A huge part of a country’s culture is what they eat and drink. What better way to get a taste of the culture than by sipping a local beverage! So grab your cocktail shaker and some ice, we are going to travel around the world with these refreshing summer cocktails.
Want all of the taste but none of the alcohol? Each recipe includes a mocktail option as well!
Here is how to beat the heat all over the world.
Bellini | Italy
Bellini is an Italian classic and one of the simplest champagne recipes. The original recipe came from Venice and is now enjoyed all over the world. A popular alternative to the mimosa, it is refreshing and can be sipped on morning, noon or night!
Ingredients:
2 ounces of white peaches (can use canned white peaches if not in season)
4 ounces of champagne
Sugar (Optional)
Raspberry Puree (Optional)
Instructions:
Blend chilled peaches together. Add a dash of sugar if you wish
Pour in the bottom of a champagne flute
Add a splash of raspberry puree
Gently pour champagne to the top. Don’t stir!
Non-alcoholic option: Swap the champagne with white grape juice or sparkling cider.
Related: View Exclusive Summer Deals On Worldwide Vacations!
Umeshu Lemonade Cooler | Japan
“Umeshu” translates to “plum wine’ and it’s a traditional liqueur enjoyed in Japan. With a sweet flavor and only a 10% alcohol content, it tastes so good that many people drink it on its own, with a little ice. For those looking for a more refreshing summer cocktail, they will add little lemonade to their drink. Not a lemonade fan? Swap it out for soda water instead for a “sodawari” style drink.
Ingredients:
1 ounce of Umeshu
2 ounces of lemonade
Instructions:
Fill tall glasses with ice
Pour umeshu, then pour lemonade. Stir and enjoy.
Non-alcoholic option: Use virgin Umeshu or use plum juice.
Sangria | Spain
Sangria is a classic drink for summer festivities. It’s easy, refreshing and can be tailored to your preferences. For example, you can use white wine to make it a little sweeter or add or subtract soda water to make it as strong or as weak as you’d like, or add some pineapple or pears to give it a slightly different flavor.
Ingredients:
1 bottle of red wine
1 can of soda water
¼ cup of brandy
1 ounce of triple sec
¼ cup of sugar (feel free to adjust based on desired sweetness)
1 sliced orange
2 sliced lemons
Ice
Instructions:
Add fruit and sugar to large punch bowl
Add wine until sugar is dissolved
Add brandy and triple sec
Add ice and soda when you’re ready to enjoy
Non-alcoholic option: Leave out all the alcohol and add an equal amount of red grape juice.
Pisco Sour | Peru/Chile
While it’s technically winter down in South America, it’s never a bad time to enjoy a pisco sour. Both Peru and Chile claim the delicious silky drink as their national cocktail. A perfect balance of sweet and tangy, they are rich and bright in taste, with foamy head. The flavors are perfect to enjoy on a hot summer day.
Ingredients:
2 ounces of pisco (brandy)
1 ounce of lime juice
1 ounce of simple syrup
1 egg white
4 drops of bitters
Ice
Instructions:
Put all ingredients except ice and bitters into a cocktail shaker and shake for 10-15 seconds
Add ice and shake for 10 more seconds
Strain into a glass
Dot the top of drink with bitters
Non-alcoholic option: Skip the pisco and sprinkle cinnamon on the top instead of bitters
Nothing tastes better on a warm sunny day than a cool cocktail. Whether you’re at family BBQ or heading to the beach, you’ll find these drink recipes are a fabulous way to celebrate the summer sun.