American Cruise Lines is toasting America’s 250th with a signature cocktail across its fleet, and on American Ranger the crew pours trays of them before the first-day sail away party on the fifth deck. Restaurant manager Elicia Gonzales built one behind the bar on my first ACL sailing, up the Hudson: half an ounce each of lemon juice and simple syrup, an ounce of Woodford Reserve, a top of Gruet sparkling wine and a bourbon-soaked cherry. That’s a French 75 with Kentucky bourbon in place of the gin. The Gruet is my favorite detail. It’s made in New Mexico by a family with Champagne roots, and Elicia, who grew up there, says that’s why it’s her favorite drink to make. I own a bar and didn’t know that one.
Her own pick was a Sea Breeze: ice in a rocks glass, an ounce and a half of Grey Goose, two ounces of grapefruit and one of cranberry. I’ve ordered plenty in the Caribbean and had never made one. It’s three pours. Both recipes are in the video, and the 250th cocktail is on the line’s bars through 2026.
Make sure you subscribe to both Cruise News and All Aboard with Joe on YouTube for more cruise content. While on this particular sailing, we also interviewed American Cruise Lines’ Regional Executive Sous Chef! Make sure you give it a watch.
