drinks such as an Old Fashioned or a Boulevardier quick and easy.