International Tipples: Place-Specific Alcoholic Drinks we Love

Despite the marvels of globalization, there are some beverages you can only get in a particular place, or that just taste better when you drink them where they come from. Often, but not always, that’s because they originate in Edenic vacation spots, and who wouldn’t like to be sitting under a palm tree, even in the imagination? But sometimes a beverage captures the flavour of a place in a different way. We think these drinks are best enjoyed in their country of origin, but they aren’t bad elsewhere either, if you can find them! (Please don’t click on the links below unless you are of legal drinking age.)

Our Top Four Drinks:

• Averna: from Sicily: one of the Italian bitters (amari), like Campari or Aperol but much more medicine-y, in a good way, like Cynar. We like it best on the rocks as an aperitif, sitting outside a tiny bar eating amazing free bar snacks and eavesdropping on our neighbors. It’s also a darn good substitution for sweet vermouth in a Manhattan (which turns it into a Black Manhattan).
• Cachaça: from Brazil: Pirassununga 51 is our favourite brand. This is the key ingredient in a caipirinha, the most common drink made from this cane liquor. Unlike rum, which comes from molasses, this derives from sugar cane juice. If you’ve never tried a caipirinha before, think mojito but better. Best enjoyed under that palm tree, watching the (Amazon) river flow.
• Crabbie’s alcoholic ginger beer: from Edinburgh. A real find, if you love ginger as much as we do! Low-alcohol, so easy to drink, and best straight out of the bottle in a cosy pub watching the footie. This is available in many but not all parts of the UK and we’ve not found it elsewhere. If it’s not boozy enough for you, try the Whisky Mac (we use ginger beer instead of the ginger wine of that recipe).
• Pimm’s No. 1: from the UK. The classic option is to drink it served in a Pimm’s cup (with ginger ale, lemon juice, strawberry, orange, cucumber, and mint). It’s a gin-based drink with a secret mix of herbs and it is simply perfect sitting outside a pub on a sunny day. Order a pitcher; you won’t be sorry.