Being able to unwind, relax, and not having to worry about getting up early is one of the best things about going on vacation. It’s also the perfect time to try out new things you probably wouldn’t even think about doing in regular circumstances. Cocktails are one of those things. While some people do drink them on a regular basis, the majority still stick to beer, wine, or hard liquor when they want to unwind or party.
Here are a couple of cocktails that are sure to spice up your holiday and make for an unforgettable drinking experience.
Daiquiri
One of those quintessential summer drinks, the daiquiri is, without a doubt, the best known rum-based cocktail. Besides white rum, lime juice and sugar (or some other sweetener) are added, making for a very sweet and fun drink, ideal for beach parties.
Probably originating in Cuba, the drink became popular in the United States in the 1940s, because World War 2 rationing made whiskey and vodka – two common cocktail ingredients – harder to obtain.
The daiquiri is similar to another drink that has become synonymous with (movie) pirates and other sailors in the XVIII century – grog. The seamen drank this to prevent scurvy – a debilitating disease that occurs from Vitamin C deficiency.
Moscow Mule
Made with vodka, ginger beer, lime juice, and garnished with lime and mint leaves, the Moscow mule may not be the most adventurous drink around, but it is a tasty beverage you should try out all the same.
Traditionally served in a fetching copper mug, the Moscow mule is popular enough to have spawned many different variations – if the vodka is substituted with bourbon it’s then called a Kentucky Mule. If coffee liqueur is added – it is a New Orleans mule. Southern Comfort liqueur – a Southern mule. Irish whiskey – an Irish mule. Absinth – a Bohemian mule. And so on.
Manhattan
The Manhattan is made with whiskey, vermouth, and bitters, garnished with a Maraschino cherry, and served in a regular cocktail glass. Originating in, of course, Manhattan, New York, probably in the 1860s or early 1870s, it quickly caught on to become one of the best-loved cocktails in the world.
Just like the Moscow mule, many other variations of the Manhattan exist. The Rob Roy – made with Scotch whiskey – is probably the most well-known.
Margarita
When we think of pool parties or beach jamborees, we have always picture people sipping on margaritas. Made with tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and served in a margarita glass with salt on the rim of the glass, the margarita is a lively little cocktail that’s a guarantee for a good time.
Most likely originating in Mexico (“margarita” is Spanish for “daisy”) in the 1930s, the drink soon became highly sought after during the Prohibition in the United States, when Americans were crossing the border south in search of legal alcohol. Immediately recognizable thanks to its eponymous margarita glass (a variant of the champagne glass), the margarita cocktail can also be served in any ordinary glass in informal settings or house parties.
