Booze Traveler

Beer, rebellion, soccer, Islam and fiery brandy stir modern Turkey. Although drinking is highly restricted, Turks drink defiantly and patriotically across the country, from bustling city streets to ancient islands. Jack Maxwell finds that every glass comes with a very big twist.

From Machu Picchu to the fiery capital of Lima, Peru serves up strange magic at every turn. Jack is in the Land of the Inca to discover the culture behind many of Peru’s most popular drinks, including canazo, a sugarcane liquor, and masato, a traditional Peruvian beverage also known as “spit beer.”

With more bars per capita than any other European country, Spain is just one big fiesta for Jack Maxwell. From tasting sherry in Andalusia to being introduced to Queimada, a flaming punch made with orujo, a 100-proof, wine-based spirit, in Galicia, Jack takes an intoxicating tour of Spain.

From soothing hops baths to Zirbenschnapps, a digestive pinecone schnapps, booze in Austria doubles as a medicinal method. Jack heads to downtown Franking to sip on one of Austria’s most famous drinks, visits a distillery in Upper Austria to taste the famous (and quite expensive) eau-de-vie, and much more.

The land is cold, but the people are warm and full of spirit — the kind of spirit you can drink! Icelanders stay toasty by sipping on their liquor, and Jack is more than willing to join in on the party. From fjallagrassa in the mountains to sipping beer in Hafnarfjordur, he attempts to drink his way across the Land of Fire and Ice.

Jack travels to the base of the Khangai Mountains to try fermented horse milk; takes a tour of a factory where liquid is filtered through diamonds and pearls to create the perfect vodka; and gets a lesson on making camel-milk vodka.