The Best Cocktails From Around the World

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Who doesn’t love a good vacation cocktail? You get to the hotel, or by the pool or to your first restaurant, and order a nice drink. For me everything tastes better when you’re on a trip. So why not create some of those delicious and incredibly beautiful cocktails at home. Sit on your patio or in your garden, put an umbrella in your drink and imagine you’re somewhere else. Where would you like to travel to? Well why limit yourself to one place? Here’s how to make yourself feel like you’re on a tropical island somewhere just using the contents of your kitchen cabinets and fridge. Enjoy making some fun cocktails for your friends or family and take a trip around the world at home!

Piña colada

Originally From: Puerto Rico

Alcohol Base: Rum

Flavors: Pineapple and coconut…yum!

Best served: In a tall glass by a pool somewhere, preferably with a wedge of pineapple, a maraschino cherry and a cute little drinks umbrella. You deserve it!

Fun fact: National Piña Colada day is July 10th so get practicing

I have to admit this is my favorite cocktail. I’ve always liked anything tropical tasting. Pineapple and coconut are two of my favorite flavors. So this drink is my dream vacation cocktail because it involves both. You have to admit it just screams island life. The coconut milk helps to keep this drink from being too sugary sweet like a lot of cocktails. Plus it looks (and tastes) fantastic. Another beautiful island where pineapple is King is Hawaii. Read more about the perfect trip to the Big Island here

Mojito

Originally From: Cuba

Alcohol Base: Rum

Flavors: Lime and Mint

Best served: In a glass with tons of ice and mint, preferably on a patio somewhere

Fun fact: It’s rumored Ernest Hemingway loved a good mojito. How true that is no-one knows, but I’m sure one or two will get the creative juices flowing anyway

I never used to be a big rum fan, but mix in some limes and a crap ton of mint and that’ll make anything good. This cocktail is deliciously refreshing and not too sweet. It makes me think of summer days and beach vacations, and makes me really want to start planning an island trip soon. Cuba has long been on my list: the gorgeous weather, beautiful classic cars and stunning architecture of Havana all contributing factors. And when I go you can be sure I’ll have a mojito or two. Until then, here’s how to make one at home.

Singapore Sling

Originally From: Singapore

Alcohol Base: Gin

Flavors: Cherry and pineapple

Best served: Shaken and served in a fancy glass in a high end hotel bar, easy on the ice

Fun fact: The drink can be traced back to the luxurious Raffles Hotel in Singapore where it was first created. They say it was for the ladies because it looked like juice and could be enjoyed in public where ladies were not, at the time, meant to drink.

The Singapore Sling had its beginnings in one of the fanciest hotels in Singapore, so this drink might make you feel like a true star even if you’re not in a swanky bar. It’s pretty, it’s delicious, and it’ll make you want to book a nice trip to Singapore even if you never had a desire to go there before. I spent a few days in Singapore and loved the city. Lots to do like Sentosa Island, the beautiful Singapore Botanic Gardens and the Jurong Bird Park. The food has a rich mix of cultures all coming together for some unique cuisines.

Margarita

Originally From: Mexico

Alcohol Base: Tequila

Flavors: Lime and Salt

Best served: In a rocks glass with crushed ice and a heavily salted rim

Fun fact: The largest margarita made was in Las Vegas in 2011 and was over 32 litres (8000 gallons) in size. Check out some of the top Vegas hotels here

I might be one of those people who actually enjoys tequila. Good tequila I mean, not the lighter fluid you do shots of in college. I really need to get myself to Mexico though because I’m embarrassed to say I’ve only been once and it was a quick trip to Tijuana while in San Diego. When I crossed the border back into the US and was asked if I had anything to declare, I held up a lone bottle of tequila and was waved on through. So, you know, I at least got something important and meaningful while there. But jokes aside, I am excited to experience some of the amazing culture and art that Mexico has and hope to get there very soon. But until then making a few of these delicious Margaritas at home will have to suffice.

Long Island Iced Tea

Originally From: Long Island, USA

Alcohol Base: Everything: Vodka, Tequila, Rum, Gin and Triple Sec. Perfect for clearing out the liquor cabinet.

Flavors: It tastes a little like iced tea – hence the name

Best served: In a highball glass with plenty of ice, served with lemon

Fun fact: You won’t remember any facts after a couple of these with 5 shots of alcohol in each

Whenever I hear Long Island Iced Tea I think of the move Cruel Intentions: “This sure doesn’t taste like an Iced Tea”…”It’s from Long Island”. With enough alcohol to make even the strongest of drinkers regretful the next day, this is a cocktail that should be consumed cautiously. But it really is delicious. I don’t know if anyone over the age of 25 drinks them, but it’s a good one to use up all the last little bits of alcohol left in the bottles so you can finally throw them out. The cocktail equivalent of a fishbowl, it’s a fun one to make at home.

Moscow Mule

Originally From: USA…sorry guys, not as Russian as it sounds

Alcohol Base: Vodka

Flavors: Ginger and Lime

Best served: In a pretty copper cup with oodles of ice and a lime wedge

Fun fact: The copper mug is essential to keep the ginger beer cold and the cocktail refreshing even when you’re down to the last sip

As spirits go, Vodka is probably one of my preferred tipples. The flavor doesn’t typically overwhelm the rest of the drink and let’s face it, it kind of goes with everything. It’s like the little black dress of alcohol. But there’s something fun about dressing up this simple spirit in the form of a Moscow Mule with it’s citrus-y, ginger-y flavor. Plus I’m more about cocktails where you have decent size portion (no Martini for me) so the Moscow Mule checks that box with the generous sized copper mug it comes in. And while this cocktail is no more from Moscow than I am, the name makes you think of somewhere new to travel to, so that’s hardly a bad thing either.

Pisco Sour

Originally From: Peru or Chile (be careful about getting in the middle of this dispute and just enjoy the cocktail)

Alcohol Base: Pisco, a type of brandy

Flavors: Citrus (typically lime) and herbal

Best served: In a rocks glass, preferably in some warm South American country

Fun fact: Pisco is actually a distilled grape wine and is said to be the oldest distilled spirit in the Americas

My friend who spent some time in South America swears by a good Pisco Sour. Unlike many cocktails which can end up a sugary concoction of fruit juices, the Pisco Sour has a bit of everything to it. Sweet, sour taste from the citrus, and an interesting look from the frothy egg whites included in the recipe. Definitely one of the more visually appealing cocktails out there. Plan your ideal trip to Peru over a couple of Pisco Sours which are named after a place in Peru called Pisco. I hope to be able to plan my own South American trip sometime soon.

Irish Coffee

Originally From: Ireland (probably)

Alcohol Base: Irish Whiskey

Flavors: Coffee, so much coffee

Best served: Hot in an Irish Coffee mug (glass), after a big meal

Fun Fact: There’s an annual Irish Coffee festival each year in Foynes, Republic of Ireland

Just when the evening is winding down you can have your after dinner coffee with a kick. Or start your morning off right for those who don’t like the old Mimosa. This is one of the most famous hot cocktails. Great for the questionable weather in Ireland that does actually have a benefit: making the country so beautifully green. I can wait to get to Ireland. My next big adventure for sure. It’s insane that I’m from the UK and I’ve never been. Here’s a tip for your drink making: Warm up the glass with some hot water while you’re preparing your cocktail. There’s nothing worse than your Irish Coffee getting cold too quickly.

Sangria

Originally From: Spain

Alcohol Base: Red wine

Flavors: Fruity red wine

Best served: In a tall pitcher with lots of chopped fresh fruit and a bunch of friends to share it with

Fun fact: The Spanish word sangre means blood, and is the lexical base for the cocktail Sangria due to its red color

I’m not a big wine fan, but the good news about Sangria is you don’t always have to be. There are enough other flavors in here to make it more of a fun, fruity, summer drink. In fact there’s no better way to enjoy Spain than at a sidewalk restaurant enjoying a glass or 3 of Sangria like I did in Barcelona. But until you are able to travel there, you can easily make this at home. And another great thing about Sangria is that you can make a boat load of it at one time rather than some cocktails that have to be made one at a time. Make a pitcher in advance and chill until you’re friends arrive.

Bucks Fizz

Originally From: England

Alcohol Base: Champagne

Flavors: Bubbles and orange juice

Best served: In a tall champagne flute so you can look fancy while you drink it

Fun fact: Similar to the Paris-made Mimosa which is equal parts Champagne and orange juice. It was created as a justification for starting drinking earlier in the day

This simple cocktail is really just an excuse to drink at breakfast. It’s a very typical drink in the UK for special occasions like holidays. I think this was probably the first alcohol I drank because it can be “juiced” down a little more so you can still feel special drinking it on Christmas day or at a party when you’re younger. While the cocktail isn’t rocket science to make, it’s a fun drink for a party. I think it’s only in the UK that they call it a Bucks Fizz because, well, Mimosa sounds way more fancy doesn’t it?

Bellini

Originally From: Venice, Italy

Alcohol Base: Prosecco, or a sparkling wine

Flavors: Bubbly and Peach

Best served: In a classy Champagne flute with no ice, or a Champagne coupe glass with flavored slushy ice

Fun fact: The drink is named after Venetian artist Giovanni Bellini

Similar to the Bucks Fizz, the Bellini combines fancy bubbly and fruit juices. Although there are a couple of ways to make this. The first is the simpler way, peach juice and Prosecco. The second is to make it more like they have it in bars now (sans slushy machine) and puree frozen peaches (or fresh peaches and some crushed ice) and add Prosecco. Personally I think this is a little better more chilled, and brain-freeze aside, frozen is the way to go. Either way, I can just picture myself sitting canal-side in Venice drinking a couple of these. I haven’t explored nearly enough of Italy, and the old city of Venice is very much high on the list.

Make some of the best travel cocktails at home

If these drinks don’t give you some fun travel inspbeliration I don’t know what will. Plan your trip to Mexico with a Margarita and order in some Mexican food. Make some Spanish tapas on a hot summer day and sit on your patio with your friends and pitcher of Sangria. Or get ready to book your dream trip to Italy as you sip on a Bellini and some homemade pasta. These cocktails are the perfect addition to any themed night at home with your friends or family. Plan your next trip or reminisce about your last one. Check out these ideas for some top trips for couples.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. What is your favorite cocktail from around the world? What are some of the best cocktails you’ve tried to make at home?