A ‘Vakkaru Booster’ cocktail is being served at the five-star resort’s Lagoon bar, demonstrating that sometimes it’s good to have a sense of humour about the serious things in life. Jenny Southan reports
After an extended period of sobriety, there is almost always the return of hedonism. Recognising this, luxury resort the Vakkaru Maldives has created a medical-inspired “Vakkaru Booster” cocktail that is served with a drip attached and in what appears to be custom glassware designed to look like the Covid-19 virus particle.
It says that “after the successful rollout of its ‘Vakkaru Vaccine’ cocktail last year, those in need of a seasonal pick me up can rely on the ‘Vakkaru Booster’ for its uplifting qualities”.
Ingredients include a mix of gin and Spanish vanilla liqueur Licor 43, it is finished off with a ginger and lemongrass foam. 
The resort says the cocktail is “already in high demand thanks to its 100 per cent efficacy rate and lack of side effects when consumed sensibly”. But will everyone see the funny side? Probably not.
Interestingly, at one point the Maldives was dabbling with the idea of offering tourists free Covid-19 vaccines, although it doesn’t appear they went ahead with the initiative.
A 30-minute seaplane ride from Velana International airport, the Vakkaru Maldives has 113 over-water and beach villas, as well as the overwater Merana spa.