Around the World Cocktails You’ll Want to Make at Home

Have you ever made an international dish you remembered from your travels? Well, don’t forget the drinks! These tasty, around the world cocktails will help you easily introduce a little adventure right at home. Read on to discover and learn how to make these delicious alcoholic drinks.

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Essential Tools for Making Cocktails At Home

Before we satisfy our never-ending thirst for delicious international spirits of every variety, let’s first look at some of the kitchen utensils you’ll need to whip up all of these delightful cocktails in your very own home. This way, you can easily take a culinary tour de force around the globe, and all without leaving the comfort of your very own home.

So, grab a cocktail shaker, jigger, and measuring spoon because I’m going to introduce you to all of the tools that you’ll need to create these fantastic drinks from your personal kitchen.

• Cresimo 24 Ounce Cocktail Shaker Bar Set with Accessories – Well-priced at under $30, this Cresimo cocktail set includes everything you need to quickly and easily create delicious cocktails from around the world. Made of professional-grade stainless steel, this bundle features a 24 ounce Martini shaker, a double size measurement jigger, a stunning twisted bar spoon, a full-size muddler, and three liquid pourers, as well as a handy fold-out recipe guide, should need any further craft cocktail inspiration. That’s why, beginner and expert cocktail makers alike will be delighted to use these chic, beautifully designed, top-quality tools to create a vast array of international drink recipes. Potential buyers will also love that this set comes with a two-year warranty that will protect you if you are not 100% satisfied with this product in any way.
  
• Steso Wooden Muddler – Priced at under $10 each, this top-rated, Steso wooden muddler is made out of durable and reliable, reclaimed beach wood. There is also no lacquer finish, so you don’t have to worry about any chemicals potentially leaching into your drinks. Additionally, this top-rated product is also double-sided (so you can use either end for pounding) and features an array of well-crafted teeth that make it easier than ever to release delicious flavors from your favorite ingredients. So, purchase this amazing utensil today and use it to quickly crush the mint, garlic, ginger, berries, and nuts that you put into your favorite drinks.
  
• Ninja Professional Countertop Blender – Want to create delicious frozen drinks at the touch of a button? If so then the Ninja Professional Blender is for you! Reasonably priced at under $150 each, this blender features an 1100 watt base motor, a 72-ounce crushing pitcher, and two 16-ounce cups that will help you make decadent daiquiris, delicious Pina Coladas, and divine margaritas. This professional-grade Ninja blender is also BPA free, dishwasher safe, and even includes three different speeds, as well as a pulse button and a single-serve function that are both handy if you only want to make a single drink at a time.
  
• CreativeWare Beverage Dispenser – Reasonably priced at under $30 each, this CreativeWare Beverage Dispenser holds up to three gallons of liquid and helps you quickly and easily serve the alcoholic beverage of your choice. It also comes with a built-in ice cylinder to keep drinks cold, as well as a fruit infuser to enhance the flavor of any cocktail you serve. However, do avoid using this machine to distribute drinks with over 7% alcohol content since they can corrode the acrylic materials inside.
  
• The Essential Cocktail Book – Brimming over with more than 150 different cocktail recipes from all around the globe, The Essential Cocktail Book is the perfect recipe guide for anyone looking to create a variety of different drinks at home. Additionally, all of the easy to follow recipes listed inside come with a fantastic, modern twist, detail innovative drink-making techniques, and are fully photographed so that you know exactly what your drink should look like every single time. That’s why, if you need to create the perfect daiquiri, want need to serve up a delicious whiskey sour, or would like to whip up an aperitif cocktail, then this is the ideal guide for you.
  
• Cocktail Glasses – Perfect for anyone who wants to entertain at home, this bulk set of ultra-modern, eight-ounce martini glasses is exceptionally well priced and made of high-quality, lead-free, crystal clear, ultra-smooth glass that will never break or chip on you. These v-shape, stemless glasses are also 4 inches tall, 3.5 inches wide, and are 100% dishwasher safe – making clean up a breeze after a lavish get together inside your home. These glasses are also incredibly versatile and can even be used as individually sized serving bowls for a variety of delicious desserts.

Now that’s you’re properly set up, let the drink-making begin!

Related: 7 Whiskey Travel Tips: Best Ways to Safely Carry Your Whiskey

World’s Best Cocktails

CONTENTS: In this article, you will explore a variety of drinks from around the world, learn about their origins, ingredients, and how to make them, including (in alphabetical order):

• Arak [Israel]
• Caipirinha [Brazil]
• Canchánchara [Cuba]
• Champagne [France]
• Dansk Snaps [Denmark]
• Fisu [Finland]
• Gin [Netherlands] 
• Glühwein [Germany]
• Guinness [Ireland] 
• Mai Tai [Hawaii, USA]
• Mezcal [Mexico]
• Mint Julep [Kentucky, USA]
• Mojito [Cuba]
• Mulberry Vodka [Armenia]
• Pelinkovac, [former Yugoslavia]
• Pimms and Lemonade [England]
• Piña Colada [Puerto Rico]
• Pisco Sour [Peru]
• Poncha [Madeira, Portugal] 
• Pusser’s Rum Painkiller [British Virgin Islands]
• Rakia [Bulgaria]
• Rompope [Mexico]
• Rum Punch [Nevis]
• Sangria [Spain]
• Singapore Sling [Singapore]
• Tequila [Mexico]
• Final Thoughts on Drinks Around the World

Arak Liquor [Israel]

By Moshe from The Top Ten Traveler | Instagram 

Arak is the spirit of the Levant, the Middle Eastern region that includes Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and Jordan.

The roots of Arak go back to the 12th century, and it is still a popular drink in this region until today.

The oldest production of Arak in Israel, by Elite Arak, is from 1824, long before the country was established. The distillery was opened by a Jewish immigrant from the Ukraine, who started with distilling Vodka, but as the demand was low, he started making the drink that was popular in the region–Arak.

How is Arak Made?

Arak is made by mixing fermented grapes with anise seeds, which give the drink its unique flavor. Anise-flavored drinks are also popular in other countries in the area like Ouzo from Greece and Raki from Turkey. Arak is usually made with 40% alcohol, but it can reach 80% under some labels.

What used to be a traditional aperitif in religious families, usually on a Saturday brunch, when the men returned from the synagogue, turned into one of the most popular drinks in the bars of Israel.

The classic way to drink Arak is on the rocks with a little bit of water, and the icy water turns the drink from transparent to white.

The modern way to consume Arak is either as a chaser or in an arak cocktail. The popular mixers are grapefruit juice for a bitter flavor and lemonade for a sweet-sour flavor.

It doesn’t matter which city in Israel you visit, a glass of Arak is always easy to find in local bars. There are several popular brands, but after the second glass, you probably won’t be able to tell the difference.

You can also read more about the fascinating history and creation of this delicious drink by purchasing a copy of Arak and Mezze: A Taste of Lebanon.

Otherwise, feel free to make a drink at home.

Grapefruit Juice and Arak Cocktail Recipe:

• 4 ounces grapefruit juice
• 2 ounces arak
• Seltzer, to taste
• Grapefruit slice
• Basil sprigs

1. In a highball glass, pour grapefruit juice and arak over ice.
2. Add selzter to taste.
3. Garnish with a grapefruit slice and a basil leaf

Caipirinha Cocktail [Brazil]

By Bailey from Destinationless Travel | Instagram 

There is no drink more typical to Brazil in the Caipirinha.

This traditional cocktail is loved by Brazilians all across the country–and that’s really a huge statement considering Brazil is home to 210 million people and is the fourth largest country in the world! It’s true, everywhere you go you’ll find this lime cocktail on the menu!

Caipirinha is the name of the cocktail which is made with lime, sugar, and Cachaça.

Cachaça (pronounced ka-chaza) is the alcohol and it is a clear spirit that resembles vodka. Cachaça is made from sugarcane, which is one of the main crops grown in Brazil.

For that reason, you can find Cachaça easily in every supermarket and it is the most popular Brazilian drink in the country. In fact, some bottles are sold for as little as a couple of dollars and the affordability makes it accessible to the general population!

Caipirinhas are the most popular cocktail to make with Cachaça.

How to Make Caipirinhas (Recipe)

Ingredients for Caipirinhas; made to taste, by combining:

• One shot of Cachaca (or two if you’re trying to make it like the Brazilians)
• Some sugar or sugar syrup
• Lots and lots of freshly muddled lime or fresh lime juice!

The best thing about Caipirinhas is that there isn’t an exact recipe, you just add sugar and lime until you’re happy.

If you like it sweet then sugar is the secret.

If you like it tart, hold off on too much sugar and go for the lime.

The secret is to mix the sugar with the lime juice first really well before adding the alcohol.

The truth is, no matter how you make your Caipirinha, it’ll be tasty.

Of course, if you ever get the chance to travel to Brazil, be sure to drink plenty of Caipirinhas. Sipping this delicious cocktail on the beach is sure to be one of your highlights in Brazil!

Canchánchara [Cuba]

By Geena from Beyond the Bucketlist | Instagram 

Canchánchara is the original Cuban cocktail.

Today, the favorite drink of Cuban revolutionaries in the 1800s is often overshadowed by more popularized cocktails like Pina Coladas, Daiquiris, and Mojitos.

But the Canchánchara is a refreshing combination of authentically Cuban ingredients. Originally concocted with aguardiente, which simply means a sugarcane-based liquor of 20-60% alcohol content, it’s now standard that the liquor is rum. Anejo rum to be exact.

It’s mixed with local Cuban honey, Key Lime juice, and a little bit of water, traditionally served over ice in small clay jars made specifically for the beverage.

And it’s absolutely delicious.

Perfect for those balmy warm Cuban evenings.

Why haven’t you heard of this tasty cocktail before, you may ask?

Created in central Cuba in the little town of Trinidad, by locals instead of bartenders, it’s relatively unheard of outside the island. And if you’re an American, odds are you haven’t been to Cuba because many people don’t know how to travel to Cuba as an American.

It’s undoubtedly the most underrated and the most traditional of the drinks from Cuba you can indulge in on your next trip to the Caribbean nation.

Recipe for Canchánchara

• 2 oz. Anejo Rum
• .75 oz. Key Lime Juice
• .5 oz. Fresh Honey
• .25 oz. water

Serve over ice in small red clay pot, as pictured above.

Champagne from France

By Elisa from France Bucket List | Facebook 

Champagne is one of the most famous French drinks, much appreciated worldwide!

The champagne is produced in the historical region of Champagne, in eastern France, and it’s close proximity to Paris makes tours of Champagne a favorite area for excursions.

Like many French foods and drinks, the champagne is protected. The champagne can only be produced in Champagne, and any sparkling wine produced out of this area is not allowed to be named champagne. That’s why the champagne is so exclusive! It’s one of the best champagnes in France. Other necessary characteristics to be called champagne are the variety of grapes used and the production technique.

Champagne is considered a festive drink to celebrate good news or events. Typically, you drink champagne in special long glasses, like these elegant “flutes.” Some people like shaking the bottle before uncorking it to make it more festive.

The best place to taste champagne and learn more about this famous drink is Epernay, in the heart of the Champagne region. Here, all the most famous champagne producers like Moët-Chandon, Veuve Clicquot or Nicolas Feuillatte have their head quarters and kilometers of underground galleries stuffed with bottles of top quality champagne.

Most of these champagne houses also propose guided tours to visit the cellars and learn more about them and they usually finish the tour with some tastings.

While the best champagne is served it’s own, one cocktail you can make with champagne is a Mimosa. The best champagne for mimosas isn’t necessarily the best champagne. You can use an ordinary champagne or more commonly, a sparkling wine to make Mimosa.

How to Make Mimosas with Champagne

• Mix equal parts chilled champagne and orange juice.
• Serve in champagne flutes.

Often served with brunch, a Mimosa as close to a breakfast drink as you can get!

Whikle you’re at it, you can also refine your understanding of classic French cocktails, Apéritifs, and cafe traditions with this exquisite copy of Drinking French. It’s written by David Lebowitz and features more than 160 different recipes for trendy cocktails, delicious cafe snacks, and divine drinks that you can easily make at home.

Dansk Snaps [Denmark]

By Derek and Mike of Everything Copenhagen | Blog 

When you enjoy a traditional meal in Denmark, it will be accompanied by Dansk Snaps (Danish schnapps).

Snaps is a Nordic liquor distilled from grain or potato (like Vodka) but is flavored most commonly with caraway. This gives most snaps a licorice flavor, although many brands produce different flavors of snaps like dill, honey and chili or berry.

Akvavit is the most common type of snaps enjoyed in Denmark. An akvavit always contains a strong caraway taste, even if it’s flavored with another ingredient.

Most snaps are around 40% alcohol, so a few glasses can leave you a little tipsy.

From the board room to a board game, Danes love to raise a glass for a toast of snaps.

It’s best served chilled and sipped slowly.

That’s especially the case with having snaps with your dinner and many Copenhagen restaurants make their own snaps and serve it in flights of long skinny snaps glasses. This is especially common with the Danish Christmas meal or Julefrokost.

One of the best snaps producing regions of Denmark is the island of Bornholm. It’s a quaint island in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Sweden and they produce a type of snaps that bears the island’s name.

Snaps are an important part of Danish food and drink culture. It’s certainly an acquired taste, but something worth trying when you’re visiting Denmark. Skål (cheers)!

Fisu [Finland]

By Luke from Culture Shock Adventure | Facebook 

What most likely started from someone trying to keep warm in the cold and icy subarctic Finland, comes one of Europe’s cheapest and most unorthodox cocktails: Fisu.

It has a familiar aroma, heavy in menthol with tones of liquorice and eucalyptus, enough to clear your nose on a cold winter’s night. When tasting, the flavours definitely take the edge of the initial hit, but then they smother your palate with freshness. After your first shot, your throat will be clear and your tongue will have that warm fuzzy feeling, setting you up for an awesome night out.

Like most things in Finland, the main ingredient in the Fisu drink is vodka. The other ingredient is what gives it the strong menthol taste; the classic 1865 cough lozenge: Fisherman’s Friend. The name is a nod toward its key ingredient, with Fisu being a slang word for fish.

FISU Recipe

To create a delightful batch of Fisu:

1. To one bottle of vodka, add at least one bag of Fisherman’s Friend.
2. Wait for about an hour.

You can crush the Friends for quicker absorption.

If you can’t wait, you can always try a shot of FiShot. FiShot is a brand of vodka with the classic Fisherman’s Friend flavors added. It’s a little less bogan, and is sold in bars.

What this drink lacks in ostentatiousness and sophistication, it makes up as a cultural rite of passage. You’ll be hard struck to find a Finn who hasn’t indulged in Fisu on a night out.

Gin [Netherlands] 

By Rosie at Flying Fluskey | Instagram 

Right now, Gin is having its moment in the sun. Its awfully trendy again, with small producers across the UK creating all kinds of interesting flavors and blends. However, in The Netherlands, gin’s grandma, jeneva (also spelled geneva/genièvre) has always been the star.

Made from a blend of distilled malt wine and juniper berries (as well as other herbs), this incredibly versatile spirit has been popular in Holland for at least 500 years. As with many spirits, it started life as a medicine but people recognized just how much fun it could really be.

In the 1600s, British soldiers saw their Dutch counterparts swigging jeneva before heading into battle. It’s actually where we get the expression Dutch courage. They took the recipe back to the UK and it evolved into the gin we know.

But back to The Netherlands…

Jeneva is so loved by the Dutch that the national airline KLM serves specially made blue, delft houses filled with a little of the spirit to its first class passengers. They have become a very collectible item for those lucky enough to travel in such style.

Bols, founded way back in 1575, has taken their perfectly distilled jeneva as a base and created a huge range of liqueurs. Of the 38 varieties, their curcacao, known as Bols Blue, is most commonly recognized in cocktail bars around the world.

If you want to try some more of their sticky, sweet liqueurs, Amsterdam is home to the Bols museum. It is a wonderfully interactive exhibition, ending in a otherworldly, mirrored cocktail bar, a great addition to any adult’s Amsterdam itinerary!

You can also purchase this amazing, Real Gin Making Kit from Amazon if you want to create some authentic, Dutch gin at home. Simply use the array of botanicals, bottles, spices, flasks, and labels provided to create your own unique brand of gin at home.

Glühwein [Germany]

By Jenni Fielding of ChooseVeganism.org

Glühwein (also known as mulled wine) is a warm drink that’s made with red wine and various winter spices. It’s traditionally enjoyed around Christmas time and is a popular drink at the various Christmas markets of Europe.

Glühwein, translated from German means ‘smoldering wine’. While hot wine drinks may be produced anywhere in the world, only mulled wine from Germany or the Alsace region of France can be considered Glühwein.

Germany’s favorite Christmas drink, Glühwein has a history which dates back to 1420 with a gold-plated tankard that belonged to the German nobleman, Count John IV of Katzenelnbogen. He was the first grower of Riesling grapes.

Glühwein is available to buy by the bottle or served warm in mugs all over Germany and in German Christmas markets across Europe during December.

If this isn’t an option, you can make your own mulled wine at home by heating the ingredients in a saucepan. The easiest way to do this would be to purchase a package of premium, German mulled wine spices and use them to create delicious, German mulled wine.

Or, use this recipe:

Glühwein Recipe

In a sauce pan, heat the following ingredients:

• (1) 25-oz bottle of dry red wine
• ¾ cup of water
• ½ an orange, sliced
• ¼ cup of granulated sugar
• 20 whole cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 whole star anise

There is a variation of German Gluhwein that’s made with white wine, but this isn’t as popular as the red version.

Most Glühwein is suitable for vegans and you can also get an alcohol-free version which is known as Kinderpunsh (kid’s punch).

Guinness [Ireland] 

By Josh and Sarah of Veggie Vagabonds | Instagram 

There’s arguably no drink more famous to a country than Guinness is from Ireland.

This dark stout with a creamy top is much like Marmite: you either absolutely love it or you really don’t. And, though this famous drink was originally brewed and sold in St. James’ Gate, Dublin, Ireland, it can now be found all around the world.

Guinness was first brewed in 1759 by Arthur Guinness, with the famous flavor and color coming from roasted and unroasted malted barley, water, hops and yeast. The result is a deliciously creamy and unique flavor that’s very easy to drink.

Thanks to the success of the stout, Guinness now also produces a variety of other alcoholic drinks, including porters and ales as well as snacks. Though, nothing quite compares to their first recipe!

You can still go and visit the Guinness brewery, which is one of the major tourist sites in Dublin. You can even buy Guinness merchandise.

Walking around the streets of any Irish city and you’ll likely see the Guinness logo flying proudly and welcoming customers into drinking establishments for a pint of Guinness!

You can also take a bit of the Guinness legacy home with you by purchasing this official set of two Guinness Gravity pint glasses. Clear and well-made, each one features a traditional Guinness design. (Hand washed to help preserve the integrity of the glass.)

Mai Tai Cocktail [Hawaii, USA]

By Marcie Cheung of Hawaii Travel with Kids | Pinterest

Hawaii is known for having some amazing, fruity cocktails served poolside or at ocean-front bars.

The drink Hawaii is most famous for is the Mai Tai. It actually originated in Tahiti, but it soon became the semi-official cocktail of Hawaii.

Throughout the years, this Hawaiian cocktail recipe has been tweaked and customized by different restaurants and tiki bars. If you don’t have time to try them all, you’ll definitely want to make sure to try the Mai Tai with Lilikoi foam at Merriman’s or Monkeypod Kitchen.

You can also make it at home using a premium Mai Tai cocktail mixer like this one from BG Reynolds .

Here’s how to make a Mai Tai.

Hawaiian Mai Tai Recipe

Mai Tai Ingredients

• 1oz Light Rum
• 1 oz Dark Rum
• ½ oz Orgeat syrup
• ½ oz Orange Curacao
• ¾ oz lime juice
• and ½ tsp orange zest

And for the lilikoi foam, you’ll need:

• 1 oz honey or simple syrup
• 1 oz passion fruit puree
• 2 tbsp egg whites

You’ll want to make the lilikoi foam first.

• Start by beating the egg whites until they are slightly foamy.
• Mix in the passion fruit puree and the simple syrup and keep beating them until it’s fluffy.

Now, move on to the Mai Tai.

1. Add all the ingredients into a shaker and shake with 1 cup of cubed ice for about 30 seconds.
2. Pour into a glass and top with your lilikoi foam.
3. You can even garnish it with a slice of fresh pineapple.

We think it’s the best Mai Tai recipe!

Mezcal Liquor [Mexico]

By Shelley of Travel Mexico Solo | Instagram 

While most have heard of tequila, many aren’t familiar with Mexico’s #1 liquor, mezcal. This yummy drink is most associated with the Mexican state of Oaxaca, though it is consumed all over the country.

Mezcal is made from the heart of the agave plant, and slow-cooked underground in pits.

Next, this cooked agave is crushed, and combined with water to ferment. Sound like tequila? Well, it is.

Much like how champagne is technically just sparkling wine, which is only produced in the city of Champagne France, tequila is basically just mezcal that’s made in Tequila, Mexico.

Unlike tequila, mezcal is known for a much smokier flavor and often, a darker color. Also, like tequila, Mexicans and locals like to drink it straight—but slowly. This high-alcohol-volume liquor isn’t meant to be a shot!

When consumed straight up, you’ll receive your glass of mezcal, and a plate with orange slices and a red-colored salt/spice mixture. This mixture can contain a number of things, but will have some sal de gusano (worm salt).

Gusano salt is made from the gusano worm that you find at the bottom of tequila bottles. This is something you won’t find in a traditional mezcal bottle.

To try this unique brand of salt at home with your mezcal, you can easily purchase authentic Agave Worm Salt (made with Maguey Worms) from Amazon.

In higher end restaurants and bars throughout the country, you’ll also find creative mezcal cocktails made with this liquor. However, if you want to experience it with the locals, head to a traditional cantina.

Mint Julep Cocktail [Kentucky, USA]

By Karen of Somewhere Down South | Instagram 

The Kentucky Derby is known for fast horses, big hats, seersucker suits, and of course, the Mint Julep. While it might seem as if the mint julep is only associated with the Kentucky Derby its roots go back farther than that! It first was thought of as a medicinal drink as early as the late 1700s. The mint mixed with alcohol was believed to settle the stomach.

It then blossomed among the elite class in the American south. First, because the South is hot and mint is cooling. Second, because serving a mint julep showed that you had enough money to access both ice and the famous pewter mugs in which a mint julep is typically served. The mint julep became the official drink of the Kentucky Derby in 1938 and over 100,000 are served there every year.

And if you want to make a delicious mint julep at home, feel free to use the recipe below.

You can also purchase a 16-ounce bottle of Mint Julep cocktail mix from Barrel Roll Bar Essentials to quickly create a Mint Julep made with small-batch cocktail bitters and real cane sugar.

Mint Julep Recipe

The recipe for Mint Julep is pretty simple. It is just bourbon, sugar, mint and crushed ice. By the way, crushed ice is a must! Regular ice simply won’t produce the same effect.

Mint Julep Ingredients:

• Mint leaves
• 1-2 tsp. Sugar or simply syrup
• 2 oz. Bourbon
• Crushed ice

1. Take about 10 mint leaves or a couple of sprigs of fresh mint and place in the bottom of your cup.
2. Muddle the leaves together with a couple of teaspoons of sugar or simple syrup; mash it all up to optimize the flavor of the mint.
3. Fill your cup with crushed ice right over the top of the muddled mint and sugar. Don’t skimp on the ice!
4. Add 2 ounces of really good bourbon, like Kentucky Bourbon. (Some say Maker’s Mark is the best bourbon for Mint Julep.)

That’s it! Some people do add a splash of water or seltzer water at the end, but usually the ice melts enough to water the bourbon down perfectly.

Sip and enjoy!

Mojito Cocktail [Cuba]

By Kay of The Awkward Traveller

Cuba is home to many things, but none quite as delicious as the world-renowned Mojito drink.

Ingredients for a Mojito

Traditionally, the recipe for a mojito consists of five basic ingredients:

• White rum
• Mint
• Sugar cane juice (or just sugar in a pinch)
• Lime juice
• A splash of soda water

The sweet citrus of the drink perfectly compliments the rum, making it an immediate hit abroad, though it’s actual origins remain lost to history.

The mojito was either created by Indigenous people of Cuba, Taínos, or Africans who were enslaved on the sugar cane plantations.

Today, the mojito is a Havana favorite, and you can pick one up at pretty much any bar (or even not-bar!) in the city. The most famous spot to grab a mojito is at La Bodeguita Del Medio, popularized by Hemingway, who wrote some of the most prolific books about Cuba.

That said, if you want to avoid the tourist buses, head somewhere quieter like Chacon 162 where the mojitos are amazing, affordable, AND sans crowd.

Here’s how to make a mojito.

Mojito Recipe

If you want to make your own mojito at home, grab a glass and your ingredients.

1. Crush the mint leaves (about 6 sprigs) with the 2 teaspoons of sugar, 1.5 tablespoons of lime juice, and a splash of soda water.
2. Fill the glass with ice.
3. Fill the rest of the glass with rum.
4. Garnish with a mint leaf and lemon/lime slice, and enjoy!

And if you don’t have all of these ingredients at home, you can always order a bottle of Monin Mojito Mix syrup for the sweet mint flavor and tart citrus notes of a classic Cuban Mojito.

Mulberry Vodka [Armenia]

By Megan of Absolute Armenia | Facebook

One of the most iconic alcoholic drinks in Armenia and the Caucasus is Mulberry Vodka. 

This Armenian vodka is ubiquitous across Armenia and you can find it made at larger distilleries and even in family homes throughout the country.

Mulberry vodka goes back to ancient times but no one really knows when it was first created. But one thing that Armenians do know is how to celebrate with it and pair it with many festivities.

The drink is usually made with white berries rather than the black ones and they will need to reach full maturity before being harvested.  A mulberry harvest usually happens anywhere from the middle of June until the end of July and once harvested, the berries are immediately pressed.

Harvesting the mulberries, or ‘tut’ in Armenian, is one of the most enjoyable parts of the process as it involves a large number of people, a gigantic sheet, and a ladder to climb up the tree to shake it until the ripened berries fall onto the sheet.

The color of Armenian mulberry vodka depends on the type of berry harvested. For example, white berries will produce transparent vodka and black mulberries will produce a golden or darker shade of spirit.

Mulberry vodka is found at every grocery store and restaurant and trying it is one of the best things to do in Yerevan (or anywhere in Armenia!).

There is no reason to mix this drink with other juices or liquids; it is sensational and warming all on its own!

Where to Find Mulberry Vodka

If you want to celebrate the drink, check out the annual Mulberry Festival at Qarahunj village (4 kilometers from Goris) in the Syunik region. To stay overnight there, you can stay ‘under the mulberry trees’ at Ttenut Eco Camping right in the village.

If you want to make your own Mulberry Vodka, it can be hard to find fresh mulberries in the US. However, through the magic of Amazon, you can buy a live mulberry plant here and try your hand at making Armenian mulberry vodka!

Pelinkovac [former Yugoslavia]

By Džangir of Drjam Travels 

Pelinkovac is a popular bitter liqueur in the Ex-Yugoslavia region (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia) with a long tradition dating back to ancient times. It can be compared with German Jägermeister.

Today is not that popular among young people as it is pushed out by big international brands. But in a rural environment and among manual workers it is still popular. In the 19th century, it was drunk in French and Austrian courts.

This drink is produced from ethanol or distillate of agricultural origin (fruit spirit, wine spirit, grape marc, or fruit marc) with the addition of Wormwood extract and sugar. Wormwood (Artemisia absinhium) is obtained by maceration of wormwood herbs. It is used also in Absinthe and it also contains the toxin thujone, which in excessive amounts can lead to problems.

Other herbs can be added such as:

• Anise
• Juniper
• Coriander
• Thyme
• Marjoram
• Peppermint

Each producer keeps their recipe a secret but you can order a ready-made Wormwood Herb mixture from Amazon if you would like to flavor your Pelinkovac with a delicious assortment of fresh bitters.

The Pelincovac liquor contains 25% up to 35% alcohol.

It has long been used in folk medicine for its bitterness to stimulate appetite, as well as in indigestion, stomach pain, to treat inflammation of the digestive tract, and to reduce menstrual problems.

It is usually served chilled without ice, and with a slice of citrus. Nowadays people drink it mixed with Coca Cola, Juice, Bitter Lemon, or Tonic.

Pimms and Lemonade [England]

By Shobha George of Epic England Travel 

A glass of Pimms and Lemonade on a summer’s day is one of the best experiences to have in England.

Along with champagne, Pimms is one of the two official drinks of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships held annually in June. During Wimbledon, approximately 80,000 pints of Pimms and Lemonade is drank annually.

Other big events where Pimms is super popular are the Chelsea Flower Show, the Henley Royal Regatta and Glyndebourne Opera. It’s generally considered a posh drink because of its association with summer society events.

Making a glass of Pimm’s and lemonade is super easy.

Pimms and Lemonade Recipe

• Mix one part Pimm’s No. 1 Liqueur with 2 parts carbonated Lemonade.
• Mint, cucumber and/or orange slices are optional.

The liqueur for Pimms No.1 is a variant on that old British favourite – the gin and tonic.

James Pimm created the Pimms liqueur in 1840 for his oyster bar in the city of London to aid in digestion. This Pimms No. 1 cup was a mix of gin, quinine and botanicals. The botanicals mix is a trade secret.

Mr. Pimm sold his drink in his restaurants. In 1865. He sold his company and bottled Pimms started being sold. Eventually the fame of Pimms and Lemonade spread throughout the British Empire as a quintessentially British drink.

While Pimms No, 1 is based on gin, other numbers were based on other liquors but most of them have not survived to modern times. Pimms No. 1 is by far the most popular type of Pimms.

Although Pimms and Lemonade is the gold standard for British summer cocktails, Pimms is used in other cocktails too. For example, there are Pimms cocktail mixes that merge with other popular cocktails, such as:

• Pimms Spritzer
• Pimms and Tonic
• Pimms Mule
• Pimms Sundowner.

You can also enjoy all of these delicious cocktails in an authentic set of two Pimms highball glasses that you can order from Amazon.

Piña Colada Cocktail [Puerto Rico]

by Jeanine Romo of Le Wild Explorer | Instagram 

The Piña Colada is one of the most iconic alcoholic beverages.

It’s a rum-based drink that originated from the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. It was said to be created by Ramon “Monchito” Marrero in 1954 and quickly became an international hit. By 1978 the Piña Colada was named the national drink of Puerto Rico.

Piña Coladas are often associated with tropical getaways and sipping one does feel like an instant vacation. In fact, Marrero intention was to capture the flavors of the island.

How to Make a Piña Colada at Home

Wondering how to make a Piña Colada at home? Although not necessarily complicated, this drink does have quite a few ingredients and several steps. But the more love you put into this cocktail, the better your homemade Pina Colada will taste! And the best pineapple juice to use is juiced fresh.

You can buy Piña Colada mixes where you simply add ice, and blend into a frozen Pina Colada. However, they’re never as good as the real thing. 

So if you need a vacation but can’t get away just follow this easy Piña Colada recipe.

Piña Colada Recipe

Piña Colada Ingredients:

• 2 ounces – Light Rum
• 1 ounce – Dark Rum
• 3.5 ounces – Pineapple Juice
• 1.5 ounces – Coconut Cream
• 1 ounce – Coconut Milk
• 2 dashes – Angostura Bitters
• Pineapple slice with cherry or pineapple leaf garnish (optional)

To make the Piña Colada:

1. Blend all ingredients except garnish.
2. Pour into a Hurricane glass and enjoy!

You can also make things even easier by purchasing this delicious Master of Mixes Pina Colada drink mix. It’s made using premium pineapple juice and nothing but the best coconuts from the Dominican Republic. Therefore, in a pinch, all you need to do is add rum and ice for the perfect Piña Colada of your dreams.

Pisco Sour Cocktail [Peru]

By Disha Smith of Disha Discovers | Blog 

There are so many amazing alcoholic drinks from various countries around the world and one particularly delicious drink is the Pisco Sour. The Pisco Sour is Peru’s signature drink and it originated in Lima.

You’ll hear a few different versions of the story of how the traditional Pisco Sour came to be. The most widely accepted version is that it was created by an American, Victor Vaughen Morris, who moved to Peru in 1904 to work in the mining industry. He made it as an alternative to the Whiskey Sour.

Plot twist – Chile claims to have invented the Pisco Sour but cookbooks indicate that Pisco Sours have been circulating longer in Peru. Peru even honors this cocktail as a public holiday (Pisco Sour Day) on the first Saturday of February each year.

Essentially, Pisco is a colorless or yellowish colored brandy that’s produced in the winemaking regions of Chile and Peru. It’s made by distilling fermented grape juice into a high-proof spirit.

This cocktail tastes sweet and tart, and it’s fairly simple to make. It pairs well with just about any Peruvian dish and just one isn’t quite enough.

Pisco Sour Recipe

Start by gathering the Pisco Sour ingredients:

• 2-ounces of Pisco
• 1-ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice
• half-an-ounce of simple syrup
• one egg white.

If you want to garnish your drink, grab some Angostura bitters as well.

1. add all of the ingredients in a shaker without ice and shake heavily.
2. Add ice and shake again.
3. Strain the mixture into a glass with fresh ice and garnish with the bitters if you’d like. Enjoy!

So, if you want to quickly and easily make a Pisco Sour at home, you can use either the recipe above or try ordering a package of Wasska Peruvian Pisco Sour Mix. Each package is 4.4 ounces, makes 8 servings, features delicious lemon/lime flavor, and has easy to understand directions included. Worth a try!

Poncha Cocktail [Madeira, Portugal] 

By Digital Travel Couple | YouTube 

Poncha is a traditional alcoholic drink from the Portuguese island Madeira. It is made with typical sugar cane rum from Madeira, honey and or sugar, and either orange juice or lemon juice. There are other varieties possible such as with passion fruit, mint, strawberry and more. But the typical Poncha drink is made with orange.

The rum used to make Poncha has its history in Madeira. Although Poncha has no known author or specific date of origin, it is known that this drink emerged in the ‘fisherman’s village’ Câmara de Lobos. During cold nights fisherman would drink Poncha to warm themselves.

Known as Aguardente de Cana, which is distilled alcohol from sugar cane juice, is the typical ingredient of this drink. When sugarcane was introduced in Madeira in 1425 it contributed for the exponential economic, social and cultural development of the island, resulting in the ‘White Gold Age’. Nowadays there is only one rum distillery left on the island that is steam operated.

Poncha Recipe

How to make Poncha for 2 people:

Ingredients

• 4 tsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp orange juice
• 1/2 Tbsp white or brown sugar (optional)
• 1 to 2 Tblsp bee honey
• Sugar Cane rum from Madeira

Preparation

1. Place shaved pieces of the lemon rind in a tall glass.
2. Add the white or brown sugar and crush with a pestle.
3. Squeeze the juice of the lemons and oranges.
4. Add the juice to the rind and sugar mixture. Mix it with the typical ‘Caralhinho’ (traditional wooden poncha stick to mix the ingredients.
5. Strain the mixture into a glass.
6. Add the sugarcane brandy rum (the same volume as orange and lemon juice).
7. Add the honey and mix it with the ‘Caralhinho’ tool.

Pusser’s Rum Painkiller Cocktail [British Virgin Islands]

By Theresa of Fueled By Wanderlust Instagram 

The Pusser’s Rum Painkiller is the most popular cocktail of the British Virgin Islands.  This drink famously originated at the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke, which most visitors access by boat (and thus get their dollars wet).

Painkiller Recipe – Pusser’s Rum

• pineapple juice, orange juice, and crème of coconut in the proper 4:1:1 ratio, respectively. 

1. Pour this mixture over a cup filled three-quarters with ice, and add dark rum about halfway up the ice.  This equates to around two shots.
2. Pour the mixture back and forth between two cups a couple times to mix everything. 
3. Finally, grate some fresh nutmeg on top.

Although any dark rum can be used, real painkillers are made with Pusser’s Navy Rum.  As suggested by the name, this rum has roots in the British Royal Navy.

From 1655 to 1970, sailors were allotted a daily ration (or “tot”) of rum after a hard day at sea by the ship’s “Purser”.  Over time, the Purser began to be called “Pusser” by the sailors, which is how the rum of today got its name.  In 1979, the Royal Navy granted investor, Charles Tobias, permission to commercialize the rum.

Pusser’s Navy Rum went on to be used in the original painkiller recipe by Daphne Henderson at the Soggy Dollar Bar.  She kept her recipe a secret, until Charles Tobias snagged one of her cocktails and recreated it by coming up with the 4:1:1 ratio.

Upon returning to Soggy Dollar and tasting both cocktails, Tobias declared his creation superior.  Daphne and Charles then went head-to-head in a $100 bet, as the other patrons voted on the best recipe.Charles won all ten votes, and his recipe has gone on to be the official Pusser’s Rum Painkiller recipe. Today, a version of this drink can be found at just about every bar in the Virgin Islands.

And if you want to bring a bit of the Caribbean home with you, then you can order some Pusser’s Painkiller Cocktail Mix directly from Amazon. Inside it has all of the delicious flavors that you need to whip up a Pusser’s Painkiller Cocktail in no time.

Rakia [Bulgaria]

By Bilyana of Owl Over The World

Rakia is a typical Balkan alcoholic drink very popular in Bulgaria. When visiting Bulgaria, you can find and try rakia everywhere around the country, but if you have the opportunity to try home-made rakia, don’t miss it!

It’s a tradition passed through generations in Bulgaria to produce your own home-made rakia drink–usually in your basement.

The original and most popular rakia is made from grape or plum, but there are many variations of it, in which the alcoholic drink is made of apricot, apple, cherry, and fig! The rose rakia of Kazanlak is another local variety.

How to Make Rakia

So, how is this Bulgarian liquor produced you may ask?

Here are the 6 steps of rakia making:

1. Select fruit
2. Pick and gather the fruit
3. Make juice
4. Measure and add sugar
5. Stir the juice and allow it to ferment
6. Distill the fermented juice

And the rakia is ready! There are tricks of producing really great rakia, so when visiting Bulgaria, ask the locals to share theirs! You can also leave the rakia to age. Have in mind that rakia is a very strong alcoholic drink, typically with a 50% ABV (Alcohol By Volume).

And last, but not least, if you have the chance to participate in the rakia making process on your travels, do it!

Rompope [Mexico]

By Isabella of Boundless Roads | Facebook

No doubt besides its beautiful beaches and world-class all-inclusive resorts, Mexico is also renowned for producing some of the most delicious dishes and drinks. It’s considered among the top culinary destinations in the world.

Few people know though, that Mexican cuisine is very much regional and Puebla food and drinks are probably the most creative and popular, and with very interesting stories and traditions behind.

Among them, it’s the Rompope.

What is Rompope?

This delicious creamy liquor that is now known among many different states in Latin America, was actually created in Puebla, and more precisely in the nuns’ convent of Santa Clara, where some of other famous Puebla dishes were invented. Some call Rompope “Mexican eggnog.”

After the Spanish invasion, the Franciscan fathers who were sent to America to evangelize the local indigenous people built many convents among which The Convent of Santa Clara in what is now the state of Puebla where public figures of the viceroyalty used to stay when they visited.

The nuns started to create new dishes to entertain these important personalities. Seeing the enormous success of this liquor, made with eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, almonds milk sugar, and rum, they started to commercialize the rompop recipe to sustain the economy of the convent.

That’s how the sweet alcoholic drink found its way around Latin America and it’s now the iconic liquor from Puebla. It’s a popular drink for Christmas and new year and it’s served with desserts or as an ingredient for special recipe.

So, if you want to create a delicious batch of Rompope at home, try using this Amoretti Premium Eggnog syrup for some easy Rompope flavor.

Rum Punch Cocktail [Nevis]

By Steph & Lewis from Book It Let’s Go! | Facebook

Rum punch can be found all around the Caribbean and is about as rare as sand, but not all rum punches are created equally and the oldest rum punch in the Caribbean can be found at the Hermitage Hotel on Nevis. 

The recipe is almost as old as The Hermitage itself and dates back over 300 years to when the now boutique hotel was a working sugar plantation. On any visit to The Hermitage, they will happily share the traditional rum punch recipe with you and for something so tasty it’s actually really simple to make.

Easy Rum Punch Recipe

The recipe is 1 part sour, 2 parts sweet and 3 parts rum.

• For the sour element of the drink, local sour Nevisian oranges are used but these can be substituted with lemons at home recommended volume ½ cup.
• Next is the sweet element, which is a simple brown sugar syrup made by boiling equal parts brown sugar and water until the sugar is fully dissolved. Use 1 cup. Once the sugar syrup is cool it can be used.
• The rum used in this recipe is a golden rum rather than a dark or white variety and requires 1 ½ cups.
• To make 2 cocktails use the amounts given, mix all of the ingredients together, add 3 dashes of angostura bitters and a generous grating of fresh nutmeg, pour over ice and enjoy!

Otherwise, you can always order a copy of Rum Drinks 365. Inside you’ll find 365 different recipes for all of your favorite rum-based drinks, including a version of the iconic rum punch mentioned here.

Sangria [Spain]

By Or from My Path in the World | Instagram

 

Who doesn’t love Sangria, the infamous (and delicious) Spanish wine punch made from wine, chopped fruit, and sugar? But as popular as this alcoholic drink is as one of the best drinks around the world, its origins are not entirely clear. You can find quite a few versions of how it was invented.

One version says that Sangria was first made by the Romans and Greeks, who used to mix wine with sugar and spices. Another version says it started in the Caribbean when Spain was trading produce with its American colonies. Other versions say Sangria was made in the middle ages in Spain and other European countries because the water alone was unsafe to drink and had to be mixed with alcohol.

Sangria Recipe

How to make sangria is a matter of opinion. There are dozens of versions of Sangria recipes. Some use red wine, and some use white wine (though red wine is more traditional); others add peaches and nectarines, and some add apples and pears; still more are sweetened with sugar, and others add orange juice.

Two of the things they have in common are the alcohol percentage (which has to be between 4.5 and 12) and the few hours the sangria has to be chilled, but there is no one exact recipe to follow.

Nowadays, in Spain, Sangria is considered more of a “touristy” drink, and you’ll probably see the locals enjoying a similar drink called Tinto de Verano, but there’s no reason you can’t make it at home and pretend you’re on a Spanish beach, soaking up some sun.

To do so, just purchase a 9.7-ounce package of Lt. Blender’s amazing, wine freezer sangria to quickly and easily create refreshing pitchers of Sangria whenever you like.

Singapore Sling Cocktail [Singapore]

By Claire of Stoked to Travel | Instagram 

One of the world’s most iconic drinks is the Singapore Sling, a fruity cocktail that of course, originates in Singapore, and more specifically the world-famous Raffles Hotel. This long drink was created by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon, who was working in the Long Bar at Raffles in the early 1900s.

As women were not widely permitted to drink alcohol in public, Ngiam created this cocktail to look like fruit juice, but in fact, it was infused with gin and other liqueurs – and it quickly became a socially acceptable drink for women in Singapore!

It has since achieved status as the national drink of Singapore and is served at bars all across Asia, but of course, sampling a Singapore Sling at its true home is one of the best things to do in Singapore. And why not participate in the age-old tradition of dropping the nuts shells onto the floor – the only place you can litter in Singapore!

Singapore Sling Recipe

Singapore Sling Ingredients

This exotic blend is sure to awaken your senses with its fresh, delightful taste.

• Gin
• Cherry Brandy
• Benedictine
• Angostura Bitters
• Pineapple Juice

Instructions:

1. Pour 25ml of dry gin, 25ml cherry brandy, 25ml Benedictine into a mixing glass.
2. Top with ice and Angostura bitters.
3. Shake well, before pouring the mix into a tall glass.
4. Add 50ml of pineapple juice, and 25ml of lime juice.
5. Stir gently.

You can top up with sparkling water and ice, and garnish with a pineapple slice and a cocktail cherry.

Tequila [Mexico]

By Daria of The Discovery Nut | Pinterest 

Last but not least is the mighty, Tequila.

Few things are more Mexican than Tequila. However, the drink that we know today has come a long way after it was first made in the 16th century in the small town of Tequila in the western Mexican state of Jalisco.

However, the drink that we know today didn’t start this way. According to historical records, the Aztecs came up with a fermented drink called pulque which was made by sapping the agave plant around 200 A.D. The most common theory says that it was the Spanish invaders who were responsible for distilling agave around 1400-1500 which created mezcal (which is technically tequila). 

In early 1600, the Spaniards built the first distillery in the area that is known today as Tequila, Jalisco. The Cuervo family is considered to be the founders of modern tequila started to distill tequila commercially in 1758, and passed the torch to several other families, followed by Don Sauza who identified blue agave as the best source for producing tequila.

The Mexican government eventually declared the term “tequila” as its intellectual property in 1974. The move made it illegal for other countries to make their version of the famous drink and established that tequila should be produced only in specific areas of Mexico that include Jalisco, Nayarit, Guanajuato, Tamaulipas, and Michoacán. 

Today, you can get tequila not only in many tequila bars in Mexico but also across the world. If you want, you can even order this impressive tequila decanter and agave decanter set for your own home. It includes six Agave Shot Glasses as well as several three-ounce Tequila shot glasses that make the perfect addition to any occasion.

For more on this tasty beverage, look to this complete guide to tequila.

Final Thoughts on Around the World Cocktails

With this incredible selection of drinks from around the world, it’s hard to decide where to start.

My only advice?

Take it slow.

Which of these “around the world” cocktails have you tried? Which would you like to make at home? We’d love to hear how the recipes work out for you! Let us know in the comments below.

Photo Credit: Moscow Mules: CyberComputers (Pixabay), Mojito: Jakub Gojda, Margarita  Sabel Blanco (Pexels)