Sherman's Travel

Every destination has a taste or sound that burrows deep into our memory, instantly transporting us back. For me, In Cartagena, Colombia, the taste is mojitos and the sound is live music by a son cubano band.

Moments after the music strikes up, locals are on the dance floor, entangled in twosomes or gatherings of old friends. Both inside and out of the old walled city of Cartagena, there are bars, clubs, and outdoor venues where ceiling fans spin, mint leaves are muddled, and the band takes the stage several times a night. For music, mojitos, or both, here are some favorite places to drink and dance in Cartagena. Read more

With New Orleans’ party-hearty spirit, it comes as a surprise to some that the cocktail wasn’t invented in the city where the good times roll 24/7. Even so, cocktails were perfected in the Crescent City – home to some of the most beloved beverages in the country. Read more

No matter where we call home, we share one thing in common: gathering around the table to break bread and crack open a bottle or two. Sometimes when the conversation and local liquor get flowing, the result is a big old headache the following morning.

Approaches to alleviating the hangover vary by destination. Some are healthy, some are indulgent, and some are plain crazy – while others turn to a cheeky afternoon drink as the ultimate cure. Here are five hangover cures from around the globe. Read more

Gin: A spirit of the past is now the hottest ingredient in cocktail creations. In fact, here in New York City, there are cocktail dens exclusively peddling this fine booze, with house-made tonic taps and gin-centric speakeasies.

I wanted to dig deeper into this fresh-tasting spirit, and had the pleasure of doing so on a recent trip to England. My mission was to delve into London gin – the mother of all gins – to understand its true beauty.  Read more

Dismiss your foggy college memories of “gold” tequila. The Mexican national beverage is far more varied and complex than the stuff used for those tequila poppers. This distilled libation is made from only one plant – the Agave tequilana Weber, blue variety. Its lance-shaped leaves have a blue-green hue, which is why people often refer to it as “blue agave.” When harvested, those spiky leaves are cut off to get to the plant’s heart, or piña (which looks like a big pineapple). The piña is cooked to obtain the juices that form the basis for the final product. Read more

The use of fresh ingredients, the rediscovery of bitters and tinctures, and a return to classic drink recipes in the last few years has changed the way we think about what goes into our glass. What’s next? These nine trends are influencing bar menus across the nation and redefining the traditional cocktail; find out what’s hot and where to sip it. Read more

I turned up in Brisbane thirsty. The kind of thirst that only a stiff drink or well-poured brew could possibly quench. While it’s no secret that Aussies are a generally hop-happy breed, this laid-back Queensland capital takes its swill rather seriously, turning the act of casual beer drinking into a veritable art form. A bevy of new boutique beer bars and microbreweries have recently cropped up about town, with top taps turning out specialty suds and respectable bar bites in stylish, yet unpretentious, settings. Read more

On a trip to Playa del Carmen last year, I was out to dinner when the chef came to talk with my group. He mentioned something that surprised all of us: “The oldest winery in the Americas is actually located in Mexico.”

Seriously? The same country whose signature drinks are margaritas and mezcal, and whose people consume the most Coca-Cola in the world? That Mexico? Read more

New York City is home to some of the finest speakeasies – secret haunts that serve up carefully crafted cocktails in a ultra-cool locales. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites, along with their signature spring sips. Can’t slip away to these stealthy sites? I’m also including their recipes so you can play mixologist and whip-up your own classic cocktail, DIY-style. Read more

If you haven’t tasted a glass of Barolo, you haven’t lived; after all, it’s not called “the King of Wines” for nothing. Sure, you’ve probably scoffed at the triple-digit prices on restaurant menus in the U.S., but have a sip of a properly aged Barolo, and it will entirely change your outlook on red wines. Here’s a little background about the grape and things to do in the grape’s home, the Piedmont region. Read more