Holland America Line joins with mixologist Dale DeGroff

Holland America Line (HAL) has joined with mixologist Dale DeGroff to create a new cocktail menu, which will debut onboard Eurodam in January and be available fleetwide by the end of spring.

Known as ‘King Cocktail’, DeGroff is the author of two cocktail books, the founding president of The Museum of the American Cocktail, a partner in the Beverage Alcohol Resource bar-training programme, and also produces his own Dale DeGroff’s Aromatic Bitters brand. He has also won the James Beard Award for Wine & Spirits and was inducted into the James Beard Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America in 2015.

DeGroff has developed a drink menu featuring signature classics, as well as originals. They will be served in the Gallery Bar – introduced on Eurodam following a December 2015 drydock – 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.

“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 programme at sea,” said Orlando Ashford, HAL’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.”

In addition to creating exclusive cocktails, DeGroff will oversee staff training.