Wines Down Under

Just a one-hour drive north of Sydney lay the lush rolling vineyards of Australia’s renowned Hunter Valley. And while it might have taken a couple of hundred years to get it right, Aussies today are rightly proud of the Valley’s benchmark shiraz and Semillon varietals - making every day a G’day for tasting some of the world’s finest wines. The Thirsty Traveler goes way down under to quench this thirst for adventure in wine’s new frontier, Australia.

A River of Whiskey

The story of the Mighty Mississippi is the story of American Whiskey - Bourbon. But the story doesn’t end there. As bourbon gained popularity and made its way south from Kentucky, some of it evolved into a sweet, strong liqueur now loved by millions worldwide. These “rectified” American whiskies have been tantalizing taste buds and invading kitchens for over a hundred years. Join the Thirsty Traveler as he savors the sweet southern comforts of New Orleans, from backroom bars off Bourbon Street to the stinky swamps of the Louisiana bayou! Cheers, I do declare!

Pisco – The Spirit of Peru

It’s one of the oldest drinks in the new world. And for millions of people, Peruvian pisco is an ancient treasure to be savored. The Thirsty Traveler ventures south of the equator to Peru’s port city of Pisco. Here, the people of this quaint old town have for centuries produced a namesake spirit that has become Peru’s national drink. Quicker than you can say Machu Picchu, our fearless host retraces pisco’s Inca roots as he introduces us to the fiery, aromatic brandy made from local Quebranta grapes. But being the Thirsty Traveler he is, he’ll also have to sample several pisco sours: a heady cocktail containing two ice cubes, a dollop of beaten egg whites, a little lemon juice, and enough pisco to cauterize a wound. Salud!

Make it Mead!

Bully to Beowulf! Hail Valhalla and the spirit of the Vikings! Once the favored drink of Nordic Kings across medieval Europe, mead is today enjoying a renaissance in popularity around the world. In perhaps his sweetest assignment yet, the Thirsty Traveler journeys across Britain's heather-covered moors in search of modern-day alchemists who transform fermented honey into goblets of delectable mead.

On this special episode we take a behind the scenes look at the "Best Job in the World"-- that of the Thirsty Traveler!

Over the course of one season, you'll see every behind-the-scenes nook and cranny to give the home viewer an inside look at what it takes to be the Thirsty Traveler. From the travel, to the partying, to the people? all of the things you ever wanted to know about the Thirsty Traveler behind the scenes will be revealed!

Rye Whiskey Rocks!

"Go West, young man!" was a popular cry during the late 1800s. And the Thirsty Traveler takes this advice to heart as he ventures across the prairies of western Canada in search of Canadian Rye Whisky. Back in the day, American bootleggers favored Canadian whisky and frequently crossed the border to conduct "business", eventually leading to the Northwest Mounted Police being called in to restore order. Today, there is global allure to this popular libation. And the Thirsty Traveler will do his best to uncover the fascination behind Canadian Whisky.

Of Vikings & Vodka

Don't let the name fool you - there's much more to Iceland than, well, ice. Here in the land of Vikings and volcanoes, wily Icelanders have had centuries to perfect their own distinctive beverages like brennevin, and the new kid on the block, Icelandic vodka! These fiery spirits have become an integral part Icelandic culture and cuisine. Of course, he might just have to bite into the infamous once-a-year traditional delicacy of rotten shark!

PROST! To German Beer!

The northeastern German town of Bremen has a rich legacy of brewing beer. In fact, it was the early Bremen brewers, inspired in their search for a beer that could withstand long sea journeys, who created a recipe for a heavy barley beer nearly 1,000 years ago. This ultimately led to the implementation of the renowned “German Purity Law” - or Reinheitsgebot - of 1516, requiring that beer only be made from barley malt, hops and water. The Thirsty Traveler is on a quest, not just for any beer, but for some of the world’s best beers. Did we mention there’ll be dancing at Oktoberfest? Ein prosit, indeed!

An Old Testament to Wine

According to the book of Genesis, the first thing Noah did after disembarking from the Ark was to plant a vineyard. Presumably, he planted two! Shalom, fellow Thirsty Travelers, and welcome to Israel - where winemaking is as old as the bible itself. Today, Israeli wines are finally coming into their own, especially the award-winning wineries of the Golan Heights region of Galilee. And it goes without saying that the Thirsty Traveler is on a wine-tasting mission of biblical proportions!

Hurrah for Havana Rum!

Arriba! For nearly 300 years, sugar and tobacco were the engines driving Cuba’s economy. And cultivation of these crops led to the development of Cuba’s two most sought after products: rum and cigars. No wonder the buccaneers and pirates of old liked this Caribbean paradise so much! Join our intrepid host as he salsas his way from the sugar cane fields to the nightclubs of the nation’s capital, Havana, in a quest to find the best barrels of Cuban rum - the finest in the world. Bring it on, amigos!

Livin' On Lion's Milk

Now, one might not initially think of the Turks as imbibers of precious alcoholic spirits. Not so, my friends. Here from ancient ruins of Troy to the lush vineyards of Izmir to mosques and bazaars of Istanbul, the Thirsty Traveler soon discovers Turkey’s rich traditions associated with liquor, and the Turks’ fondness for one very special home-grown spirit - raki. This deliciously sweet cousin to Greek ouzo and French pastis is a Turkish staple when sharing good times with friends and family. The question is, however, how much Lion’s Milk can the Thirsty Traveler down?