I discovered sambuca as a pretty good alcoholic choice. Obviously, this spirit is not to everyone's liking, but, if you like it, it's not a bad accompaniment. Maybe next time I will try Benedictine, Drambuie, or something else in that genre.

Incidentally, this experience was in a bar/lounge in Bahrain, at a rare establishment in which shisha and alcohol are served in the same place. ^