Who isn’t fond of a cocktail here and there? One of the best things about going away on holiday is the excuse to try all the fancy cocktails on the menu. How about next time you visit a country ask about their national cocktail?
Here are five international cocktails worth trying on your next sunny break.
Five International Cocktails
The Caipirinha, Brazil
The Caipirinha is considered the national cocktail of Brazil. It’s made from their most popular distilled spirit, a rum called Cachaça. Not only is the Caipirinha the most popular drink in Brazil, but it is also probably the most popular throughout South America.
Ingredients
- 1/2 lime.
- 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 teaspoons superfine sugar, to taste.
- 2 ounces cachaça.
- Lime wheel, for garnish.
Steps
- Gather ingrediants.
- Cut half of a lime into small wedges.
- Place the lime and sugar into an old-fashioned glass and muddle well.
- Top the drink with cachaça and stir well.
- Fill the glass with small ice cubes or cracked ice, stir again, and garnish with a lime wheel. Serve and enjoy.
The Caesar, Canada
The Caesar is a cocktail made with quite interesting ingredients. The cocktail is certainly Canada’s national cocktail being created in Calgary in the late 1960s. The cocktail is typically served with ice in a large glass with a celery salt rim, garnished with a lime wedge and a celery stalk, similar to another fan favourite, the bloody mary.
Ingrediants
- 1 tablespoon celery salt.
- Ice cubes.
- 1 fluid ounce vodka.
- 1 dash Worcestershire sauce.
- 1 dash hot pepper sauce.
- 8 fluid ounces tomato and clam juice cocktail.
- 1 celery stick.
- 1 lime wedge.
Steps
- Wet the rim of a cocktail glass with the lime wedge; set aside for garnish.
- Place celery salt in a small dish, and press the rim of the glass into the salt to coat.
- Add ice to the glass.
- Pour vodka, Worcestershire sauce, and hot pepper sauce over the ice.
- Top with tomato-clam juice. Garnish with lime wedge and celery stick and enjoy.
The Paloma, Mexico
In Mexico, their national cocktail of choice is the Paloma. This cocktail would be close to an aperitif. It consists of a simple tequila and grapefruit drink with a thirst-quenching ability to satisfy anyone on a warm day. Another positive about the Paloma is it’s very quick to make and doesn’t take many ingredients.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces tequila.
- 2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice, plus wedges for garnish.
- 2 ounces sparkling water.
- 1/2 ounce lime juice.
- 1/4 ounce agave nectar or simple syrup.
- Coarse sea salt, for the rim of the glasses.
- Ice.
Steps
- Dip the rim of a highball glass in a bowl of water.
- sprinkle a spoonful of salt onto a plate or saucer and dip the glass into that to coat the rim.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add all the remaining ingredients minus the soda water.
- Add a few fresh ice cubes and top with soda water to serve.
- Garnish with the wedge of grapefruit.
Negroni, Italy
A Negroni is a traditional cocktail in Italy. It is considered an aperitivo. A traditionally made Negroni is stirred, not shaken; it is built over ice in an old-fashioned or rocks glass and garnished with a slice of orange.
Ingredients
- 25ml gin
- 25ml sweet vermouth
- 25ml Campari
- Ice
- Orange for Garnish
Steps
- Pour the gin, vermouth and Campari into a mixing glass or jug with ice.
- Stir well until the outside of the glass feels cold.
- Strain into a tumbler and add 1 large ice sphere or some fresh ice, and garnish with an orange slice.
Lonkero, Finland
Lonkero is without a doubt the most famous cocktail to come out of Finland. After world war 2 Finland wanted to provide a unique drink for the influx of tourists and attendees, thus they commissioned the creation of what is now known as the long drink (Lonkero).
Ingrediants
- 4 ice cubes
- 2 tablespoons gin.
- 2/3 cup grapefruit juice.
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 cup club soda
Steps
- Place ice cubes in a cocktail glass.
- Pour gin over ice cubes.
- Add grapefruit juice, lemon juice, and lime juice.
- Top with club soda and stir gently.