Liquor selection at bars onboard

[Princesca]

I work for a global spirits company, and my company reimburses me for any drinks purchased that were made with even one of our brands. Are the bars aboard the ships comparable to, say, what you could get at a TGIFridays, Longhorn, or some other major chain restaurant? I'm hoping I can treat myself and my party to free cocktails in most restaurants. We own major brands; we are in the top five spirits companies, globally, so on land I can always find something.

Relatedly, is there any way to see a barlist for any of the ships?

Thank you!

 

[DMMarla07860]

I work for a global spirits company, and my company reimburses me for any drinks purchased that were made with even one of our brands. Are the bars aboard the ships comparable to, say, what you could get at a TGIFridays, Longhorn, or some other major chain restaurant? I'm hoping I can treat myself and my party to free cocktails in most restaurants. We own major brands; we are in the top five spirits companies, globally, so on land I can always find something.

Relatedly, is there any way to see a barlist for any of the ships?

Thank you!

I know you can different drinks made for a cost. Not sure how free works.

I’ve had martini’s made, mojito, etc what type of drinks you talking about?

 

[dcassetta]

Scott's blog has bar menus where you can see some of the offerings on the ship. Many list the specific brands used for the cocktails - https://disneycruiselineblog.com/menus/drink-menus/

I would say comparing what Disney offers to a chain restaurant is pretty accurate.

Does the receipt have to show the specific brand they used for your drink?

 

[Marc D]

Scott's blog has bar menus where you can see some of the offerings on the ship. Many list the specific brands used for the cocktails - https://disneycruiselineblog.com/menus/drink-menus/

The menus shown on that page only lists a very limited number of options compared to what you'll find at the bars in the adult section, or at Meridien. Cove Cafe also has a wider variety of options. We find they often have plenty of non-workhorse bottles in addition to the usual suspects, like Appleton, Tanqueray, Beefeater, etc.. They added a G&T cart a few years back that features signature bottles of gin. You could look up older threads on the different tastings they hold. Posters often mention what they were offered.

 

[Calantha]

Not sure how free works.

I think OP will ultimately get things 'free' by submitting for reimbursement from their company.

 

[Princesca]

I think OP will ultimately get things 'free' by submitting for reimbursement from their company.

Yep, that!

 

[Princesca]

Thanks, I will take a peek! I have quite awhile to figure this out, we aren't going until next year. But until then, I can dream about 'boat drinks' in more ways than one!

 

[randumb0]

The bars have a lot more high end options than what you will find at a chain restaurant. For example, you can have Pappy, Louis XIII or Glenmorangie Signet

 

[Princesca]

Does the receipt have to show the specific brand they used for your drink?

Preferably yes, but they know it's pretty rare for every on-premise business to offer that, so it's an honor system.

 

[randumb0]

There are also travel retail exclusives that you won't find at the local liquor store. I don't know of all of the brands but I do remember seeing unique Macallan bottles

 

[insureman]

I work for a global spirits company, and my company reimburses me for any drinks purchased that were made with even one of our brands. Are the bars aboard the ships comparable to, say, what you could get at a TGIFridays, Longhorn, or some other major chain restaurant? I'm hoping I can treat myself and my party to free cocktails in most restaurants. We own major brands; we are in the top five spirits companies, globally, so on land I can always find something.

Relatedly, is there any way to see a barlist for any of the ships?

Thank you!

So how do you prove it to the company when you put in for reimbursement.

 

[DisneYE]

I work for a global spirits company, and my company reimburses me for any drinks purchased that were made with even one of our brands. Are the bars aboard the ships comparable to, say, what you could get at a TGIFridays, Longhorn, or some other major chain restaurant? I'm hoping I can treat myself and my party to free cocktails in most restaurants. We own major brands; we are in the top five spirits companies, globally, so on land I can always find something.

Relatedly, is there any way to see a barlist for any of the ships?

Thank you!

Wow that's so cool.
You'll see that there's a wide variety of brands on the ships.. I don't recall ever wanting one particular one and they didn't have it onboard.
Except for my favorite: Pisco (a Peruvian spirit - you might know it)
A few Peruvian and chilean barkeeps/CM's I've talked to mentioned that they've tried convincing DCL to introducing it on the ships, with no success.

You should talk to DCL to see if your company can introduce Pisco on the ships.

Pisco sour is my absolute favorite cocktail - I see more and more bars in the US carrying it.

 

[Princesca]

You should talk to DCL to see if your company can introduce Pisco on the ships.

Pisco sour is my absolute favorite cocktail - I see more and more bars in the US carrying it.

I don't think my current company owns a Pisco, but I used to work for a company that did. I got a bottle of it but I didn't do anything with it. I should try that cocktail!

 

[Princesca]

So how do you prove it to the company when you put in for reimbursement.

Sometimes the receipts state it, but if they don't, we just write it on them. It's honor system. I don't think anyone routinely checks, but it's a cool benefit to get and I want to be honest about it.

 

[pjacobi]

If you have enough money and can buy in bulk, it is possible to purchase unbranded spirts.

I was just at a Longhorn restaurant, and they use their own brand of 8-year-old Bourbon in the Longhorn Old Fashion.

I suspect DCL would import from whatever country has the least taxes.


-Paul

 

[cwis]

I'm pretty sure you can discuss it with the cast member at the bar. They're usually happy to help guests spend their money. I would go the extra mile of storing a bottle of everything your company sells.

After all, that's the point of this scheme and how your company makes money. Clever!

 

[insureman]

If you have enough money and can buy in bulk, it is possible to purchase unbranded spirts.

I was just at a Longhorn restaurant, and they use their own brand of 8-year-old Bourbon in the Longhorn Old Fashion.

I suspect DCL would import from whatever country has the least taxes.


-Paul

Excellent! I understand that Knob Creek makes their bourbon. How's their Old Fashioned?

 

[soniam]

Wow that's so cool.
You'll see that there's a wide variety of brands on the ships.. I don't recall ever wanting one particular one and they didn't have it onboard.
Except for my favorite: Pisco (a Peruvian spirit - you might know it)
A few Peruvian and chilean barkeeps/CM's I've talked to mentioned that they've tried convincing DCL to introducing it on the ships, with no success.

You should talk to DCL to see if your company can introduce Pisco on the ships.

Pisco sour is my absolute favorite cocktail - I see more and more bars in the US carrying it.

I love Pisco. My father-in-law is from Chile. I am so hankering for one of the calafate or basil pisco sours we had in Patagonia in 2019. We had a local restaurant that was serving a pisco sour for a while.

I don't think my current company owns a Pisco, but I used to work for a company that did. I got a bottle of it but I didn't do anything with it. I should try that cocktail!

It's really good. If you don't want to use the raw egg white, you can shake or blend it to get some froth on top. The froth is surprising important.

 

[happycamper47]

Sometimes the receipts state it, but if they don't, we just write it on them. It's honor system. I don't think anyone routinely checks, but it's a cool benefit to get and I want to be honest about it.

As I remember DCL has always listed the particular brand on the receipt when you ask for it.

 

[pjacobi]

Excellent! I understand that Knob Creek makes their bourbon. How's their Old Fashioned?

I think that the menu mentioned a Longhorn brand, based on Knob Creek. I'm not sure what that means. That could mean Knob Creek brand with a different label. It could also mean that Longhorn bought several anonymous barrels at the same distillery that produces Knob Creek, and then bottled in a separate label. When the Longhorn contract comes up for renewal, it will probably go out for bids and could be bought by some other distillery.

Knob Creek is produced in Clermont Ky at the Jim Beam distillery. This is one of the world's largest distilleries with more barrels on site that you could possibly imagine. It's a nice place to visit if you are ever in the area.

The Longhorn Old Fashion was served with a Luxardo cherry. They taste much better (and more expensive) than Maraschino cherries.


-Paul