Raise A Glass: The Best Celebratory Drinks Around The World
celebratory drinks intro
Though the world is becoming a smaller place, celebratory customs still vary from region to region and country to country. But one thing ties us all together: the enjoyment of a quality drink. Let’s take a trip around the world, in liquid form.
By Morgan Greenhalgh
0/11
Food
Raise A Glass: The Best Celebratory Drinks Around The World.
Australia: Beer
Australia: Beer – Celebrating in Australia means beer! That’s not to say they don’t have a fine wine industry growing or a young cocktail scene expanding, but when you’re talking an authentic Aussie celebration, you’re talking beer. Cold, frosty and refreshing, it’s the Aussie way. To Prepare: Acquire your favourite brew, open, celebrate. If you’re feeling fancy, pour it into a glass.
1/11
Food
Raise A Glass: The Best Celebratory Drinks Around The World.
Chile: Terremoto
Chile: Terremoto – Was that an earthquake? Nope, just a Terremoto, a cocktail named after an earthquake to help people beat the heat. This drink celebrates the uniqueness of Chilean cocktails, combining white wine, pineapple ice cream (or sherbet) and pisco. To Prepare: Add pineapple ice cream, sherbet or sorbet to a jug with a bottle of white wine and add a splash of pisco (for true South American flavour) or fernet (if you’re truly odd), stir. Pour into glasses. [Photo: 3BRBS/Wikimedia Commons]
2/11
Food
Raise A Glass: The Best Celebratory Drinks Around The World.
China: Baijiu
China: Baijiu – Celebrations in China are synonymous with baijiu, their “white lightning.” To blend in the revelry, drink baijiu, drink it straight and like it! Except, unless you grew up with baijiu, you’re probably going to loathe the stuff. Think of is as the durian of alcohols: funky, odd, aged cheese in character, an acquired taste. To Prepare: Open your bottle of baijiu, pour it, shoot it. Then question what led you to that decision. [Photo: Badagnani/Wikimedia Commons]
3/11
Food
Raise A Glass: The Best Celebratory Drinks Around The World.
Ecuador: Canelazo
Ecuador: Canelazo – In Chile, they want to cool you off during your celebrations, while in Ecuador, they want to heat you up (thank the Andes). For that, they have Canelazo, a spiced, heated drink that warms you up from the inside out. To Prepare: Combine 3 cups of water, 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar, 4-8 cinnamon sticks, 1 tsp. whole cloves and juice of 1 lime to a pot and bring to a boil. Then lower and simmer for 30 minutes. Add 2 cups aguardiente (or rum) and 1/2 cup of orange juice. Serve warm. [Photo: momentcaptured1/Wikimedia Commons]
4/11
Food
Raise A Glass: The Best Celebratory Drinks Around The World.
Ethiopia: Tej
Ethiopia: Tej – In Ethiopia, the thinking goes that if a drink was good enough for the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, then it’s good enough for us. That drink? Tej, a special brewed honey wine. Think mead, but with interesting spices. To Prepare: Go to Ethiopia, make a local friend, try their homebrew (as homebrew is the best). Barring that, go to a tej house and drink theirs – but with friends! [Photo: Ron Waddington/Wikimedia Commons]
5/11
Food
Raise A Glass: The Best Celebratory Drinks Around The World.
France: Kir Royale
France: Kir Royale – Celebrating something special in France? First off, we envy you, as your drinking options are virtually limitless. However if you want to kick up the special occasion that extra little bit, you’re drinking a Kir Royale. It’s also how you make Champagne just a little more fancy. Now that’s celebrating. To Prepare: Add 1/2 oz. of crème de cassis to a Champagne flute and top with Champagne. [Photo: Tim Lucas/Flickr]
6/11
Food
Raise A Glass: The Best Celebratory Drinks Around The World.
Korea: Somac
Korea: Somac – If you’re in Korea and you’re celebrating, you’re probably partying hard. And you, my friend, are going to be drinking somac, a portmanteau of soju (the famed Korean booze) and macju (beer) which are combined to celebrate the best of times. To Prepare: Ratios vary, so try starting with one part soju to five parts beer in a glass. From there, increase or decrease your ratio until you’re happy as a clam, celebrating with all the new friends you’ve made. [Photo: Graham Hills/Flickr]
7/11
Food
Raise A Glass: The Best Celebratory Drinks Around The World.
Peru: Pisco Sour –
Peru: Pisco Sour – Whether hiking the Incan Trail, admiring Machu Picchu or having ridiculously good ceviche in Lima, when you’re celebrating in Peru you’re drinking a pisco sour. Sweet, tart and amazing, it’s no wonder this is Peru’s national drink. To Prepare: Add 2 oz. of pisco, 1 oz. of fresh lime juice, 1/2 oz. of simple syrup and 1 egg white to your cocktail shaker with ice. Shake (a whole lot, to froth that egg white). Pour into a cocktail glass and top with a few drops of bitters. [Photo: uncoolbob/Flickr]
8/11
Food
Raise A Glass: The Best Celebratory Drinks Around The World.
Turkey: Lion's Milk
Turkey: Lion’s Milk – In Turkey, they celebrate courage, strength and honour with Lion’s Milk, the nickname they’ve given raki (famed Turkish anise-flavoured alcohol) mixed with water. It turns milky and – this is the truly impressive part – when you drink it, you get the strength and courage of a lion! To Prepare: Take one part very cold water and add two parts raki. Drink! Feel the power of the lion. [Photo: Javier Parra/Flickr]
9/11
Food
Raise A Glass: The Best Celebratory Drinks Around The World.
USA: Old Fashioned
USA: Old Fashioned – Here’s the thing about the USA: it’s awfully diverse, especially when we’re talking about celebratory drinks. It came down to, what do the makers of Pappy Van Winkle (one of the finest bourbons you can get) recommend to use their bourbon in? An Old Fashioned. To Prepare: Add 2 oz. of bourbon, a few drops of bitters and 1 tsp. of sugar to a cocktail glass with ice. Stir. Then pour into your old-fashioned glass with ice. Garnish with an orange peel. [Photo: Marler/Wikimedia Commons]
10/11
Food
Raise A Glass: The Best Celebratory Drinks Around The World.
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