Museums dedicated to our favorite sips can make for an engaging way to explore history. Some explain how distillation and drink-making techniques evolved over time; others display fascinating artifacts (see the collection of “medicinal” Prohibition-era bourbon bottles at the Oscar Getz Museum in Bardstown); and best of all, many include tasting opportunities (or even an Irish Coffee masterclass or rum-fueled dance party) as a memorable way to wind down a tour.
What’s behind the growth of these spirits- and cocktail-focused museums?
“The desire for food knowledge has become more widespread, cultivating an audience of educated aficionados of everything from olive and cheese to popcorn and ice cream,” explains historian and author Anistatia Miller, who was part of the team that curated the Museum of the American Cocktail, in New Orleans. “It’s no different in the drinks world. Consumers and industry members want to know more about what they mix and imbibe.”
These exhibitions are about more than just where these products come from and how they are made, Miller adds. It’s also about “the integral and positive role that alcoholic beverages have played in the social, technological, artistic, literary and economic development of civilizations worldwide.”
Visit one of these museums and galleries to experience a favorite drink in a new way.
Irish Whiskey Museum
Dublin, Ireland
The prospect of an Irish Coffee masterclass would be enough to entice us through the door of this historic building in the city center. But guided tours also focus on the history and heritage of Irish whiskey, winding into a comparative tasting of three or more whiskeys from the extensive bar. Of note, this museum isn’t affiliated with a specific whiskey brand, so visitors can sample a wide cross-section of local whiskeys. On the weekends, stick around for live traditional Irish music and storytelling events.
Maison de l’Absinthe
Val-de-Travers, Switzerland
Absinthe fans will want to head to this venerable spot in Val-de-Travers, where the “Green Fairy” supposedly first took flight, and is still a center for distilling the fabled herbaceous liqueur. View an exhibit about the history and legend of the notorious spirit, sample nearly 30 types of absinthe or browse a garden where many of the botanicals used to make absinthe grow.
Bar y Museo del Ron (Bar and Museum of Rum)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
By day, this 16th-century building in the Colonial zone houses a small exhibit about two of the country’s biggest exports: rum and sugar cane, where visitors can view old recipe books and production tools, and purchase bottles of rum, some produced on site. But after hours, a lively bar and dance scene blows off the dust and takes over—fueled by plenty of rum cocteles, of course.
Museo del Tequila y El Mezcal (Museum of Tequila and Mezcal)
Mexico City, Mexico
Look for the spiky blue-and-green agave design along the glass façade of this building on the Plaza Garibaldi (famed for mariachi music). After viewing exhibits about the origins of Mexico’s agave distillates and how they are made, the real highlight is the opportunity to sip samples on the rooftop bar overlooking the plaza.
Museum of the American Cocktail
New Orleans, Louisiana
Under the auspices of the Southern Food & Beverage Museum, the recently-renovated MOTAC describes itself as “a spirited history of cocktails.” The exhibit aims broadly, from the earliest-known evidence of distilled alcohol in the Middle East during the eighth and ninth centuries through the modern day.
Revelers will most likely enjoy the modern aspects of the exhibit: the 2000s forward, when cocktail culture hit its most recent stride. Stroll through as you dive into the current-day bars of New Orleans. No drinks at MOTAC, so thirsty visitors should make a beeline for Latitude 29; it’s within walking distance, and serves great tropical drinks.
Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History
Bardstown, Kentucky
Consider this stop to cap a day of touring distilleries and horse farms in the Kentucky countryside. Spalding Hall—an 1820s brick building that was once a Civil War hospital—now houses the sprawling collection of Oscar Getz, a whiskey distiller (of the label Old Barton) and wholesaler, who died in 1983.
Items on display include copious bourbon-related memorabilia and advertisements, a vast collection of over 3,600 whiskey bottles and moonshine stills, including one owned by George Washington.
The Polish Vodka Museum
Warsaw, Poland
The museum you didn’t know you needed is located in a neo-Gothic building in a former distillery. Most Americans won’t be familiar with the brands once made here, though some will recognize Luksusowa or Wyborowa. Today, the exhibit looks back at 600 years of vodka making, and hosts vodka tastings, candlelight concerts and more. Look for the “after hour” night tours.
SpritMuseum
Stockholm, Sweden
Dedicated to Swedish drinking culture, this vibrant museum is also permanent home to the Absolut Art Collection (but no, it’s not owned by the vodka company). At the moment, that means an exhibit celebrating Andy Warhol’s 1980s commercial art, alongside a more somber look at Sweden’s prohibition-era summers and bootleggers. And hardy visitors shouldn’t miss the “Happy Camper,” an opportunity to celebrate Sweden’s approach to enjoying schnapps and more in the great outdoors.
The Sool Gallery
Seoul, Korea
Korea’s Sool includes makgeolli, cheong-ju, soju and hundreds of other fermented and distilled drinks. Take your time exploring exhibits dedicated to the history and sheer depth of this traditional liquor category, followed by a leisurely tasting of four individual spirits.
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Published: December 30, 2024
