9 Best Spirits from Around the World That You've Never Heard Of

VERANDA's resident cocktail expert (and assistant photo editor) Ian Palmer became interested in the world of spirits after a stint bartending at a craft brewery in college. He says this opened the door to exploring the world of bars and beverages as a whole, which prepared him well for pandemic life. He became the household bartender, experimenting with recipes and delving into the historical and cultural significance of various mixed drinks and spirits. He's made quite a few cocktails for our VERANDA Sip & Read Book Club as well, pairing his cocktail concoctions with themes and elements from each month's pick.

"It was a natural progression of drinking to making to researching," says Palmer. Since the world shut down last spring, cocktails have not only allowed him to be creative from home but has also given Palmer a front-row seat to the drinking habits and cultures around the world. We asked him to share the top 10 spirits we've (likely) never heard of from around the world that deserve a spot on our bar carts.