How to survive without traveling? Travel around the world through cocktails! Make these 15 world cocktails and bring the vacation vibe into your home.
It is not easy to survive a longer period without traveling. But sometimes there’ s no other way. Jan and I know all about it. Due to our full-time jobs, we aren’t able to travel when we want. We live from vacation to vacation and always count the days to our next trip with impatience.
Nevertheless, we have our tricks to bring the vaction atmosphere into in our home in between traveling. In our opinion, nothing can evoke the holiday vibe more than a tasty cocktail.
Jan was a bartender in a distant past and has clearly not lost his skills yet. At home he often makes me dream away of the most exotic destinations with his delicious homemade cocktails. Together we made a list of our favorite cocktails from all over the world and how you can easily make them yourself at home. Get started and begin dreaming of you bucket list destinations in no time.
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Cocktail set
To make your own cocktails at home, you need the right equipment. If you don’t have a cocktail set at home, you can easily order one online. Here you can find some of our favorites. These cocktail sets also come in different colors so you can pick the perfect one to match with your interior.
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For these cocktails you already need a measuring cup, shaker, strainer, mortar, zester and stirring sticks. If you want to make your cocktail completely like it should be, make sure you have the right glasses.
Around the world cocktails
For the right preparation of the cocktails, I used my favorite recipe site Njam tv.
Mojito
The first cocktail is by far one of our favorites and a real classic in the cocktail world. The mojito originated in Cuba. A destination that is high on our bucket list. One of the reasons why, is of course the rum. Although Jan and I have a preference for dark rum, a deliciously refreshing mojito with white rum can taste so good on hot summer days.
What do you need for one Mojito?
Ingredients
half a lime
10 leaves of mint
2 teaspoons cane sugar
5 cl white rum
sparkling water
chrushed ice
2 twigs of mint
Material
long drink glass Mojito
mortar
How to make a Mojito?
First cut the lime into smaller pieces. Add them with the mint leaves to the glass. Sprinkle the cane sugar over it. Crush these ingredients with a mortar. Fill the glass with chrushed ice and pour in the rum. Add the sprinkling water as last and mix it all with a stirring stick. Finish your glass with some mint leaves on top. Et voila, your mojito is ready!
Cuba Libre
Another cocktail from Cuba that I couldn’t resist to mention in this list is the Cuba Libre. This cocktail was my favorite party drink for years. The cocktail brings me so much amazing memories! Besides all the funny memories, it’s a super easy cocktail to make yourself.
What do you need for one Cuba Libre?
ingredients:
ice cubes
1 slice of lime
4,5 cl dark rum
1 can/bottle coca cola
Material:
long drink glass or long drink glass Mojito
stirring stick
How do you make a Cuba Libre?
Take the glass and fill it with ice cubes. Add the dark rum and then the coca cola. Squeeze the lime above the glass and mix everything with a stirring stick. Yes, it’s as simple as this. You can make the Cuba Libre in no time!
Tom Collins
The Tom Collins was invented by a bartender named Collins in London. So the name is not super original, but the cocktail itself is a real classic. The Tom Collins is a real favorite among the men. Maybe because the name sounds a bit more masculine than let’s say a Cosmopolitan. Although because of increasing popularity of gin in recent years, this cocktail is certainly enjoyed by a larger audience today.
What do you need for one Tom Collins?
Ingredients:
5 cl gin
2 cl lemon juice
2 teaspoons powdered sugar
ice cubes
sparkling water
slice of lemon
Material:
long drink glass
mix glass
shaker
strainer
How to make a Tom Collins?
First pour the gin into the mix glass, followed by the lemon juice and powdered sugar. Then fill your shaker with ice. Slide the shaker and the mixing glass over each other. Make sure it’s tight. Test it before you start shaking. No leaks? Shake it away, then! Fill the long drink glass with ice. Pour your mixed cocktail through the strainer into your ice cube-filled long drink glass. Finally fill the rest of the glass with sparkling water. Serve with a lemon slice.
Sangria
Sangria, the national pride of Spain, is not immediately known as a cocktail. Yet it is a mix of different ingredients and is therefore a cocktail. Sangria is difficult to make for one person. It is often served in a large bowl at parties, which you can pour into your own glass like a punch. But that problem is easy to fix. If you’ve made too much, you can still pour the rest in a bottle and keep it in the fridge. So no excuse for not trying.
What do you need for a bowl of Sangria?
Ingredients:
coffee cup brandy
one bottle of red wine
a half a bottle lemonade (orange or lemon)
coffee cup triple sec of cointreau
coffee cup white vermouth
fruit: appel, orange, half a pinapple, grapes, …
Material:
big bowl or jug
big spoon
glass of choice
How to make Sangria?
Take the large bowl or jug and pour in the bottle of red wine completely. Do the same with the half bottle of lemonade and the coffee cups of brandy, triple sec or cointreau and white vermouth. Stir while pouring in the drinks. Cut the fruit into little pieces and add it to the bowl. Mix well. Let the bowl rest overnight in the fridge so that the fruit can absorb the sangria. Don’t forget to enjoy some yummy tapas with your Sangria.
Cosmopolitan
I already mentioned it, but this North American cocktail is quite popular with the ladies. Could it be that the world famous series of ‘Sex and The City’ has something to do with that? This is the cocktail of choice for a night out with the girls and when drinking it, it makes me look forward to future girl trips!
What do you need for one Cosmopolitan?
Ingredients:
4 cl vodka
1 cl sugar water : 500 gr sugar en 500 gr water
1,5 cl cranberry juice
2 cl triple sec of cointreau
2,5 cl lime juice
orange zeste
ice
Material:
martini glass
mix glass
shaker
strainer
zester
How to make a Cosmopolitan?
First things first: make the sugar water by boiling the water and sugar on the stove. When this turns into a syrup, pour it into a glass bottle and let it cool for a while. Then add the vodka, sugar water, cranberry juice, triple sec and lime juice together with ice in the shaker. Before you start shaking, check whether the shaker is properly sealed. Then start shaking. Pour your cocktail through the strainer into a chilled martini glass. Serve the glass with a curly orange zest.
Singapore Sling
The Singapore Sling derives from, yes, Singapore. Here this cocktail was first made in a hotel by a bartender in 1915. This cocktail has a unique, yet complex taste. Therefore, there’s sometimes discussion about the ingredients and amounts used here. You can find many different recipes online, but below is how I always make this cocktail. And I can promise you, it tastes delicious. You will imagine yourself in the impressive Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, in no time.
What do you need for one Singapore Sling?
Ingredients:
3 cl gin
2 cl cherry liquer
1 cl bénédictine
1cl cointreau
1,5 cl lemon juice
3 cl pinapple juice
2 teaspoons grenadine syrup
½ teaspoon Angostura bitter
ice cubes
pinapple slice (finishing touch)
leaf of mint (finishing touch)
Material:
long drink glass or long drink glass mojito
mix glass
shaker
strainer
How to make a Singapore Sling?
Add all the ingredients in an ice-filled mix glass. Close the shaker and ‘shake away’. Strain the mixed cocktail into an ice-filled long drink glass. Serve with some mint leaves and a piece of pineapple.
Long Island ice-tea
Let’s travel back to the United States. This time to the Hamptons on Long Island. This is where the roots of long Island ice-tea should lie. Although there is some discussion about that. Everyone also thinks that this cocktail has something to do with ice-tea, but nothing could be further from the truth. Cola is added to the drink. Enjoy this cocktail, but be carefull. The long island ice-tea can crush you fast, because of the high alcohol content.
What do you need for one Long Island ice-tea?
Ingredients:
3 cl gin
3 cl tequila
2 cl lemon juice
3 cl vodka
3 cl white rum
2 cl coco cola
3 cl cointreau
lemon slice (finishing touch)
Material:
long drink glass
stirring stick
How to make a Long Island ice-tea?
Fill your long drink glass completely with ice cubes. First add the gin, then the tequila, the rum, the vodka, the cointreau and the lemon juice. Top the glass with cola. This cola ensures the colors in the cocktail. Stir with a stirring stick and finish with a slice of lemon.
Daiquiri
This delicious cocktail that is often served with fruit is the ideal cocktail to dream away of a tropical holiday destination. On warm summer nights, a cocktail like that can taste so refreshing. The Daiquiri originates from Cuba, but was invented by Americans who stayed in Cuba at the time. The story goes that they met friends and no longer had gin available. That’s why they tried something new and that is how this delicious cocktail was created.
What do you need for one Daiquiri?
Ingredients:
5 cl white rum
2 teaspoons sugar
chrushed ice
2 cl lime juice
Ice cubes
slice of lime (finishing touch)
Material:
martini glass
mix glass
shaker
strainer
How to make a Daiquiri?
Cool your martini glass by filling it with the chrushed ice and let it rest for a while. Pour the white rum together with the sugar and the lime juice into the mix glass. Fill your shaker with ice cubes and attach this to the mix glass. Make sure it’s sealed. Shake away, and make short, but powerful movements. Remove the chrushed ice from your martini glass. Pour the content of the mix glass through the strainer into your martini glass. Finish your glass with a slice of lime. And there you have a delicious Daiquiri.
Tip! You can also add fruit to your Daiquiri. The best known is a strawberry daiquiri. Before you start, mash some strawberries with your mortar. You then add this to your mix glass first. After that you simply follow the recipe above. It couldn’t be easier, right?
Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned was born and raised in New York. This cocktail immediately reminds me of the time of those beautiful vintage bars in large cities. There where men smoked massive cigars while holding a drink in their hand. Well, that couldn’t be more true. The Old Fashioned has been around since the 19th century and is a real classic. Besides its age, this drink contains mainly traditional ingredients and no exotic flavors. It’s a simple but elegant, strong drink, and is especially favored by men.
What do you need for one Old Fashioned?
Ingredients:
5 cl whiskey
1 cl sparkling water
1 sugar cube
3 dashes of Angostura bitters
1 dash of Orange bitters
ice cubes
orange zeste (finishing touch)
maraschino-cherry (finishing touch)
Material:
tumbler glass
stirring stick
napkin
zester
How to make an Old Fashioned?
Place the sugar cube on a napkin on top of your tumbler glass. Sprinkle the sugar cube with angostura bitters until it is completely soaked. Then drop the sugar cube into the tumbler glass. Add a little sparkling water with a very small dash of orange bitter. Stir until the sugar cube is completely dissolved. Add the whiskey together with some ice cubes. Stir well until the cocktail has cooled. Serve with a Maraschino cherry and orange zest.
If you’re a whiskey lover, then you should definitely check these wonderful whisky gifts.
Pina Colada
Pina Colada better known as the national drink of Puerto Rico, immediately reminds you of chilling on the beach with a fruity cocktail in your hand. In short, this is the perfect cocktail if you want to get into a vaction mood. This cocktail contains slightly more ingredients, but is super easy to make. So don’t hesitate to try at home.
What do you need for one Pina Colada?
Ingredients:
5 cl white rum
4 cl pinaple juice
3 cl coconut cream
1 slice of pineapple
A small piece of coconut
1 dash dark rum
chrushed ice
small piece of pineapple (finishing touch)
Material:
long drink glass of long drink glass Mojito
blender
How to make a Pina Colada?
Cut the pineapple slice into small pieces. Remove the shell of the piece of coconut. Combine these ingredients with the coconut cream, pineapple juice, white rum and chrushed ice in the blender. Blend everything until you get some sort of smoothie-like consistency. Pour this cocktail into a long drink glass and don’t forget to add a dash of dark rum. Serve your Pina colada with a little piece of pineapple.
Caipirinha
The Caipirinha will take you to the vibrant Brazil in no time. The first Caipirinhas allegedly were made on the countryside of São Paolo. And believe it or not, this cocktail was initially used as a cure for the flu. In these times it doesn’t hurt to check whether the Caipirinha really works. If not, you still have a great drink that makes you want to party till the suns comes up.
What do you need for one Caipirinha?
Ingredients:
4,5 cl cachaça
2 cl lime juice
1 teaspoon cane sugar
½ lime
chrushed ice
Material:
long drink glass Mojito
mortar
stirring stick
How to make a Caipirinha?
Cut the lime into small slices and put them in your long drink glass. Sprinkle it with cane sugar. Crush it with your mortar into a juice. Then add the cachaça. Top your glass with chrushed ice and stirr well using your stirring stick.
Pisco Sour
Travel with us to the beautiful countries of Peru or Chile. Because both countries claim that this cocktail was originally made there for the first time. It doesn’t really matter to us, because both countries are said to be stunning. We haven’t had the chance to visit them yet, so it doesn’t hurt to already start exploring through a homemade Pisco Sour. Hopefully we will be able compare to the original Pisco Sour soon.
What do you need for one Pisco Sour?
Ingredients:
6 cl pisco
2 cl sugar water (500 gr sugar, 500 gr water)
3 cl lime juice
1 egg white
chrushed ice
ice cubes
cinnamon (finishing touch)
Material:
tumbler glass or martini glass
mix glass
shaker
strainer
How to make a Pisco Sour?
Fill your glass with the chrushed ice and let it cool down. Meanwhile, make the sugar water by boiling the water with the sugar. When this turns into a syrup, pour it into a glass bottle and let it cool for a bit. Add this sugar water with the pisco, the lime juice and the egg white in a mix glass. Pour this content into the shaker via the spiral of the strainer. Shake this mix long and firm. Add some ice cubes to the shaker and shake again. Remove the chrushed ice from the pre-cooled glass and pour the contents of the shaker through the strainer into the glass. Serve with a little cinnamon on top.
Mai Tai
Although this cocktail sounds very exotic and the name makes you think of amazing Thailand straight away, it’s not entirly true, because the Mai tai actually orginates from California. Now, for us the origin doesn’t matter at all. The Mai Tai remains delicious wherever it’s made!
Whar do you need for a Mai Tai?
Ingredients:
chrushed ice
5 cl dark rum
1 cl sugar water: 500 gr water en 500 gr sugar
3 cl lime juice
1 cl triple sec of cointreau
1 cl almond syrup (orgeat)
mint leaves (finishing touch)
slice of lime (finishing touch)
Material:
tumbler glass
shaker
How to make a Mai Tai?
It’s also best to start off with preparing the sugar water. Here’s how: boil the water and add sugar to it. When this turns into a syrup, pour it into a glass bottle and let it cool. Meanwhile, cool your tumbler glass with chrushed ice. Keep some chrushed ice and pour it into the shaker. Also add the other ingredients to the shaker. ‘Shake away’ and do it firm and powerful! Pour the entire content of the drink with ice into the pre-cooled glass. If necessary, add some more chrushed ice to top off the glass . Serve with mint and a slice of lime.
Bloody Mary
This cocktail owes its name to the blood-red color, but it’s also named after the 16th-century Queen Mary the first of England. She was nicknamed Bloody Mary because of her bloody persecutions of the Protestants. Despite being named after a historically British royalty, the Bloody Mary was first made in the 1920s in Paris. Starting under the name “bucket of blood” and later even the “red snapper”, until it was given the name bloody Mary and still carries that name.
What do you need for a Bloody Mary?
Ingredients:
4,5 cl white vodka
10 cl tomato juice
1 cl lemon juice
6 drips of worcestershire sauce
4 drips of tabasco
1 pinch of peper
1 pinch of celery salt
ice cubes
piece of celery (finishing touch)
slice of lime (finishing touch)
Material
long drink glass
stirring stick
How to make Bloody Mary?
First of all, put the ice cubes in the long drink glass. Then add the vodka, worcestershire sauce, tabasco, lemon juice, pepper and celery salt. Top the glass of with tomato juice. Stir well with the stirring stick. Serve with the celery stick and slice of lime.
Moscow Mule
When you hear the name Moscow Mule, you immediately think of Russia. But actually, this cocktail is the result of a smart business relationship created in the 1930s. At that time, a young Russian woman emigrated to the United States. Her father owned a copper factory and she took thousands of copper mugs with her, hoping to sell them in the States. She went from bar to bar until she suddenly met two men in a bar. One owned the bar and brewed his own ginger beer. And the other had a vodka distillery. Both their business were not going well. The three of them came up with a new cocktail and that’s how the Moscow Mule was created. Still today it’s a very popular and refreshing cocktail.
What do you need for a Moscow Mule?
Ingredients:
5 cl vodka
1 bottle of ginger beer
2 cl lime juice
lemongrass
lime
ice cubes
material:
copper mug
How to make a Moscow Mule?
Fill the mug with ice cubes. Add the vodka and lime juice. Top the mug of with the ginger beer. Squeeze some lime juice into to mug. Use a piece of lemongrass as a stirring stick and stir well. Voila, you’ve made a Moscow Mule!
Some last tips
When making cocktails, always go for fresh ingredients. It’s easier to buy prepackaged lemon juice or orange juice, but with fresh fruit, a cocktail tastes so much better. Also try to use quality alcoholic beverages. Besides working with fresh ingredients, this has a major influence on the taste of the cocktail.
I hope this varied list of 15 world cocktails will help you to travel all around the world through cocktails without leaving your living room.
Which coctail are you going to make? Let me know in the comments.
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Travel tips and essentials
Would you like to plan an unforgettable trip? Then be sure to check out this useful overview of my personal travel tips!
Skyscanner is the place-to-be to book flights. This useful travel comparison website helps you find great deals for numerous destinations. Because I travel a lot, I often use airport parking. I already had good experiences with Parkos and Quickparking.
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Would you like to travel with public transport from one destination to another? Then 12togois the place to be. Here you can easily find transfers in several countries.
Being a travel blogger I get a lot of questions about which photography equipment I use to photograph my travels.
I shoot with full-frame system camera: Nikon Z6II. I have a few lenses, but these 3 are my absolute favorites when traveling:
All-round lens: NIKKOR Z 24-70 mm f/2.8. (I shoot almost everything with this. Are you just starting to shoot? Then I would recommend this lens)
A tripod is also important if you want to take pictures of yourself, or if you want to photograph with a low shutter speed (dark space, night photography, waterfall,...). I use one from Sirui.For videos to post on my social media channels with I use my iPhone. When I travel alone I take my Joby GripTight GorillaPod PRO 2 with me. It's a small, useful tripod that I can attach to anything. Do you want to learn more about how to take the best vacation photos? Then take a look at my e-bookwhere I share all my photography tips. Would you like to be able to edit your holiday photos quickly and beautifully? Then my Lightroom presets are an absolute must-have.
I wish you an unforgettable time on your next vacation!
This is such a fun idea! My husband and I collect alcohol from whatever country we visit so this would be so fun for us to do at home. Thanks for sharing.
I don’t typically make a lot of cocktails at home, but I love the idea of traveling the world through your drinks! I always think of my trip to Peru when sipping a pisco sour, so I’d want to make that one first.
I LOVE this post! Is it 5 o’clock yet??? Well, it’s definitely 5 o’clock somewhere! Thanks for the great recipes and the stunning images that literally made my mouth water! Can’t wait to try some of these!
Cool! That’s exactly what I’m thinking to do these days! I’ve got a mini bar at home too. You are so lucky that someone is skillful and professional at home 🙂 Btw, do you have a recommendation for a good cocktail recipe book?
Hi, I mostly get recipes online. These cocktails recipes are from Njam, but that’s dutch site. And I trust on Jans shaking skills 🙂 So I can’t really recommend a good cocktailbook for now. If Ido find one, I will let you know.
Cosmopolitans remind me of Italy, because that’s where I drank my first one! But my all-time favourite cocktail is a Moscow Mule, so I am very grateful to that Russian lady!
Wow, I am pretty thirty for a libation now. Loved how you mentioned where the drink originated. I love those Bloody Marys for brunch. Great post, I want to try some of the other drinks you mentioned.
I’m literally salivating right now haha! This is such a great post, you’ve included all of my favourite cocktails and some I’ve never heard of! I’ll definitely be making some of these when the bottle shop opens up again haha
Have I had some interesting experiences after a night on long island iced teas…!? Don’t know whether to thank you or despise you for bringing back the memories ?? You have given me a great idea though! Candace (my partner) used to work in hospitality and I think she needs to freshen up on her skills. Love the entertaining read, keep them coming!
Haha, I am happy I reminded you of good(bad) times 🙂 You guys should definitely try to make a couple at home. We always have so much fun while we are trying to get the recipes right.
Hoe zalig zijn deze cocktails! Nu heb ik zin in een cocktail party.
Ik heb daar momenteel elke dag zin in 🙂
This is such a fun idea! My husband and I collect alcohol from whatever country we visit so this would be so fun for us to do at home. Thanks for sharing.
Oh that’s really cool. We also love to taste local drinks and food as well 🙂 But at the moment cocktails are our way of traveling the world.
This is such a fun idea, love it! My favourite is the mojito 🙂
Oh, I hope you are able to make one right now 🙂
This is such an awesome blog post and I love these selection of cocktails! I didn’t know a daiquiri originated in Cuba.
Actually me neighter. It was fun to find out more about all my favorite cocktails. 🙂
What a lovely idea. Can I please have sangria for lunch ;)?
Haha, yes it’s allowed now 🙂
Thanks for sharing
You’re welcome 🙂
I don’t typically make a lot of cocktails at home, but I love the idea of traveling the world through your drinks! I always think of my trip to Peru when sipping a pisco sour, so I’d want to make that one first.
Peru is so high on my bucket list! I hope I can travel there soon so I can taste a real Pisco Sour instead of a homemade one 🙂
I LOVE this post! Is it 5 o’clock yet??? Well, it’s definitely 5 o’clock somewhere! Thanks for the great recipes and the stunning images that literally made my mouth water! Can’t wait to try some of these!
I hope you do, let me know if you tried one 🙂
These are the top! Best cocktails out there, for sure. I am a sucker for anything with rum and an umbrella. But, I will take any of the above.
Haha, I am a rum lover as well 🙂
Cool! That’s exactly what I’m thinking to do these days! I’ve got a mini bar at home too. You are so lucky that someone is skillful and professional at home 🙂
Btw, do you have a recommendation for a good cocktail recipe book?
Hi, I mostly get recipes online. These cocktails recipes are from Njam, but that’s dutch site. And I trust on Jans shaking skills 🙂 So I can’t really recommend a good cocktailbook for now. If Ido find one, I will let you know.
Cosmopolitans remind me of Italy, because that’s where I drank my first one! But my all-time favourite cocktail is a Moscow Mule, so I am very grateful to that Russian lady!
I drank my first Cuba Libre in Italy too 🙂 And it’s still my favorite 😉
Wow, I am pretty thirty for a libation now. Loved how you mentioned where the drink originated. I love those Bloody Marys for brunch. Great post, I want to try some of the other drinks you mentioned.
Thank you! I hope you do try them out. They are delicious 🙂
I love the idea of drinks bringing memories of travel. I have great memories of pisco sours in Peru and mojitos in Mexico. Yum.
Thank you. Yes, I have that too 🙂
These all sounds amazing. I’m gutted I’m pregnant otherwise I’d definitely but making these.
Oh, but you can make the virgin versions and still be able to dream away of those exotic destinations 🙂
This is a fab idea! I could do with a pisco sour right now! 😉
Hope you were able to make one? That’s the most difficult one with the egg 🙂
I’m literally salivating right now haha! This is such a great post, you’ve included all of my favourite cocktails and some I’ve never heard of! I’ll definitely be making some of these when the bottle shop opens up again haha
Oh are they closed too? Here we can just buy it in the grocery stores.
What a wonderful idea for a blog post! So timely. I think we could all use a cocktail — or two! Haha
Haha, yes indeed! 🙂
What a cool idea!! I’m going to check out some of these for sure ?
Hope you do! Have a great weekend!
Have I had some interesting experiences after a night on long island iced teas…!? Don’t know whether to thank you or despise you for bringing back the memories ??
You have given me a great idea though! Candace (my partner) used to work in hospitality and I think she needs to freshen up on her skills. Love the entertaining read, keep them coming!
Haha, I am happy I reminded you of good(bad) times 🙂 You guys should definitely try to make a couple at home. We always have so much fun while we are trying to get the recipes right.
This is a great idea for an article – Love it and can’t wait to use it 🙂
I hope you make some at home 🙂