Sip Around the World: The Top Bars for 2022 Transport Your Tastebuds

Sip Around the World: The Top Bars for 2022 Transport Your Tastebuds - Cocktails with a View in Greece

With over 6000 islands and endless coastline, Greece offers some of the most stunning views in the world to enjoy while sipping a cocktail. From clifftop bars to beachside lounges, Greece has an abundance of options when it comes to finding a watering hole with a breathtaking vista.

One of the best places for cocktails with a view is in Santorini. This picturesque island is known for its whitewashed buildings perched on cliffsides overlooking the deep blue Aegean Sea. In Oia, a charming village on the northern tip of Santorini, you can enjoy sunset cocktails at bars like On the Rocks or Mare Mare that offer unobstructed views of the sea and the island's iconic sunsets. Sip on Greek wines, ouzo, or creative cocktails as you take in the spectacular scenery.

Further south in Santorini, Akrotiri is home to unique geological rock formations and ancient ruins with panoramic sea views. Grab a table at the cliffside bar at La Maison de Catherine and soak up the surroundings with a glass of Assyrtiko white wine or a refreshing Aperol spritz. You'll feel like you're floating above the sea as you peer over the edge.

For a lively atmosphere paired with waterfront views, head to Mykonos Town on the island of Mykonos. Little Venice is a row of 18th century sea captains' mansions that now house trendy cafes and bars. Stop into Caprice for a refreshing mojito or passionfruit caipiroska and watch the sunset from their balcony overlooking the water. Nearby, Katerina's Bar has been a popular spot since 1978 for its signature cocktails and unbeatable views of the Aegean Sea.

On the mainland, there are also plenty of opportunities for imbibing Greek spirits against a scenic backdrop. The port city of Piraeus is located just south of Athens and offers panoramic views of the Saronic Gulf. Mikrofiwi is a lively bar known for its mezze platters and extensive drink menu. Try their 'Greek mojito' made with mastiha liqueur or sample ouzo varieties while taking in the sea views.

Further south, Nafplio was one of the first capital cities of Greece and its old town is situated on a peninsula jutting into the Argolic Gulf. Climb up to the Palamidi Fortress for a birds-eye view of the town and sea below, then head back down to enjoy a Mythos beer or glass of Assyrtiko at one of the many waterfront cafes lining the streets.

Sip Around the World: The Top Bars for 2022 Transport Your Tastebuds - Sipping Rum in Jamaica

It's impossible to talk about Jamaican culture without mentioning the island's famous rum. With its tropical climate perfect for growing sugar cane, Jamaica has a long history of rum production dating back to the 17th century. For rum connoisseurs, Jamaica offers an unparalleled opportunity to try some of the world's finest aged rums and tour the distilleries where the magic happens.

One of the best places to sip rum in Jamaica is at Appleton Estate, the island's oldest continuously running rum producer. Nestled in the lush Nassau Valley, Appleton offers an informative tour detailing the estate's 250-year history and production process. Afterward, indulge in samples of Appleton's award-winning aged rums like the 12 Year Old Rare Casks. The tasting takes place in Appleton's opulent Rum House overlooking the distillery and valley, providing the perfect backdrop.

Further inland in Montego Bay, Sangster's International Airport is home to Jamaican rum bar and restaurant Island Rum. This lively spot offers over 100 Jamaican rums to sample, including aged offerings and flavor-infused varieties. Their expert bartenders whip up classic rum cocktails like mojitos, mai tais and hurricanes, or you can keep it simple and sip rum neat or on the rocks. Happy hour specials and live reggae music provide the quintessential Jamaican vibe.

On the northeast coast, Port Antonio is the perfect laid-back beach town to while away an afternoon sipping rum. Check out the Jamaica Palace Hotel's Killick Bar, a nautically-themed rum lounge set on the hotel's private beach. Grab a seat on the open-air patio and watch the sunset while sampling flights of aged Appleton rums and Red Stripe beer. For a retro vibe, try the Tikki Bar at the historic Geejam hotel. Their extensive rum list paired with killer views of the jungle-clad coastline create an authentic Jamaican escape.

Finally, no visit to Jamaica is complete without a trip to Kingston. As the island's capital, Kingston is home to a lively food and nightlife scene. Hit up the courtyard bar at the Spanish Court Hotel to mingle with locals while sampling cocktails featuring Appleton and Wray & Nephew rums, or head to nightlife hotspot Fiction Fantasy Bar. Here, dancehall music sets the tone as their expert mixologists whip up creative rum cocktails like the Kingston Breeze with Thai basil and ginger beer. With rum integral to Jamaican social life, sipping it alongside welcoming locals offers the quintessential island experience.

Sip Around the World: The Top Bars for 2022 Transport Your Tastebuds - Toasting with Tequila in Mexico

As the birthplace of tequila, Mexico offers endless opportunities to sample the nation’s iconic spirit straight from the source. With tequila production centered in the western state of Jalisco, a visit here provides a deep dive into the drink’s origins and evolution from a local specialty to global sensation.

One of the best ways to discover tequila’s roots is through a distillery tour at La Cofradía in the town of Tequila. As one of Mexico’s oldest distilleries, La Cofradía provides an in-depth look at traditional production methods along with tastings of their award-winning tequilas. Sip a tangy Margarita made with their hand-squeezed lime juice as you wander among the blue agave fields used to produce their spirits. The rustic hacienda setting transports you back in time to experience tequila's beginnings.

Heading west, Guadalajara is Mexico’s second largest city and the capital of Jalisco. This vibrant metropolis brims with trendy bars and cantinas serving a dizzying array of tequila cocktails. For a taste of history, El Cinema is set in a 1940's art deco movie theater and features over 100 tequilas along with live music and dancing. Or belly up to the bar at Cantina La Fuente for tequila pairings with Mexican tapas in an elegant brick-walled space dating back over 100 years.

No tequila education is complete without visiting the beach towns along the Costalegre, where erstwhile tequila smugglers once operated. In mellow San Patricio-Melaque, toast the sunset with creative tequila libations on the sand at beachfront bar Carmelita’s. Further north, funky Sayulita attracts surfers and bohemians with its eclectic cantinas and beach bars. Grab a signature margarita at no-frills Don Pedros or check out inventive cocktail creations featuring smoky mezcals and spicy tequila blends at beachside joint La Rustica.

Sip Around the World: The Top Bars for 2022 Transport Your Tastebuds - Swirling Wine in Italy

Ah Italy, the birthplace of so many famous grape varieties and iconic wines. From big bold Barolos in Piedmont to crisp Pinot Grigios in the north, Italy offers wine lovers boundless opportunities to swirl, sniff, and savor. With over 300 native grape varieties, it can be overwhelming deciding where to start your Italian wine journey. Here are some insider tips on the best places to indulge in a glass or three.

Let's begin in Tuscany, home to Italy's most famous wine, Chianti Classico. Made primarily from the Sangiovese grape, Chianti Classico delivers flavors of cherry, herbs, and leather. For an authentic experience, head to Castello Vicchiomaggio, a family-owned castle and winery dating to the 15th century. Join a guided tasting in their cellar carved from volcanic rock and learn first-hand how modern innovation is helping bring new life to historic wines.

Further south, Campania produces full-bodied reds from the Aglianico grape, considered Italy's answer to Cabernet Sauvignon. The village of Taurasi is the spiritual home of Aglianico, where soil composition and microclimate imbue the wines with notes of smoke and dark fruit. Cantina di Marzo offers tastings showcasing single-vineyard bottlings that highlight Aglianico's diversity. Their underground cellar carved into the hillside provides a cool, tranquil setting.

For white wines, look to Alto Adige in the far north. This alpine region benefits from Austria's influence, producing crisp, aromatic whites like Pinot Grigio and Gewürztraminer. At Cantina Terlano, taste your way through their stellar lineup of whites during an outdoor tasting on their vine-covered patio. The dramatic Dolomite Mountains provide a postcard-perfect backdrop as you swirl and sip, with winemaker insights adding depth to the experience.

Sip Around the World: The Top Bars for 2022 Transport Your Tastebuds - Savoring Sake in Japan

With origins dating back to the 3rd century, sake has held an important place in Japanese culture for centuries. This iconic rice wine can offer incredible depth and complexity, making tasting your way through Japan's many sake varieties an unforgettable experience.

One of the best ways to begin your sake journey is by visiting the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum in Kyoto. This museum offers a glimpse into the deeply spiritual history of sake making, with examples of traditional tools and information on the brewing process. After learning about sake's cultural importance, sit down for a guided tasting of Gekkeikan's expertly crafted offerings, like their Okura Masamune. Tasting sake in the old wooden buildings of this historic distillery is the perfect introduction to traditional production methods.

For a contemporary experience, make your way to the Imayotsukasa sake brewery in Hiroshima Prefecture. Here, 15th generation owner Kazuhiro Sakurai blends traditional techniques with modern innovation to create some of Japan's most sought-after sakes. During a tour, you'll learn how Hiroshima's soft water and ample sunshine contribute to the area's distinctive sakes. Afterwards, sample award-winning unpasteurized nama sakes that offer incredible freshness and complexity. The juxtaposition of new and old creates a one-of-a-kind sake experience.

While Kyoto and Hiroshima are key regions, Tokyo also holds sake wonders. Stop into historic sake pub Kurand Sake Market for an encyclopedic overview of sake styles and regions. Their expert sommeliers will guide you through a flight showcasing diverse flavors, textures and aromas. Over 100 varieties are available so you can geek out on rare local sakes. Or visit the sleek Sawanoi sake bar in the Ginza district to pair artisanal sakes with traditional kaiseki cuisine. Tokyo provides a unique lens into modern urban sake culture.

A visit to a sake brewery during season offers the chance to observe the production process up close. At Dewazakura's picturesque cherry blossom-lined brewery in Yamagata Prefecture, you can watch workers steam rice and meticulously tend to fermenting sake. Then sample their draft offerings like the mineral-driven Dewasansan. Hands-on experiences like this provide memorable insights into sake's painstaking production.

Sip Around the World: The Top Bars for 2022 Transport Your Tastebuds - Beering in Germany

With over 1,300 breweries and 5,000 varieties of beer, it's no wonder Germany is often described as a beer-lover's paradise. While Munich's Oktoberfest draws millions of tourists annually, beer connoisseurs know that there are countless ways to truly immerse yourself in German beer culture beyond the standard tents and steins. Venturing out across the different beer-producing regions provides opportunities to dig deep into specialty brews, distinctive styles, and rich traditions.

In Cologne, kölsch is king. This pale, hoppy beer can only be brewed in and around Cologne according to strict regulations. To taste it fresh from the source, visit Brauerei Päffgen, a family-run brewpub that's been pouring kölsch since 1883. Pull up a stool in their vintage wooden tavern and watch the swift-moving waiters adeptly deliver small glasses of freshly tapped kölsch while calculating tabs solely from visual memory. It's an impressive sight. For a more contemporary scene, Brauerei zur Malzmühle's beer garden offers creative twists on klassic kölsch paired with local cuisine. Their unfiltered lagers and seasonal offerings speak to Cologne's newfound brewing creativity.

Swinging through Franconia, every town boasts at least one communal brewery churning out local specialties. In Bamberg, rauchbier (smoked beer) is the claim to fame. Tap into the origins of this unusual style at Schlenkerla, a brewpub housed in a former monastery where yeast strains originally cultivated in the 1500s are still used today. Their rauchbiers deliver a bold, bacon-esque smokiness that pairs perfectly with the region's hearty cuisine. Nearby, Mahrs Bräu focuses on unfiltered Kellerbier, wonderfully crisp and refreshing. In their cozy beer hall, strike up a conversation with locals and discuss the nuances of their beloved beer styles.

Sip Around the World: The Top Bars for 2022 Transport Your Tastebuds - Vodka and Caviar in Russia

Of all the quintessential Russian experiences, few pairings scream indulgence more than vodka and caviar. While the West views these as luxury items, in Russia they are symbols of hospitality and pride. Understanding their cultural significance makes indulging in them all the more meaningful.

Russian vodka needs no introduction, but its nuances run deeper than many realize. While invented in Moscow, vodka production spread rapidly throughout the country with each region cultivating its own style. In St. Petersburg, the highest quality Russian Standard Platinum vodka is still produced using soft glacial water and a proprietary multi-stage filtration process. Its exceptional smoothness pairs impeccably with caviar's richness. Nearby, the acclaimed Polugar Winery's organic Single Malt Rye "Bread Wine" vodka offers malty, caramel notes and a uniquely velvety mouthfeel.

Yet beyond the spirits themselves, vodka's presentation and traditions hold equal importance. At Ruski restaurant in Moscow's Pushkin Square, indulge in a traditional vodka ceremony complete with bar snacks like pickles, black bread and smoked fish. As each round is poured, learn about customs like sniffing before sipping and linking arms while drinking as a symbol of friendship. Partaking in these rituals connects you to centuries of Russian vodka heritage.

Meanwhile, caviar originated as a food of Russian peasants in the Caspian Sea region before ultimately becoming associated with royalty and excess. The multiple types hold vastly different tastes and textures; sampling a flight best exposes the nuances. At Czarist-era Petroff Caviar Room within the luxury Lotte Hotel, order a tasting platter with an icy vodka to contrast the velvety black caviar beads. Or for a contemporary experience, Cafe Pushkin's 1960's era opulence showcases caviar delicacies like the Golden Eye Amur - an ultra rare breed with a butterscotch hue and nutty flavor. Its hefty price tag proves caviar's enduring reputation.

Beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg, take a journey to discover caviar's roots where the Volga River meets the Caspian Sea. In Astrakhan, tour a fish market and processing facility to witness sturgeon harvesting firsthand. Then design a custom caviar tasting highlighting regional varieties at Tsarskaya Okhota farm, housed on a former royal hunting preserve. This hands-on experience grounds caviar's lavish aura with an appreciation for its artisanal origins.

Sip Around the World: The Top Bars for 2022 Transport Your Tastebuds - Whiskey and Craic in Ireland

With over 30 distilleries dotting the Emerald Isle, Ireland offers whiskey aficionados endless opportunities to dig into the country’s iconic spirit. From touring distilleries to cozying up in local pubs, indulging in Ireland’s whiskey culture proves a journey unto itself.

Venturing along the coast, County Cork provides a treasure trove for whiskey lovers. The historic Midleton Distillery has been distilling since 1825, and a tour here covers over 200 years of whiskey production. Watch master distillers meticulously craft special releases like Midleton Very Rare in the largest pot stills in the world. After seeing whiskey-making up close, enjoy a tutored tasting highlighting Irish whiskey’s evolution and range. Midleton’s vintage warehouses set the stage for understanding Ireland’s proud whiskey heritage.

Meanwhile, the newly opened Jameson Distillery Bow St. immerses you in the quintessential Irish whiskey brand. Their guided tours employ storytelling and interactive exhibits to explore John Jameson’s legacy in an engaging way. You can even fill your own bottle with whiskey straight from the cask to create your own bespoke label. It makes for an unbeatably personalized experience.

Beyond the big brands, independent craft distillers are reinvigorating traditional pot still styles. At Blackwater Distillery in County Waterford, master distiller Peter Mulryan honors centuries-old techniques while creating inventive barrel-finished releases. Seeing the distillery’s passion for innovation reveals Irish whiskey’s future potential.

Of course, to fully experience Irish whiskey culture means pulling up a stool at one of the country’s legendary pubs. With their time-worn decor, lively music and cozy snugs, pubs like Dick Mack’s in Dingle and Neary’s in Dublin prove the ideal backdrops for sinking into a dram. Strike up a conversation with the publican or other patrons and you’ll soon be enveloped in the Irish tradition of craic – lively, friendly banter.

As Dublin local Rory O’Brien explains, “Pubs are where our past and future converge. Hoisting a glass of whiskey while chatting with strangers opens a window onto what it means to be Irish.” From singing rowdy Irish folk tunes to reciting poetry by the fire, the pub rituals reveal as much about Irish identity as the whiskey itself.