Cocktails and Spirits around the world

Need a drink to celebrate the new year? Here are cocktails around the world.

Caipirinaha Brazil

The basic cocktail in many a cocktail making course, a Caipiranaha mixes a Brazilian spirit, cachaça (distilled from sugar cane) with half a lime cut into wedges and two tablespoons of brown sugar. The glass is then filled with crushed ice.

caipirinha cocktail

Cosmopolitan – New York 

The first I knew of Cosmopolitans was sneakily watching Sex and The City when I was too young to be doing so.

The basis for a Cosmo is vodka, cointreau, cranberry juice, and freshly squeezed lime juice. I like them served straight up without ice.

red cocktail with lime wedge and short black straw on tree stump table next to room card which says Enjoy your room

Cuba Libra – Cuba

The Cuba Libre (meaning ‘Free Cuba’) is a cocktail made of cola, lime, and spiced rum or light rum. It’s super easy – just throw all the ingredients in a tall glass with ice and garnish with a lime wedge.


Margarita – Mexico

My favourite cocktail. I find people either love or hate tequila depending on whether they’ve had a rough night on it, others sambuca for the same reason.

A Margarita is a blended mix of tequila, cointreau, ice and fresh lemon juice served in a glass with a salt rim.

margarita cocktail with salt rim and lime wedge on table at beach at dusk

Ouzo – Greece

One of the most disgusting things I’ve ever had the misfortune of drinking was Ouzo mixed with Peach Iced Tea on a boat in Greece. Clearly the person mixing it up did not taste it themselves.

Probably better in shot format.


Pimms Cup – England

Pimms Cups remind me of summer days at the pub with friends in London.

Pimms Number 1 is a gin-based liquer, and mixed with lemonade or ginger ale, crushed mint, cucumber slices and wedges of lemon and orange over ice it’s ageless and refreshing.

Pimms Cup with fruit and a black straw

Pisco Sour Peru – 

Not liking the thought of raw egg in my beverage, it took me years of convincing to try a Pisco Sour. I’ve liked them, and I’ve hated them depending on the bar and barman.

Pisco is the base liquor, shaken over ice with lemon juice, egg white and simple syrup. It’s the strained and served with a dash of bitters.

Charley Noble Cocktails

What’s your favourite cocktail? Is there a drink which reminds you of a certain place or time in your life?

6 Comments

  1. Mere Salazar
    January 22, 2016 / 6:06 am

    Mmm, gotta love Pisco Sours! I’m an expat in Peru, and they’re my favorite cocktail! Although I did try an Andean Mojito last week with passionfruit juice, and it was delicious! The Pimms sounds good, but that Greek drink sounds gross.

    • January 22, 2016 / 8:44 am

      Haha yeah the Greek drink was gross. Wow what a cool place to live as an expat! That mojito with passionfruit juice sounds amazing…

  2. Nancy Wilde
    January 9, 2016 / 6:36 am

    Pimms is unbeatable in a hot Summer day! For some reason, I find Cosmos way too sickeningly sweet, maybe I’ve vomited them when younger but nowadays can’t stand the sugary combo. Also, mojitos should be on the list because they’re delicious and even give you a fresh minty breath ^_^

    nancywilde.blogspot.com

    • January 12, 2016 / 4:51 pm

      Oh Mojitos are SO good! Fair point. I’d definitely prefer something refreshing like Pimms rather than an anise liquor like Ouzo or something sickly sweet.

    • January 12, 2016 / 4:49 pm

      That sounds like a great idea for a world tour! There would be so many others to throw in too…