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The world’s best boozy hotel breaks

Looking for a getaway with some serious spirit? SB rounds up some of the best hotels across the globe which offer specialist boozing experiences alongside a place to lay your head.

Hotels have long been known as all-day drinking destinations for those looking to relax with a Martini in-hand – but some are really taking their spirit credentials up a notch.

Alcohol plays a starring role in the life and story of these featured hotels, whether it be a whisky tasting tour in Edinburgh’s The Torridon or an in-room cocktail class at New York’s The Surrey Hotel.

From hipster hangouts to craft gin distilleries, these boozy stays will be just the tonic for any travel lover who wants to go somewhere further-flung than their local, but still wants a tip-top tipple. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best hotels that are pushing the boundaries of booze.

Have we missed any drink-and-stay destinations worthy of a mention? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The Distillery, London

 

Pack your bag and take your next gin session to Notting Hill – this boutique London hotel is dedicated to all things juniper-led. The four-floor mecca has 100 gins on its menu, three guest lodgings, in-room cocktails, a 400-litre gin still, and a three-hour tasting experience on offer. Opened by the team at Portobello Road gin, The Ginstitute offers wannabe distillers the chance to find out about the gin-making process and make their own unique blend of gin.

The Torridon, Scotland

Home to a whopping 230 malt whiskies from across the globe, this luxury hotel in the heart of the Highlands was a former shooting lodge for the Earl of Lovelace, and offers a tasting tour for £30 per person in its Victorian bar setting. As well as being a drinks destination, the three-rosette Torridon Restaurant is Scottish fine dining at its best and is proud to serve locally-sourced ingredients.

The Freehand, Miami

Miami Beach’s upscale hostel, The Freehand, is popular among hipsters and backpackers for its legendary bar crawls and happy hours. Bar Lab founders Elad Zvi and Gabriel Orta were instrumental in the hotel’s fruition, opening its Broken Shaker bar, a local cocktail hot spot. Originally opened as a pop-up, the bar’s artisanal cocktails — made from home-made bitters, courtyard-grown herbs and house-pickled garnishes – proved so popular that locals clamoured for its return.

Hotel Emma, San Antonio

This booze-themed hotel built on the site of the historic Pearl Brewery uses beer and brewing as the dominant thread referenced in design elements throughout. Towering sculptures in front of the hotel and inside the lobby are made from reclaimed equipment once used to mill grains and brew beer. Upon arrival, guests are offered a welcome Margarita to be sent up to the room while they unpack. Once checked in, rooms even offer a Margarita-centric minibar, which includes fresh limes and a recipe for to help guests mix their own.

The Surrey, New York

In addition to a private roof garden and ground floor art deco lounge, New York’s The Surrey Hotel has an in-room cocktail programme that puts a standard minibar to shame. Choose from a cocktail list focused on locally-distilled spirits and a Surrey bartender will hand-deliver all the ingredients needed to throw a cocktail party, and will even show you how to make the first batch of drinks.

The Zetter Townhouse, London

The 13-bedroom Georgian townhouse with an award-winning cocktail lounge is located on the historic St John’s Square. Boasting a second venue in Marylebone, the unique cocktails at the Zetter’s east London venue have been created by cocktail don Tony Conigliaro, in homage to the area’s distilling heritage. Old recipes for tinctures, bitters and herbal remedies have inspired not only the cocktails but also the home-made cordials and infusions that sit behind the apothecary-style counter.

Caribe Hilton San Juan, Puerto Rico

The historic and iconic Caribe Hilton hotel is situated on a private 17-acre peninsula with a secluded beach and is located near the Old San Juan historic district. Why not try Puerto Rico’s official drink, the Piña Colada, at Caribar, where it is said to have been invented in 1954 by Ramon “Monchito” Marrero when he worked as a bartender at the hotel.

The Balmoral, Edinburgh

This five-star Rocco Forte hotel houses a Scotch whisky bar which is home to one of Edinburgh’s largest whisky collections. Take a seat on one of the tweed sofas and let the hotel’s whisky ambassadors help you choose from over 500 expressions, each one accompanied by a specially selected snack. Besides its Scotch offering, the hotel also has its own cocktail tasting menu based on the concept of a Michelin-starred establishment, offering guests a wide array of drinks in one sitting.

The Carlyle, New York

The Carlyle hotel’s Bemelmans Bar is one of New York City’s most famous haunts, known as a gathering place for socialites, world leaders and celebrities. Children’s illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans created the characteristic masterpiece murals at the hotel bar. The high-end watering hole maintains its art deco legacy with chocolate-brown leather banquettes, black glass tabletops, a dramatic black granite bar and a 24-karat gold leaf-covered ceiling. The large-scale murals in the hotel bar are the only surviving examples of Bemelmans artwork which are open to public viewing.

 The Savoy, London

London’s iconic Savoy hotel is home to two stylish art deco bars, The Beaufort Bar and The American Bar, making it one of the most popular high-end hotels. It is historic too – the bars have served some of the best cocktails in London since 1889. Decorated with jet black and gold interior evoking images of old-world sophistication, The Beaufort Bar was once used as a cabaret stage, hosting luminaries such as Carol Gibbons, the Savoy Orpheans and George Gershwin.

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