Ever since Tom Cruise starred as barman Brian Flanagan and mixed colourful, fun drinks with flair and finesse in the 1988 blockbuster Cocktails, that genre of beverage was never quite the same again.
The period that followed this, the late eighties and nineties, were called the ‘golden cocktail era’. But if cocktails were golden then, they must be platinum now. Despite happy hour abounding in bars around the UK, for example, the region is fast becoming a collection of cocktail enthusiasts, with 77% of bargoers being willing to fork out a premium for a superlative cocktail according to thespiritbusiness.com. Here are a handful of some of the best cocktails from around the world.
Source: Max Pixels
Mexico
Tequila-inspired cocktails are named after the city of Tequila in Jalisco, Mexico which is where the blue agave plant is found. This is what tequila is derived from. Tequila is used as the base for some of the world’s favourite spirit drinks, namely the margarita, Tequila Slammer, Tequila Sunrise and Matador. Mexico’s national drink though gets its name from bullfighting rings, perhaps for its strength. The Paloma mixes tequila with grapefruit-flavoured soda and lime, loving served in a salt-rimmed glass. You’ll have to hurry though if you want to enjoy your share of tequila because, as telegraph.co.uk notes, it could be a thing of the past before long. Mexico doesn’t view growing the plant as profitable anymore, with wheat and corn being favoured instead.
New Orleans
This city of soul-stirring R&B and the authentic southern-fried food is also home to what travelchannel.com terms the oldest American cocktail. The Sazerac, a concoction of cognac or rye whiskey, absinthe or Herbsaint, sugar and bitters, probably had its origins before the American Civil War. No visit to New Orleans is complete without it.
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Canada
It may come as a surprise to a few that hot sauce is incorporated into this cold climate drink. To get the full effect, the drink is best enjoyed in a glamorous casino or hotel lounge setting. Failing that, you can always bring the party into your home by reading objective iGaming reviews from sites like canadacasino.net and picking your site and game of choice. For the drink, you’ll need vodka, clamato (clam juice), celery, lime and, you guessed it, hot sauce. How strong you go depends on you, just be sure to garnish with a celery stick and enjoy from a salt, sugar and cinnamon-rimmed glass.
Cuba
No round-up of best cocktails could ever not include the mint-based, refreshing Mojito. It dates all the way back to the sixteenth century when Ernest Hemingway first enjoyed it in Havana. It is a mixture of lime, sugar, rum, and typically with spearmint or Yerba buena, which are popular kinds of mint in Cuba.
The drink has many creative incarnations around the world. In Long Beach, Mauritius, curry leaves are added instead of mint to reflect the island’s Indian heritage. It is now so popular that many especially seek out the Mauritian Mojito.
Cocktails are a matter of preference and taste. They do not discriminate on wealth and social status. So, now that you know how to enjoy some of the best cocktails from around the world you should also check out some of the best foods like the dished made in Italy.