Master Mixologist Dale ‘King Cocktail’ DeGroff Creates Unique Libations for HAL

The new year has got off to an exciting start with Holland America Line recently announcing a new partnership with 2015 James Beard Who’s Who Inductee and Master Mixologist Dale DeGroff

Whether you like your drinks on the rocks, straight up, shaken or stirred, DeGroff brings an innovative menu of creative cocktails that will debut aboard ms Eurodam this month and expand fleetwide by springtime.

Continuing Holland America Line’s commitment to offer an exceptional food and beverage experience, DeGroff — known as “King Cocktail” — has developed a drink menu to showcase artfully prepared signature classics as well as some unique originals.

“For many guests, there’s nothing better than relaxing with a well-made, unique cocktail after a long day of sightseeing or before dinner, and adding a master mixologist to our team gives us the diversity we seek in creating the most robust food and beverage program at sea,” said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line’s president. “We’re excited to welcome the talents of Dale DeGroff to our family, and we know our guests are going to enjoy his innovative creations.”

DeGroff creating one of his signature cocktails.

DeGroff’s signature cocktails will be served in Gallery Bar, recently introduced on Eurodam following a December 2015 dry dock and soon to be on Oosterdam following an April refurbishment, and in other shipboard bars and lounges, including Ocean Bar, Explorer’s Lounge, Crow’s Nest and Tamarind Bar, as well as more casual outlets such as the Lido pool bar. His creations will be served fleetwide by spring 2016.

DeGroff’s cocktail menu includes the Gallery Gimlet, Hemingway Daiquiri, Yuzu Margarita, The Ritz Cocktail, Whiskey and Joe, Another Shade of Greyhound, and a “Slightly Less Than Perfect” Perfect Manhattan. Many of these drinks have a storied past. The Hemingway Daiquiri is a unique spin-off of Hemingway’s favorite drink, the Papa Doble. The Ritz Cocktail is a dazzling champagne cocktail presented with a burst of flamed orange peel and was one of the most popular drinks at the legendary Rainbow Room where DeGroff created it as a tribute to the Ritz cocktails of Paris and Madrid.

In addition to creating exclusive cocktails for all Holland America Line bars, DeGroff also will oversee staff training to ensure his signature cocktails will be crafted to perfection.

About Master Mixologist Dale DeGroff
DeGroff developed skills, techniques and expertise while tending bar for three decades at various notable establishments including New York’s famous Rainbow Room. He has received the James Beard Award for Wine & Spirits, was inducted into the prestigious James Beard Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America in 2015 and is author of The Essential Cocktail and The Craft of the Cocktail. He is a partner in the award-winning Beverage Alcohol Resource bar-training program and founding president of the Museum of the American Cocktail. DeGroff also produces his own Dale DeGroff’s Aromatic Bitters brand, which he developed with renowned absinthe distiller Ted Breaux.

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If you’re ready to come on board and enjoy DeGroff’s cocktails, check out our 2016 cruises. With our new View & Verandah promotion, now is the perfect time to book. We’re offering stateroom upgrades, up to 10 percent off shore excursions and up to 25 percent off Collectors’ Voyages on 2016-2017 sailings when booked by Feb. 29, 2016!