From the Dutch Kopstootje to the Italian superstition of looking in the eyes or suffering seven years bad sex to drinking out of the bride's shoe in the Ukraine, offering up a toast, wishing luck and all the traditions that come from it varies country by country. Jack Maxwell, host of Travel Channel's "Booze Traveler," toasts with people from around the globe exploring the history, tradition and culture of a country through its beers, wines and spirits. Maxwell has an infectious energy and seems to get along with everyone he meets on his travels.
Think of it as a more easygoing Anthony Bourdain but with booze... and hangover cures like fresh cow pee.
Since Maxwell is taping the new season of "Booze Traveler," which is scheduled to air this fall, HNGN was able to ask the Boston-born host a few questions about the show, his web series "Jacked with Spirits" and what he has learned from his travels.
Meet the man who sets off to find the "world's most interesting drinks and people who drink them."
The show's open says you got your hooch education in South Boston. Were you a bartender?
Never a bartender, I was actually a shoeshine boy going up and down Broadway in South Boston to make extra money. As I plied my trade I would hear these wonderful boozy tales of adventure and travel.
What was your beverage of choice before becoming host of "Booze Traveler?"
Rum drinks on beaches and morning Bellinis, with juice from fresh peaches, and perfect martinis. Single malt scotches and 'shine made in sinks. These are a few of my favorite drinks.
How did the opportunity to host the show come about?
As an actor it was as simple as going on an audition. The reason I got the job I'm sure had something to do with my childhood in the pubs of Southie.
Have you always been interested in traveling? What was the coolest place you had been to (before the show)?
Being regaled with details of the trips my shoeshine customers would go on spurred my imagination. I created pictures in my mind of what these faraway places might be like. Before "Booze Traveler," London was probably the coolest place I had been to. Great city.
You are currently taping season three, and your fans can follow along and get a peek on your Twitter account or Instagram. Can you tell us some of the places you're going to visit? Is there something new in season three that we haven't seen the past two seasons?
Oh, yeah. Here's a preview: one of the favored drinks in Cambodia is tarantula venom wine, replete with tarantula in the glass. You eat the tarantula after. There is also a special American episode of "Booze Traveler" where we travel the Mississippi River from Minnesota down to Louisiana. We drink along the way, of course.
Do you have a dream location that you haven't gotten to travel to yet?
Would love to see Cuba. What an enigma. Just 90 miles off the coast of Florida, and we know so little about who those people are and how they feel about life. Also, Ireland. Got Irish blood in me. Would love to go see - and toss a few back with - those wonderful writers and poets.
What do you want our readers to know?
If you check out the show you'll realize what a big, wide, wonderful world we have, with so many fascinating people out there to meet and have experiences with. That's the beautiful thing about travel, it's never exactly what you think it will be. You don't have to be Magellan but step outside your front door and see the world while you still can. Cheers.
Watch full episodes from the first two seasons here:
Follow Kimberly M. Aquilina on Twitter at @KimESTAqui.
