The best cocktails and mocktails from around the world

With most of the world stuck inside or at least in their own country at the moment, I can bet many of you are getting sick of beer, wine, and the occasional vodka coke. So why not let your taste buds travel the world with these classic cocktail recipes, after all, they are classics for a reason right? There are many cocktail bars out there like Giovanna’s Cocktails, a cocktail bar in Shoreditch that offer many very tasty cocktail drinks.

Let’s start with America, where a large number of our favorites come from. If you fancy a high alcohol content cocktail the long island iced tea is a must. This cocktail containing vodka, tequila, light rum, triple sec, gin, and a splash of cola, may look like tea but has a refreshing and strong flavor. You may want to limit yourself to one or two of these strong delights. Or maybe you fancy something from the big apple, such as the manhattan, a slightly bitter and sweet short cocktail. This classic is composed of whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. If vodka is your spirit of choice, the Moscow mule might be for you, which many people think is Russian as the name would suggest but actually originates from New York. This simple cocktail mixes vodka, lime, and ginger beer. The final American cocktail comes from Hawaii, and unsurprisingly it’s blue Hawaii, not to be confused with blue Hawaiian that contains cream of coconut. Blue Hawaii is a refreshing mix of white rum, pineapple juice, blue curaçao, and sweet and sour mix.

Strong cocktails are not only an American Classic, why not try a Mexican favorite the Margarita. This mix of tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice, served with salt, is not for the faint of heart as you are sure to feel the tequila. Somewhat similar from Brazil is Caipirinha, a blend of cachaça, sugar, and lime, which is often served in a large serving glass. Cuba has their own twist on this classic with a white rum daiquiri, comprised of white rum, sugar syrup, and lime juice. If you like the rum but want something a little more fruity, try Caribbean rum punch, this has many forms but most commonly contains a mix of light rum, spiced or golden rum, dark rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, and grenadine. The Caribbean also gave us the famous mojito a minty mix with light rum. If you fancy something a little less strong and a little more creamy, why not try the Puerto Rican pina colada, a delightful blend of rum, coconut milk, and pineapple juice, which can easily become a refreshing non-alcoholic beverage by serving without the rum. If you are a fan of the classic pornstar martini then the Peruvian Chilcano de Maracuya might be for you. This combines pisco, passionfruit juice, ginger ale, and bitters, creating a delightful mix of fruit and spice.

Moving on to some European classics why not try a fruity french martini, a beautiful blend of vodka, raspberry liquor, and pineapple juice. Or from Italy, the refreshing Aperol Spritz, a mix of Aperol and prosecco might be for you.  Nothing gives the feel of being in the Spanish sun quite like Sangria, which is often served as a jug of red wine with chopped fruit, and sometimes a splash of brandy or soda. Or the English classic, Pimms containing Pimms No 1 liquor, chopped fruit, mint, and a splash of soda.

Finally for some cocktails that are a little less famous. Firstly an Indian refreshing alcohol-free beverage, mango lassi which contains mango, yogurt, water, and spices. Similarly, you could try Persian Doogh, a minty and fizzy yogurt-based drink. Or from Morocco, mint tea a hot, sweet green tea with mint. Or try something still creamy but with a bit of alcohol with the Don Pedro drink from South Africa, which contains Amarula, vanilla ice cream, double cream, and grated chocolate. If you are partial to a bloody mary then the Canadian national cocktail the Ceaser may be good to try with vodka, caesar mix, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce served in a salt-rimmed glass with celery.