Sam Heughan reveals pre-Outlander bartending days, Himalayan journey in new Cocktail Diaries
Outlander star discusses a near-miss at the Natural History Museum, a lifelong love of cocktails, and a trek to Everest Base Camp as he promotes his new book.
Sam Heughan, the Outlander star, recalls a stint behind the bar in London before his breakout role, describing himself as an enthusiast rather than a master mixologist. He recounts a moment the night before his first Outlander audition when a champagne cork exploded, shooting upward and narrowly missing a dinosaur skeleton at the Natural History Museum. The incident underscored, in his telling, that life behind a bar could be as perilous as the stage lights that would follow, a playful reminder of how close he felt to losing more than just his license.
Heughan’s publicity tour for his new book, The Cocktail Diaries: A Spirited Adventure, highlights a blend of cocktail recipes and anecdotes from his time in bars and on the road. The book traces his evolving interest in spirits—from whiskey discovery to the broader world of distillation—and notes his ongoing line of spirits. In describing the project, Heughan frames it as a journey: sharing memorable moments from a New York cocktail with a local bartender, or sipping a Mexican whiskey while traveling in the mountains. The volume also delves into travel as a source of inspiration for his cocktails and his ongoing experimentation with flavors.
As part of his travel anecdotes, Heughan discusses a trek to Mount Everest base camp. He described a Himalayas hike that reached about 20,000 feet via a new route, followed by a rappel down into the Khumbu Valley and several days of trekking to Everest Base Camp. Along the way, the group sampled roxi, a local white spirit; Heughan, however, did not drink the roxi before the rappel, citing safety as the reason for avoiding alcohol before a dangerous descent. The episode illustrates the broader theme of the book: that travel, danger, and discovery can intersect with shared rituals around drinks, even when the most adrenaline-inducing moments come before a climb rather than after.
When asked about his favorite bars in New York, Heughan ducked naming a single favorite and instead listed several spots that have resonated with him. He referenced Temple Bar, Peachy’s in Chinatown, and Superbueno for tequila, while noting a fondness for dive bars and a simple go-to order like beer or a nip of whiskey. The answer reflects a practical, nomadic approach to drinking—one that aligns with someone who has spent years on location and on tour, always seeking a reliable place to unwind after filming or a night out in a new city.
Even as Outlander heads toward its eighth and final season with an undisclosed 2026 air date, Heughan remains active off screen. He has completed filming for the series’ conclusion and is preparing to star in Macbeth in London. Heughan noted that he has not yet seen the finished episodes, so he does not know precisely how the story ends. The publicity cycle around The Cocktail Diaries reinforces his broader artistic arc: from a bartender’s stool to the actor’s stage and screen, and from whiskey curiosity to a full-fledged exploration of spirits and storytelling. 
