Holland America Line is launching a new program featuring regionally inspired cocktails created by famous mixologists. These special menus will change depending on the cruise destination, offering flavors that reflect the local culture. Passengers on Alaskan cruises can enjoy drinks designed by Sam Ross that capture the adventurous spirit of the region, while European cruises will feature cocktails by Tess Posthumus that celebrate European flair and Holland America’s Dutch roots. The program kicks off in May.

Sam Ross

Having shared the thrill of Alaska for 75+ years– longer than any other cruise line–Holland America Line’s expertise has led to the brand’s teaming up with veteran bartender and cocktail crafter, Sam Ross.

The collaboration includes six distinctive drinks that beautifully 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.

Additionally, Ross is known for his innovative reinterpretations of classic cocktails and 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 Line by crafting drinks like the Juneau, AK, a delightful 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 conceived at Milk & Honey Bar.

New Sam Ross Cocktails 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 and honey and a float of Westland Peated Single Barrel Select (exclusive to Holland America Line.)
• 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 Line 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 bars in Amsterdam: Flying Dutchmen Cocktails, Dutch Courage and Belly of the Beast, where she and her team mix delicious 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.

New Tess Posthumus Cocktails 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 further expand upon the cruise line’s recently announced partnerships with award-winning bartender Ivy Mix on Holland America Line’s South America and Mexico sailings as well as James Beard award-winning author and mixologist David Wondrich on the cruise line’s Caribbean voyages.

Holland America Line’s ever-growing beverage program also includes other exclusive offerings guests can only find onboard. The cruise line introduced its very 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 sailings.