What do the world’s top bartenders do when they take time off work? Drink, of course. Here, six of the best tell us about their most memorable vacation tipples.

Sam Ameye

Bartender at Swift, London

I went to Toronto and didn’t know much about the city so I asked around for places to visit, a place called The Shameful Tiki Room popped up. What followed when I visited was one of the best bar experiences I’ve ever had.

When I went into The Shameful Tiki Room, I saw probably the single best example of kitsch done right. There were glowing pufferfish with nets over them and palm trees. I went in on a Tuesday in February and it was pretty quiet, as you’d expect. However, the bartender, called Bosko, pointed out that he had a hidden button on his bar station, I asked what it was for and he replied with: “you’ll see”.

Soon, a table ordered something called the Volcano Punch, which came served in a miniature volcano. As soon as the punch hit the table, Bosko pressed the button, making all the lights in the room change red, smoke started billowing from the walls and the speakers cut from normal music to the word, ‘volcane’.

During all of this, Bosko was just leaning on the backbar, grinning. Over the course of the night, he pressed that button three times and he was grinning the whole way through. He’s been there for four years.

Andrew Loudon

Head bartender at Tippling Club, Singapore

My most memorable holiday drink experience is linked to three platforms – flavour, atmosphere and music. In 2014, I went to Havana, Cuba, and spent two weeks in the glorious Caribbean sun.

While there are many great and wonderful experiences in Havana, as a bartender it is the home of many a great cocktail and some powerful stories. One bar that stood out above the rest for me was La Bodeguita del Medio, made famous by Hemingway, who is thought to have once said: “My Daiquiris at El Floridita, my Mojitos at La Bodeguita.”

The atmosphere in this tiny bar is always incredible. The smells of the constant pounding of mint for Mojitos, the cigar smoke wafting through the room, the constant busy stream of people and the sounds of the traditional Cuban band playing will live with me forever. It exemplifies what a good bar should be: atmospheric, fun and vibrant, and one that can transport you to a whole new world every time you walk through the door.

Donald Edwards

Sommelier at St Leonards, London

It was the summer of 2004 and I was visiting Istanbul for the first time. If you’ve never been, Istanbul is pretty much everything you’d expect it to be: a riot of colour and scents, surprises and delights round every corner.

My sister and I had taken a boat trip across the Bosphorus to the Asian side of the city, looking for somewhere for lunch. We found this little place, barely more than a shack, that was grilling mackerel and smelled pretty good. My sister ordered a gin and tonic while I vacillated over having a beer or taking a punt on a raki.

I won’t claim that I didn’t know what it was, but I don’t think I’d ever drank it properly before. It was magnificent, from the fun of the louching to the gloriously moreish anise flavour. What’s more, it seemed wonderfully appropriate in the setting, went brilliantly with the grilled fish and succeeded in giving me a life-­long love of anise liquors.

Jillian Vose

Beverage director at Dead Rabbit, New York

It’s hard to pick one particular drinking experience. Every region of the world produces different spirits and cultural experiences, stories, history and traditions. It’s the places I’ve been and the brands that have encapsulated the best of these things that jog my memory the best.

I remember things like being on Islay on a historical battleground drinking a rare bottle of Ardbeg Scotch whisky. I’ve also tasted the progression of a local whiskey distillery in New York City.

I think it’s all relative though; I don’t know if there’s a ‘best’. There are too many moments out there to say one thing is better than everything else.

But I’d say my most memorable holiday drinking experience was going to Pierre Ferrand and getting to drink Pineau des Charentes and soda while enjoying the sunshine in Cognac with friends.

Sly Augustin

Owner of Trailer Happiness, London

Discovering the powerful local rums of St Lucia is probably my most memorable holiday drink experience. While on a trip to visit family, who lived deep in the hills, I wandered into the local convenience store/rum shack.

I realised pretty quickly that over­-proof dollar rum sold out of a steel drum definitely wasn’t for me, but trying the various local rums ignited my love for the spirit and probably set me on the path I find myself on today with Trailer Happiness.

Another memorable experience from the same trip was stumbling across La Belle Creole coconut rum liqueur.

I remember being 19 and buying a bottle of that on my way to a date and enjoying it on the beach – sun, sand, great company and coconut rum liqueur, what more could you want?

Yann Bouvignies

Photo courtesy: James Bedford

Head bartender at Scarfes Bar, London

One of my most memorable drink experiences was during my bar exploration of New York in June. It was my first time visiting the US and having heard so much about the bar scene in the city I couldn’t wait to discover the experience first-­hand.

Throughout our four­-day visit, we toured a range of bars, from the largest and most well known, to hotels, street cocktail bars and pubs. A clear pattern quickly became apparent: in New York there seemed to be a very strong focus on classical serves. Each menu effectively reflected the surrounding culture and history.

One bar that truly stood out for doing something very different in terms of concept was The Aviary, beside Central Park. Here, the bartenders are creating an intriguing food­-and-­cocktail­-pairing journey for guests, showcasing how molecular gastronomy and complex drinks can harmonise to create an entirely new tasting experience.