Do you like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain? Are you shaken or stirred? Is something with a splash of red, red wine more your style? Whatever you enjoy, World Cocktail Day is the time to celebrate the drinks we love!
World Cocktail Day takes place on 13 May each year. It’s a global celebration of cocktails and marks the anniversary of the publication date of the first definition of a cocktail. This happened over 200 years ago on 13 May 1806 in the American publication The Balance and Columbian Repository!
Many of us will recognise classic cocktails like martinis and cosmopolitans. Or, the more tropical varieties we treat ourselves to on vacation, such as margaritas and piña coladas! They symbolise holidays, parties, fun nights out with friends and even the odd boozy brunch. You don’t even need to be a drinker to enjoy cocktails – just opt for alcohol-free versions or mocktails!
In honour of the day dedicated to cocktails, Expat Explore has put together a list of iconic cocktails, where they originated from around the world and our pick of the ideal places to sip on them!
Our top 11 iconic cocktails from around the world:
1. Piña colada – Puerto Rico
A quintessential beach cocktail that originated in Puerto Rico! A piña colada is made with a sweet mix of rum, coconut cream and pineapple juice. Rumour has it that it was created by the pirate Roberto Cofresí who served it to his crew to boost morale back in the 1800s. Whatever the story, today it is Puerto Rico’s national drink and a well-loved favourite around the world.
Best place to enjoy a piña colada: On the beaches of Puerto Rico of course! If you can’t make it to Puerto Rico, a sunshine-drenched beach or coastal café will do!
2. Aperol spritz – Italy
This classic Italian cocktail originated in Northern Italy in the early 1900s. It is a bitter and bubbly mix of Aperol (an Italian bitter), Prosecco and club soda. Today, it is a popular choice in Italy (and worldwide!) as a refreshing cocktail. It is usually served as an apertivo (a pre-dinner drink).
Best place to enjoy an Aperol spritz: At a cosy trattoria in Rome, Lake Como, Tuscany, Venice or southern Italy. Basically, anywhere in Italy – the choice is yours!
3. Mojito – Cuba
Like with most cocktails, the exact origin story of the mojito is up for debate… but what we do know is that it was born in Havana, Cuba! A mojito is a mix of club soda, lime, white rum, mint and sugar. The sweet and citrusy mix makes it a super popular summer drink.
Best place to enjoy a mojito: At one of Havana’s bohemian bars or vibrant restaurants.
4. Manhattan – USA
According to popular legend, the Manhattan cocktail was invented at the Manhattan Club in New York City, USA, in the late 1880s. Allegedly, it was for a banquet hosted by Winston Churchill’s mother. However, many people doubt this part of the story as Lady Randolph Churchill would have been pregnant with Winston at the time. It is a mix of rye or bourbon whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters with a maraschino cherry garnish. This cocktail is the perfect choice for whiskey lovers!
Best place to enjoy a Manhattan: At one of New York City’s trendy bars or better yet, at the famous Manhattan Club itself!
Related: Spend three nights in New York and enjoy a Manhattan (or two or three) when you join our Eastern USA & Canada Escape!
5. Singapore Sling – Singapore
The fruity pink concoction was a popular cocktail for ladies at the beginning of the 20th century. It remains a firm favourite today! The Singapore sling combines gin, Grand Marnier, cherry liqueur, herbal liqueur (Bénédictine is a popular option), pineapple, lime, bitters and club soda. The story goes that the Singapore sling was created by Chinese bartender Ngiam Tong Boon a the Raffles Hotel in Singapore around 1915. He crafted it so women could enjoy an alcoholic drink disguised as fruity punch at a time when public drinking was more of a men’s activity.
Best place to enjoy a Singapore sling: At one of Singapore’s speciality cocktail bars, its buzzing restaurants or, of course, at the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel where it was created!
6. Caipirinha – Brazil
The caipirinha (pronounced kai-pir-in-ya) is a refreshing mix of cachaça (pronounced cah-cha-za), a rum-like liqueur from Brazil, lime and sugar topped with ice. This refreshing drink is perfect for Brazil’s long, hot summers! The name means “little countryside drink”. No one can say exactly when or how the caipirinha was invented but one theory suggests that a variation of the drink was used as a treatment during the Spanish flu epidemic!
Best place to enjoy a caipirinha: At one of Rio de Janeiro’s lively bars!
Related: Choose to join the Jeep Tour in Paraty and visit a cachaça distillery on our Brazil & Iguazu Highlights tour!
7. Margarita – Mexico
Was it made by Mexican restauranteur Carlos Danny Herrera for a Ziegfeld showgirl or was it Texas socialite Margaret Sames who whipped it up at a house party in Mexico? No one knows the true origin of the margarita which emerged between the 1930s and 40s. However it began, it became super popular! This cocktail is a mix of tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice served with salt around the rim of the glass. You can even enjoy a frozen margarita and sip it like a slushie on a hot day!
Best place to enjoy a margarita: Somewhere warm! If you’re not in Mexico, sip your margarita near a pool, at a beachside café or simply outside in the sunshine.
8. Sidecar – France (or England!)
As with most of the drinks on this list, the origin of the Sidecar cocktail has become jumbled in history. Some say it was created in Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, France around the end of World War I for an American army captain who used to travel to the bistro in a motorcycle sidecar. Others believe it was created by Pat MacGarry at the Bucks Club in London in the early 1900s. Whatever the true story is, the Sidecar remains a popular classic; it’s a mix of cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice.
Best place to enjoy a Sidecar: Pick a side or choose both! Enjoy a Sidecar on the cobblestone streets of a quaint Parisian neighbourhood. Or, head to London and find a bustling spot or classy cocktail bar to sit down and sip on a classic Sidecar.
9. Pisco Sour – Peru/Chile
Both Peru and Chile lay claim to being the birthplace of the Pisco Sour, with both sides having a lot of evidence to support their claim. One story goes that American Victor Morris created it as an alternative to a whiskey sour at Morris Bar in Lima. We do know that the drink emerged in the early 1900s. While the origin is not clear, one thing is for sure – the Pisco sour has a truly unique and delicious taste! Throw together Pisco (Peruvian brandy), lime/lemon juice, sugar syrup, egg whites and ice to give it a try.
Best place to enjoy a Pisco sour: At one of the stunning hotel bars in Lima for the Peruvian version – or travel to Santiago for the Chilean version!
Related: Try a Pisco Sour when you join our unforgettable Sacred Peru tour!
10. Sangria – Spain
One of the oldest drinks on the block! This Spanish wine punch’s origins stretch back hundreds of years to medieval times, and even thousands of years to the early Greeks and Romans who drank a version of it! Back then, water was not always safe to drink. To reduce the risk of illness, people drank wine mixed with sugar, spices and fruits. Today’s recipes may vary across the world but the base stays the same: red wine and chopped-up fruits. Often, it also includes an extra spirit like brandy. Sangria is one of the most popular drinks to enjoy with authentic Spanish cuisine!
Best place to enjoy sangria: Find a local Spanish spot that serves delicious tapas and enjoy a few glasses of sangria along with these tasty bites!
Related: Discover the best tapas restaurants in Spain to enjoy a sangria!
11. Pimm’s Cup – United Kingdom
This iconic British cocktail is a summer favourite and the signature drink of the Wimbledon tennis tournament! James Pimm (owner of a London oyster bar) created the Pimm’s Cup between 1823 and 1840. The cocktail is a mix of Pimm’s No. 1 Cup (a gin-based liqueur), lemonade and ice topped with mint and fresh fruit. Today, the refreshing drink is incredibly popular during the UK’s warmer summer months.
Best place to enjoy a Pimm’s Cup: Channel your inner Brit and enjoy a Pimm’s cup at a local pub or beer garden in the United Kingdom on a warm summer’s evening.
Try something new and celebrate World Cocktail Day with one of these tasty drinks from around the world! Better yet, enjoy one of these cocktails in their countries of origin on your next Expat Explore trip. You can tick multiple must-taste drinks off your list on a trip to Europe!