Fancy an aperitif with flavors from around the world ? Nothing beats an exotic cocktail for getting away from it all! Whether it's a tropical Brazilian cocktail, a comforting Nordic infusion, or a refreshing Thai drink, here are 13 recipes from all corners of the globe to try for an original and festive aperitif or to start your Valentine's Day meal .
🇧🇷 1. Passion Fruit Caipirinha – Brazil 🍍
Ingredients (for 1 glass):
- 1 passion fruit
- 1/2 lime
- 2 tablespoons of cane sugar
- 6 cl of cachaça
- Crushed ice cubes
Preparation:
1️⃣ Extract the pulp from the passion fruit.
2️⃣ Muddle the lime with the sugar in a glass.
3️⃣ Add the pulp, then fill the glass with crushed ice.
4️⃣ Pour in the cachaça and stir gently.
🇯🇵 2. Matcha Sour – Japan 🍵
Ingredients (for 1 glass):
- 4 cl of Japanese whisky
- 2 cl of lemon juice
- 1 cl of sugar syrup
- 1/2 tsp matcha powder
- egg white (optional)
- Ice
Preparation:
1️⃣ Sift the matcha to avoid lumps.
2️⃣ Combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake dry (without ice).
3️⃣ Add ice cubes and shake again.
4️⃣ Strain into a glass and sprinkle with a pinch of matcha.
🇸🇪 3. Nordic Mulled Wine with Berries – Scandinavia 🍷
Ingredients (for 2 glasses):
- 25 cl of red wine
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 1/2 cinnamon stick
- 2 cloves
- 1 pinch of cardamom
- 50g of red berries (cranberries, blueberries, raspberries)
Preparation:
1️⃣ Gently heat the wine with the honey and spices.
2️⃣ Add the berries and let them infuse for 10 minutes.
3️⃣ Strain and serve piping hot.
🇹🇭 4. Mango Lassi with Coconut Milk – Thailand 🥭
Ingredients (for 1 glass):
- 1/2 ripe mango
- 10 cl of coconut milk
- 5 cl of plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- Ice
Preparation:
1️⃣ Blend all ingredients until smooth.
2️⃣ Serve chilled, garnished with mango slices.
🇮🇹 5. Bellini – Italy 🍑
Ingredients (for 1 glass):
- 6 cl of prosecco
- 4 cl of white peach puree
- 1 dash of lemon juice
Preparation:
1️⃣ Blend the peaches until smooth.
2️⃣ Pour the purée into a flute glass, add a squeeze of lemon juice.
3️⃣ Top with chilled prosecco and stir gently.
🇫🇮 6. Pomegranate and Citrus Sangria – Spain 🍷🍊
Ingredients (for 1 pitcher)
- 50 cl of red wine
- 10 cl of pomegranate juice
- 1 sliced orange
- 1/2 lemon , sliced
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- 5 cl of orange liqueur (optional)
- Sparkling water and ice cubes
Preparation:
1️⃣ Combine the wine, pomegranate juice, sugar, and citrus slices in a pitcher.
2️⃣ Let it chill for 2 hours.
3️⃣ Add ice cubes and a splash of sparkling water before serving.
🇬🇷 7. Ouzo Tonic – Greece 🍸
Ingredients (for 1 glass)
- 4 cl of ouzo
- 10 cl of tonic
- 1 slice of lemon
- Ice
Preparation:
1️⃣ Fill a glass with ice cubes.
2️⃣ Pour in the ouzo and top with tonic water.
3️⃣ Add a slice of lemon and stir gently.
🇩🇰 8. Cranberry Spritz – Denmark 🍷
Ingredients (for 1 glass)
- 5 cl of lingonberry juice (you can replace it with just cranberry or pomegranate juice )
- 10 cl of sparkling wine
- 2 cl of berry liqueur (optional)
- Ice
Preparation:
1️⃣ Pour the cranberry juice into a glass filled with ice cubes.
2️⃣ Add the liqueur (optional) and top with sparkling wine.
3️⃣ Stir gently before serving.
🇮🇸 9. Vanilla and Ginger Infusion – Tahiti 🌺
Ingredients (for 1 cup)
- 25 cl of hot water
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 1/2 Tahitian vanilla
- 1 slice of fresh ginger
Preparation:
1️⃣ Heat the water and add the split vanilla bean and ginger.
2️⃣ Let it steep for 5 to 10 minutes .
3️⃣ Add the honey and enjoy hot.
🇳🇴 10. Swedish Coffee with Cardamom Notes – Sweden ☕
Ingredients (for 1 cup)
- 1 cup of filter coffee
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tsp of sugar (optional)
Preparation:
1️⃣ Add the ground cardamom to the ground coffee before brewing.
2️⃣ Filter as you would regular coffee.
3️⃣ Sweeten to taste and enjoy piping hot.
🇵🇫 11. Mai Tai Reimagined with Coconut Milk: The Tropical Cocktail of Tahiti 🍹
Ingredients (for 1 glass)
- 4 cl of amber rum
- 2 cl of white rum
- 2 cl of coconut milk
- 1.5 cl of orgeat syrup
- 1.5 cl of triple sec (Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or orange Curaçao)
- 2 cl of lime juice
- Ice
- 1 slice of pineapple and 1 mint leaf for decoration
Preparation 1️⃣ In a shaker, pour the two rums, coconut milk, orgeat syrup, triple sec, and lime juice.
2️⃣ Add ice cubes and shake vigorously for 10 seconds.
3️⃣ Pour into a glass filled with crushed ice.
4️⃣ Garnish with a slice of pineapple and a mint leaf.
5️⃣ Enjoy immediately with a straw!
🇮🇳 12. Namaste Punch: The Indian Cocktail with Spices and Mango 🍹
Ingredients (for 1 glass)
Alcohol-free version 🌿
- 10 cl of fresh mango juice
- 4 cl of sparkling water or tonic
- 1 cl of lime juice
- 1/2 tsp grated ginger
- 1 pinch of ground cardamom
- 1 tablespoon of honey syrup or cane sugar
- Ice
- Mint leaves and a slice of lime for decoration
Version with alcohol 🍸
- Replace the sparkling water with 4 cl of gin or white rum
Preparation
1️⃣ In a shaker, combine the mango juice, lime juice, grated ginger, cardamom, and honey syrup.
2️⃣ Add ice cubes and shake vigorously.
3️⃣ Strain into a glass filled with ice.
4️⃣ Top with sparkling water or tonic water (or alcohol if you choose the alcoholic version).
5️⃣ Garnish with a mint leaf and a lime wheel .
🇫🇷13. Kir Royal: The Elegant and Sparkling French Aperitif 🍾
🥂 Ingredients (for 1 glass)
- 9 cl of chilled brut champagne
- 1 cl of crème de cassis (or raspberry crème for a variation)
🍸 Preparation
1️⃣ Pour the crème de cassis into the bottom of a flute.
2️⃣ Slowly top up with chilled champagne to preserve the bubbles.
3️⃣ Do not stir; the crème de cassis will mix naturally.
4️⃣ Serve immediately and enjoy!
🌎 With these 13 cocktails, travel the world without leaving your kitchen! So, what will be your first stop? 🍹✨