The 2022 World Cup is nearly here! Something we’re not exactly used to saying in November, but any reason to enjoy cocktails at home with friends and be entertained by a month of soccer is always welcome. And with so many nations competing, it’s the perfect excuse to “take a trip” around the globe by trying drinks from different countries. It’s travel you can do from the comfort of your living room!
Get into the spirit with some famous cocktails from around the world. We’ll take you through well-known classics, as well as a few new favorites you can fall in love with. Let us take you on our tour of the best drinks from around the world.
1. Caipirinha – Brazil
The Caipirinha serves as the national drink of Brazil. Its key ingredient is cachaça, which is a spirit distilled from fermented sugarcane juice. This can be consumed on its own, on the rocks or as a rum substitute in many cocktails, including the Cuba Libre, Mojito and Daiquiri. Histories of the origin of the Caipirinha differ, but what’s undeniable is its sweet lime-driven flavor.
Ingredients:
- 1 2/3 oz. cachaça
- 2 tsp. brown sugar
- Half a lime cut into 4 wedges
2. Poncha - Portugal
A traditional punch from the island of Madeira, the simplest Poncha is made with just sugar cane brandy (Madeiran rum), sugar and lemon juice. This cocktail is often called the fisherman's Poncha, named for the seafaring residents of Câmara de Lobos where the drink was created. Using fruits such as tangerine and passion fruit helps soften the kick of the brandy — but it’s no less intoxicating, so drink responsibly if enjoying it as part of a World Cup drinking game.
Ingredients:
- 1 3/5 oz. aguardente de cana (sugar cane brandy)
- Honey
- Lemon juice
- 2 tsp. sugar
- Orange juice
3. Black Russian - Belgium
Created in the late 1940s in Brussels, the Black Russian combines vodka and Kahlúa, a coffee liqueur made with rum, sugar and arabica coffee. This bold coffee vodka cocktail bears its mysterious name as a reference to the ingredients: Kahlúa is black, and vodka is commonly associated with Russia.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. vodka
- 1 oz. Kahlúa
4. Sangria - Spain
Sangria has become a popular party drink around the world. It’s great because you can easily make large quantities to serve at a gathering. Typically, you create Sangria with red wine, fruit juices, soda water, fruit and brandy. When making your own, use a good quality wine, and try to let it chill overnight. This lets the fruit flavors blend into the drink.
Ingredients:
- 2 oranges, chopped
- 2 pears, chopped
- 2 lemons, 1 chopped, 1 juiced
- 7 oz. red berries, chopped
- 3 tbsp. caster sugar
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- Ice
- 3.5 oz. Spanish brandy
- 750 ml. bottle light red wine
- 300 ml. sparkling water
5. Margarita - Mexico
Margaritas are another cocktail with multiple accounts of origin. Among the many explanations for its name and origins of the Margarita is the fact that “margarita” is the word for “daisy” in Spanish. Daisy cocktails are a type of drink made with a spirit, a liqueur and some form of citrus.
Because Margaritas are made with tequila, an orange liqueur and lime juice, the two types of drinks bear a close resemblance. What we can all agree on is the overwhelming popularity of the Margarita since its inception and its status as one of the signature cocktails from around the world.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Cointreau
- 1 oz. lime juice
- 2 oz. tequila
Want to enjoy this tangy classic even faster? Try our premixed Margarita now. Or try a citrus-driven twist with our Tommy’s Margarita.
6. Ginza Mary - Japan
Created as a Japanese version of the classic Bloody Mary cocktail, it’s believed this foreign drink was named after Ginza, a trendy nightlife area in Tokyo. It blends vodka with sake, an alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice and is a great way to try new flavors couched in a familiar drink.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. vodka
- 1 oz. sake
- 2 oz. tomato Juice
- 1/2 oz. lemon Juice
- 3 dashes tabasco sauce
- 2 dashes soy sauce
- 1 pinch black pepper
7. Manhattan - USA
The Manhattan, thought to have been invented in New York at the Manhattan Club in the mid-1870s, is a classic cocktail of choice for whiskey lovers. This delightful mix of rye or bourbon whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters has been adored for hundreds of years because of its subtle bitterness and herbal undertones.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. rye whiskey
- 1 oz. sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Brandied cherry as a garnish (or lemon twist, if preferred)
Looking for more US classics? Try our Cosmopolitan.
8. Bramble - England
Relatively modern in comparison to some of the cocktails on our list, this gin cocktail was created in the 1980s by legendary Fred’s Club bartender Dick Bradsell (Bradsell also happens to be credited with creating the Espresso Martini). The Bramble is said to be named for Dick’s memories of blackberry picking. As such, it’s full of tangy, fruity and sophisticated flavors.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. gin
- 1 oz. lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 teaspoons simple syrup
- 1/2 oz. creme de mure
- Lemon half-wheel as a garnish
- Fresh blackberry as a garnish
9. Negroni - Italy
Unfortunately, Italy didn’t qualify for the World Cup this year…but what’s a cocktail trip around the world without visiting the home of countless classic drinks, including the Milano Torino and the Negroni?
Said to be invented in Florence, the Negroni is known as the king of Italian Campari cocktails. It’s vibrant red in color and refreshingly bitter. Plus, it can evoke the taste of summer even on a winter night.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Campari
- 1 oz. sweet red vermouth
- 1 oz. gin
- Orange peel as a garnish
10. Mojito – Cuba
The Mojito is a simple blend of rum, mint, lime, sugar and club soda. The mint and lime give it a cool, refreshing flavor, and the soda lightens it up with a fizzy crispness. One of the best-known cocktails from around the world, it’s highly favored for its adaptability. Add fruit to create different variations, such as strawberry, mango or passion fruit.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 oz. white rum
- 1 oz. fresh lime juice
- 2 tsp. sugar
- 6 leaves of mint
- Soda water
Taste this Italian delight even faster with our premixed Negroni cocktail.
For even more cocktail crowd-pleasers you can build your own selection box. Did one of your favorite cocktail recipes from around the world not make this list? See if it made our top 10 selection of the world’s most popular cocktails.