Summer is all about letting loose, relaxing, and enjoying the light, sweet, and invigorating tastes that mimic the season’s vibes. And if you can get a bit buzzed along the way, even better, right? These summer cocktails aren’t your average beverages; they’re famous concoctions from around the world, reflecting what other cultures sip on to enjoy the warm weather.
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1. Negroni, Italy
This classic Italian drink is a simple composition of equal parts gin, vermouth, and Campari. Serve on the rocks with an orange peel garnish. It has roots dating back to the 1920s in Florence and is an ode to the flavor profile of a true cocktail: spirit, sweet, and bitter.
2. Caipirinha, Brazil
Instead of ordering a margarita or a mojito next time you’re at a bar, opt for a Caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail. This cocktail contains cachaça, sugar, and lime. Cachaça is from the fermented juice of sugarcane and has a history as far back as the 1500s, when the Portuguese arrived in Brazil.
3. Long Island Iced Tea, USA
Despite its name, this summer cocktail doesn’t actually contain tea. This amber-hued cocktail is a mixture of tequila, vodka, light rum, triple sec, gin, and a splash of cola. While the origins are not certain, a man named Robert “Rosebud” Butt claims he invented the drink while competing in a mixed drink contest in 1972 while he was working at the Oak Beach Inn on Long Island.
4. Pisco Sour, Peru
Sour cocktail lovers, rejoice. The Pisco Sour is perfect for your taste buds. The Pisco Sour is Peru’s national drink and contains brandy, lemon juice, egg white, and sugar. Pisco is a brandy from the winemaking regions of Peru. Evidence of Pisco was first documented in the 17th century, and the cocktail came into existence sometime in the early 20th century, when expat Victor Morris (originally from Utah) found a way to make whiskey sours, but without the whiskey.
5. Pimm’s Cup, England
The Pimm’s Cup is a classic British summertime drink that is full of fruit. Pimm’s No. 1 is a gin-based concoction from England from dry gin, liqueur, fruit juices, and spices. Served with lemon soda or ginger ale, it becomes a Pimm’s Cup.
6. Radler, Germany
The Radler dates back to the early 20th century. In 1922, a bar owner was short on beer but had to serve cyclists (Radler means “cyclist” in German) who were thirsty from their trek. The bar owner mixed whatever beer he had with lemonade and served it to the cyclists. The Radler was born. Today, 7-Up is often the favorite choice over lemonade. Mix a can of 7-Up with a bottle of a Pilsner or Lager to make your own Radler.
7. Singapore Sling, Singapore
The Singapore Sling was first created in 1915 at Raffles Singapore by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon. It is a gin-based cocktail that also contains pineapple juice, grenadine, lime juice, Dom Benedictine, cherry brandy, and Cointreau.
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