I find it fascinating to research the different kinds of cocktails and spirits that different countries take pride in. A drink that we don’t really consider ordering all the time in America could be the drink that every single person in another country has on the brain constantly. Luckily for me, I am able to sample a majority of these worldly cocktails in most of the bars in this great city. Isn’t cocktail diversity great?
Just like different countries specialize in different kinds of cuisines and ingredients, they specialize in different spirits as well. Some of them are well known to many: Russia and Poland for Vodka, Brazil for Cachaca, Italy for Sambuca. But some of them may come as more of a surprise, as well as a learning experience. Did you know that the Irish make their own spirit called Poitin? Well, now you do.
Photo courtesy of kurmanstaff via Flickr/cc
So here is my collection of worldly cocktails, just in time to get you in the mood for some diverse boozing for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Sports and alcohol, two things that bring all of our different worlds together.
Have any worldly cocktails to share? Leave them in our comments section!
Brazil: Cachaca
Cocktail: Caipirinha½ lime, quartered
1 tsp sugar
2 ½ oz Cachaca
1 cup ice cubes
In a large rocks glass, muddle the sugar with the lime, squeezing out the juice first. Add in the cachaca, and stir well to combine.
Peru/Chile: Pisco
Cocktail: Pisco Sour2 oz Pisco
1 oz lemon juice
Dash of simple syrup
1 egg white
Dash of bitters
Combine the first four ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously. Add ice and shake again. Pour into an old fashioned glass and top with a few dashes of bitters.
Italy: Campari
Cocktail: Negroni1 oz Campari
1 oz gin
1 oz vermouth
Combine all ingredients in a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange slice.
Japan: Sake
Cocktail: Saketini2 oz gin or vodka
1 oz Sake
Combine both ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Stir and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an olive or lemon peel.
Ireland: Whiskey
Cocktail: The Emerald2 oz Irish Whiskey
1 oz vermouth
1 dash orange bitters
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with cracked ice. Stir well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
France: Cointreau
Cocktail: French 751 oz gin
1 oz Cointreau
1 sugar cube
squeeze of lime
Champagne
Combine all ingredients in a champagne flute. Stir well, and top with champagne.
Comments
BELGIUM & THE NETHERLANDS: GENEVER (also known as JENEVER)
Genever, the predecessor of Gin, is the authentic, national, and protected spirit of Belgium and the Netherlands. Before prohibition, the U.S. was a major importer of Genever, bringing in six times more than the amount of gin. Actually, many of today's gin cocktails were originally made with Genever!
COCKTAIL: ORIGINAL COLLINS
2 oz. Diep 9® Old Genever
1 oz. Fresh squeezed lemon juice
0.5 oz. Simple syrup
Seltzer water
Pour ingredients into an ice-filled Collins glass. Top with seltzer water. Serve with a lemon wedge.
Gezondheid (cheers)!
Jul 12, 2012 at 12:13 PM
Schuster
I'm sorry, but this is too near and dear to my heart to simply let this go: there is no Cointreau in a French 75. Please have a look at Dave Wondrich's recent article on the history of this drink. http://liquor.com/articles/behind-t... Cointreau is an excellent representation of a French spirit, but there are far better recipes with which to showcase it. If you wanted to combine Cointreau and champagne, how about the Champs-Elysee, which is Cointreau, strawberry liqueur and sparkling wine? Or heck, even a simple Sidecar (no sparkling, obvi), or a Cosmo, if you must.
Jul 12, 2012 at 12:14 PM
Konyagi is a wonderfully versatile spirit from Tanzania. It is made from sugar cane, but is more like a vodka (to me) than a rum... A Konyagi and tonic is a refreshing cocktail. Unfortunately, Konyagi is very difficult to find in the US...
Jul 12, 2012 at 12:35 PM
Petiyagoda
The finest Coconut Arrack on the planet comes from Sri Lanka made from Pure
coconut sap. 2oz . Rockland Premium Ceylon Arrack, 1/2 teaspoon Benedictine
poured on to a cube of ice in a whiskey glass. Arracktine. Arrack is sold in the
U.S.A. at shops for the Sri lankans in Los Angels. NisaPeti.
Jul 13, 2012 at 7:50 AM
Yes, I've had the Sri Lankan coconut arrack. Rockland's Ceylon Arrack is only available in Europe, but White Lion VSOA is available in the US (and a much better flavor than the Ceylon brand). The most unusual and smooth tasting spirit I have ever had. Don't let the name fool you, it tastes nothing like coconut!
Aug 31, 2012 at 1:21 AM
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