Drinks from Around the World

Lockdown can be boring. There, I said it. I don’t know what to do with myself half the time. Should I be productive and write a blog post or edit a vlog? Should I help Tom Nook on Animal Crossing? Or, should I just get under a blanket and binge-watch some rather crappy, yet excellent, show such as Love is Blind? The choices are endless. My fiancé however is quite content the way it is all going. He spends the day either doing work, playing a game on the Playstation and eating our isolation snacks, before opening a beer in the evening to relax and watch my Love is Blind show (shhh, don’t tell him I told you!). That got me thinking; I need to grab a drink to help me relax! Only, I’ve never really been a fan of beer or even wine, which eliminates our two main resources. I want something fruity and exciting and I want to have something to do. The way I see it, there is only one answer to this; write up a list of drinks from around the world to try and how to make them. You’re welcome!

1. Swizzle

One of Jack’s favourite memories is going on a field course to Bermuda during his masters year. He often tells me about him swimming with barracudas and turtles before always telling me about a bar called The Swizzle Inn. Their main drink is of course the swizzle, the national drink of Bermuda. To make this you will need two types of Gosling’s rum; Gold and Black. For the ‘simple’ version mix this with fresh orange and pineapple juice and, from there, you can add Grenadine if you feel adventurous. If you go to Bermuda however, they also add other ingredients which include their very own ‘swizzle stick’, deriving from a branch of a Caribbean tree which gives a frost effect to the glass.

2. Caipirinha

I once thought about doing a year abroad in Brazil during my time in University. I actually ended up opting for Düsseldorf as I had long-lost family there and I wanted to get to know them better. However, during my research of the country I came across the Caipirinha cocktail, a tasty little number which is, without question, the national drink of Brazil. To make this easy cocktail, slice up a lime into thin slices before adding a couple of tablespoons of caster sugar. Now, mix this until you get a syrup-like consistency before adding in 3oz. of the secret ingredient; Caçhaca (it was so secret, that I had to do a bit of research into what it actually was!).

3. Sangria

There are no prizes for knowing where this national cocktail comes from; of course, it is Spain. Most years, Jack and I are fortunate enough to visit his grandmother’s home in the Canary Island of Fuerteventura and, this year, it is safe to say we are missing it a lot. Therefore, making our own Sangria brings back really great memories from the island for both of us and it is also so easy to make. You will need an apple, lemon, lime, orange and some blackberries and then combine these with red wine. You can then add some cinnamon sticks as well as brandy before placing in the fridge to cool. A perfect drink for a sunny evening.

4. Mojito

Although I have never been to Cuba, in Thailand Jack and I practically survived off Mojitos, especially as they were below £2.00 each! This simple recipe only requires soda water, rum (to taste), sugar (around two tablespoons) and a whole lime. Next, you of course need fresh mint. We grow mint in our garden for such an occasion and, like the rum, it is purely to taste, however we recommend two or three sprigs. Lastly, place a generous amount of ice in the glass and close your eyes and imagine you’re relaxing on a Cuban beach.

5. Aperol Spritz

This Summer we were going to visit Northern Italy again. This would have of course included another trip to Venice as you just cannot go if you are in the region. The Aperol Spritz will bring the taste of Venice and Italy into your living room this Spring and all you will need is around two dashes of Aperol, prosecco and some sparkling water. Mix it all together and there you are, you’re practically in Venice!

6. Beer and Deer

Being such an avid-fan of German culture, I could not forget to include this drink on my list. It is so simple to create that you may wonder why I bothered including it at all. The answer is that if you’re not a massive fan of fruity cocktails, then this one could be for you. Start with an ounce or so of chilled Jägermeister and then pour it into a pint glass. Then, pour a pint. Yes, it is that simple and it actually tastes pretty good! See it as a more manly diluted Jäger-bomb.

7. Pimm’s Cup

This time we’re closer to home and exploring one of the national spirits of the United Kingdom; it can only be Pimm’s. On a sunny day, with a BBQ on, this will go down a treat, especially as events such as Henley Regatta and Wimbledon will not be running as normal this year. To make this, you obviously need some fresh mint, a handful of chopped up strawberries and some sliced tangerines. To be honest, the choice of fruit is really up to you! Then, add this together with some lemonade and some Pimm’s No. 1 to make the perfect drink to relax in your garden.

8. Black Russian

Bring the taste of Russia right… Oh, wait, sorry I meant Belgium! That’s right, this drink was actually created in Brussels and is named due to the colour and that Russian visitors allegedly enjoyed the drink. It again is very simple to try at home and actually could be combined with the recent iced coffee trend on Instagram. All you need is vodka and any coffee-based liquor/ liquid which you want. Mix it together and you have a Black Russian. As a side-note, I am well aware that this will certainly not be to everyone’s taste. Jack’s exact words were “why on Earth is that on the list?”.

9. Cosmopolitan

A show which I am currently binge-watching is Suits. We get a good few hours of Harvey and Mike kicking legal-ass every day. All this has done has made me really want to go back to New York, which we are going to have to do at some point post-Corona. This classic cocktail is slightly more specialist and could be tricky during isolation, but see it as a challenge! You will need lemon vodka (or just regular vodka with lemon juice, triple sec, cranberry juice and of course a freshly squeezed lime. Mix this all with ice and transport yourself atop a sky scraper in the Big Apple.

10. Margarita

Lastly, we have a rather special drink for me. After Jack and I got engaged we decided to hit our hotel’s Mexican restaurant and gorged ourselves on chimichangas, nachos and margaritas. Every time I even hear the name of this cocktail, I am immediately transported back to this special evening. Making it could not be simpler and all you need is the Mexican-staple of tequila repasado (50ml), lime juice (25ml) and around 20ml of triple sec. Mix it all together with ice and, of course, don’t forget to put salt on the rim!

Are you following my travels on YouTube? Here’s a sneak peek of what we got up to on our trip to Thailand!

My Travel Tips and Recommendations

Flights

My usual go-to for booking flights is Skyscanner, the flight search engine. What I love about Skycanner is that you have various options depending on your situation. If you know where you want to go it’s easy – all you need is to search for your destination and dates, and you are provided with all flight options to choose from. If you haven’t decided on your next trip yet, you can use the Everywhere tool for inspiration and to find the cheapest places to fly to.

Accommodation

Whenever I plan my travels Booking.com is my best friend. The website is super easy to use and provides a whole range of accommodation from fancy resorts to budget hotels. Jack and I also regularly use Airbnb – in particular, for staycations in the UK.

Things I can’t travel without

As a travel blogger and keen photographer I never travel without my trusty technology. Always packed are my

Canon EOS M3
GoPro Hero5 Black
I’m also saving for a DJI Mavic Pro

Travel Insurance

It is so important to be prepared for all possibilities when travelling and you simply shouldn’t travel without insurance. When looking for cover I would personally recommend World Nomads or the Post Office – both are affordable and certainly won’t break the bank.

Drinks from Around the World