Food isn't the only way you can learn more about a culture-- booze does the job just as well. But instead of simply grabbing a bottle of wine or a handle of vodka, try making some simple cocktails using liquor from around the globe, adding that special international flavor.
Caipirinha de Uva – Cachaça (Brazil)
Cachaça is the most popular alcohol in Brazil, and it's used to make the national drink, the Caipirinha.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 lime, quartered
- 5 seedless green grapes
- 1 ½ tablespoons sugar
- ¼ cup cachaça
- Ice cubes
Add lime quarters, grapes and sugar to a cocktail shaker. Use a wooden spoon to pound the mixture, releasing the juice. Add cachaça and ice and shake for half a minute. Pour contents into a chilled glass and serve.
Limoncello martini – Limoncello (Italy)
The Italian lemon-flavored liquor has become increasingly popular in U.S. restaurants and can be used in a variety of cocktails.
Ingredients:
- ½ ounce limoncello
- 1 ounce vodka
- Ice cubes
Add limoncello, vodka and ice to a cocktail shaker and shake well. Pour into a martini glass and add a lemon twist to garnish.
Gong – Sake (Japan)
This traditional Japanese liquor is made from rice and can be served warm or cold, and is used for making plenty of fun cocktails.
Ingredients:
- 5 ounces sake
- 3 ounces pomegranate-flavored liquor (or other fruit-flavored liquor)
- Chilled ginger ale
- Ice cubes
- 2 orange slices for garnish
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes. Add sake and pomegranate liquor. Shake well. Fill glass with ice cubes and strain the mixture. Add ginger ale and stir. Garnish with orange slices and serve. When drinking, make sure to tap the side of the glass with a spoon– it’s why the cocktail is called “gong.”
Amarula sunset – Amarula cream (South Africa)
Amarula cream is a South African cream liquor made from the marula fruit, which can be found in most liquor stores.
Ingredients:
- 2-3 teaspoons strawberry puree
- 2 ounces Amarula Cream
- ½ cup vanilla ice cream
Add ingredients to a blender. After blending, pour into a glass and garnish with a fresh strawberry. Serve.
Shiraz sangria – Shiraz (Australia) and Sangria (Spain)
Sangria is a crowd pleaser, but this cocktail adds flavor from the Australian shiraz, a popular red wine from down under known for its fruity and spicy aroma.
Ingredients:
- Bottle of Shiraz (red wine)
- 1 lemon cut into wedges
- 1 orange cut into wedges
- 1 lime cut into wedges
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- A glass of orange juice or lemonade
- 2 shots of gin
- 4 cups ginger ale
Add chilled wine, juice squeezed from wedges into a large pitcher. Toss in the fruit wedges. Add orange juice, gin, ginger ale and lots of ice. Prepare glasses and serve.
After drinks, check out the fall magazine for some international dishes.