No Passport Required: Cocktails from Around the World

Traveling is put on hold for most of us this summer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy unique flavors found overseas. Shake, stir or mix up one of these six cocktails inspired from your favorite places abroad. If you don’t consider yourself much of a mixologist, check out our recommendations for four pieces of equipment to help get you started.

Italy: The Negroni

Born out of Count Camillo Negroni’s desire for a stronger beverage, he replaced the soda water in his favorite cocktail with gin. With sweet vermouth and Campari rounding out the drink, it’s no wonder the Negroni soared to popularity.

France: The Kir Royale

The Kir Royale. French socialites started mixing this simple cocktail, made by adding a little crème de cassis and lemon twist to a glass of champagne, for their luxurious gatherings. It’s typically reserved for special occasions.

Peru: The Pisco Sour

Pisco is Peruvian liquor made from grape seed and is often described as a cross between brandy and tequila. The pisco sour is made by mixing the pisco with sugar, lime and egg whites. A splash of bitters finishes the drink.

Brazil: The Caipirinha

Brazil’s signature drink is one of my favorites. It calls for Cachaça, a sugar cane liquor that is similar to rum. The liquor is shaken with pressed sugar and fresh lime.

Great Britain: The Pimm’s Cup

Originating in a London oyster bar in the 1840s to combat acid indigestion, this cocktail combines Pimm’s no. 1 liqueur, sliced orange, lemon, apple, cucumber, mint and ginger ale to cure what ails you.

Mexico: Paloma

Everybody is familiar with the margarita, but not everybody has heard of the paloma. More popular to the locals, the paloma combines silver tequila, fresh lime, a pinch of salt and pink grapefruit soda.

Four Must-Have Pieces of Equipment

• Pint glasses and shaker tins are a must for building and shaking cocktails. The glasses are your standard pint glass. Try the open-topped version (also known as a Boston cocktail shaker) that fits right over the glass and locks in.
• A muddler is a small wooden tool that resembles a bat and lets you crush fresh fruit or ice.
• The channel knife is a wonderful tool that gives you the ability to create fruit twists to garnish your crafted cocktails.
• Jigger is the little measuring cup bartenders use to ensure the exact accuracy of ingredients. Downloading recipes off the Internet is fun, and the jigger lets you concoct them precisely.