Drinking while Travelling: 5 Festive Drinks from around the Globe

Oh, the joy of travelling, meeting new people, learning new things and seeing all those wonderful places! And not just that, but wherever you go, it’s also logical that you try the local cuisine and drinks. There’s something quite enchanting in being in a new and exciting place and sipping on local booze. So, you start wondering which delicious drink people drink at festivities around the world. Wonder no more, here are some of the most famous ones. Drinking while Travelling: 5 Festive Drinks from around the Globe

Bombardino, Italy

It’s said that the first people to try this drink exclaimed that it was like a bomb, and that’s how it got its name. The reference to a bomb is not only due to its high temperature, but also the high alcohol content of this hot and creamy drink. Bombardino is made of egg liquor, heated in a pan and poured over some brandy in a glass. It’s topped off with some whipped cream and cinnamon to tickle your taste buds. It’s a part of a traditional Italian Christmas dinner, and it’s popular in Italian ski resorts, which makes perfect sense since it can certainly warm you up in those freezing snowy days.

Mulled wine, Australia

You’ll be asking yourself why exactly Australia? When mulled wine is made almost everywhere and each country adds to the recipe with one twist or another. However, it’s no mistake, since Australians surpass everybody else when it comes to this savoury drink. This might be due to the amazing choice of quality wines you can get in every bottle shop from Haymarket to Malabar in Sydney. The sun-bathed Australian fruit allows them to make the wine taste so fruity it borders with flamboyant, which is a fantastic thing if you’re making mulled wine. Adding fresh citruses, nutmeg, honey or ginger only makes the aroma richer and more appealing, so don’t hesitate to have a cup if you’re ever Down Under.

Mojito, Cuba

Ernest Hemingway’s favourite drink, mojito, is made with white rum as its base, with fresh lime juice, mint leaves, sugar, cracked ice and soda water. The flavours of mint and citrus, in combination with the sugar sweetness, form a perfect balance with the rum, making this traditional Cuban cocktail famous and extremely popular all over the world. However, the best mojitos are made right where the cocktail was born, in Havana, Cuba. Its name might be related to mojo, which is a seasoning containing lime, or it could be a derivative of the Spanish word mojadito, meaning ‘a little wet’. And since it only contains about 10% of alcohol by volume, less than most wines, it’s ok to have more than one glass if you’re out dancing salsa in Havana.

Irish Coffee, Ireland

As fiery as their ginger hair, the Irish don’t only put whiskey in the jar, but also in their coffee. And what coffee that is! Other than whiskey, they also add sugar, usually brown, and top it with thick cream (not whipped). The coffee is supposed to be drunk straight through the cream, to have all the aromas mix in your mouth. The story says that Joe Sheridan served some American passengers in Foynes Airbase coffee with whiskey in early 1940’s, to warm them up. When they asked if the coffee was Brazilian, he replied it was Irish coffee. And although you can get Irish coffee anywhere, if you visit Ireland, you’ll get to see for yourself that their music, dance and hearts are as passionate and as intense as their famous coffee.

Sangria, Spain

Sangria, Spain

This drink is just like the Spanish people – spirited, cheerful and sweet, making you want to dance till you can’t feel your own body anymore. Because of its red colour, it is believed that sangria got its name from the Spanish word sangre, meaning blood. It is served chilled, usually sweetened with orange juice or sugar, with bits of various chopped fruit, such as peaches, pineapple, nectarines, berries or melon, garnished with citrus slices. It’s perfect for parties with a lot of people since it can be served in big bowls so that your guests can decide themselves the ratio of fruit and wine they pour into their glasses.

Having any of these drinks and closing your eyes while doing it can take you to their place of origin in a second. However, if you’re given the chance, visit these awesome countries and really enjoy the taste of history and human nature in each of these remarkable beverages.