22 Best Drinks Around the World: Travel Spots to Quench Your Thirst

Best Drinks Around the World

One way to really get to know a place is to drink and eat.  The best cocktails around the world are ones that have local ingredients or has a history or tradition unlike anywhere else.  When you drink these drinks, you should be transported directly back to your vacation. I’ve included both boozy and non alcoholic suggestions so everyone can go gulp.

Whiskey in Scotland

The Scots know their whiskies.  Two things to remember about Scotch, it’s made from malted Barley and don’t add an “e” in Scottish Whisky. Want to try Scotland’s “other national drink”? Often when I’m in another country I love checking out unique, local beverages. In most countries, Coca Cola is the number one selling soft drink, except in Scotland. Irn Bru is a local soft drink that out sells Cokes. Allegedly only three people know the full ingredient list of this fizzy orange soda.

Where to drink a single malt: The Scotch Whisky Experience, a tour & class for the 101 on Scottish booze, plus the world’s largest collection of whiskies.  

 

Beer in Czech Republic

I know what you’re thinking, don’t the Germans corner the market on beer drinking?  While the best drinks in Germany could be beers, the Czechs have mastered the Pilsner. If you aren’t drinking pints, try out a few of Europe’s answer to Coca-Cola. Kofola is the Czech version and although it’s from Germany, Fritz Kola is another soft drink similar to Coke or Pepsi, both with a little more of a citrus twist.

Best place to get an education: The Beer Museum in Prague 

Limoncello in Italy

Although wine is extremely popular reason to drink in Italy, I have a little love affair with limoncello and in Naples there is a delicious family recipe being passed down at Limone. Visit the factory to have a tour, learn more about the production and the best part, a free tasting. The Italian liquor is a puckering lemon flavor traditionally produced in the Gulf of Naples. Lemon zest, alcohol, sugar and water mix to create the perfect after dinner drink. When life hands you lemons, make limoncello! Not a fan of aperitifs and digestifs? Immerse yourself in the coffee culture of Italy. You know the lingo, latte, espresso, cappuccino, so now you can learn the rules and rituals of ordering and drinking coffee in Italy. Remember, it’s nothing like Starbucks so don’t expect massive servings with whipped cream topping.

Best place to enjoy a Limoncello: The Amalfi Coast in the summer, with a warm sunset with the bright colored buildings dotting the rocky coastline. Sipping limoncello after a homemade Italian pasta dinner. Could it get any better?

Wine in France

There are so many regions known for their wine. I chose France in particular because for it’s size, it could be the most important wine producing country. Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Loire Valley are just a few of several regions producing fine fermented grapes. France produces 7-8 billion bottles of wine each year, and they have been creating wines since the 6th century BC. Most of the varietals you enjoy either are French or grown from a vine imported to another region.

When to visit France: Summertime in Nice during the Tour de France. 

Ouzo Greece

Ask for a the bill in Greece and you’ll find more times than not you’ll get the check along with a small shot of a clear liquid as a little post meal thanks. The national drink of Greece is Ouzo so your post meal shooter is most likely the anise flavored liquor.

Taking Shots in Greece: Read more about how to distinguish different Greek liquors in my blog post where I tackled 5 famous Greek spirits.

Raki in Turkey

Raki can be found in the Balkans, Albania as well as Greece, but it’s the signature drink in Turkey. Made from distilled grapes, Raki is usually topped with water and the milky drink is sipped slowly, not shot. If Raki isn’t appealing, Turkey is known for both their tea and coffee. Turkish tea is traditionally a black tea, in a small tulip shaped glass with an obscene amount of sugar. Turkish coffee is what I’d describe as an acquired taste.

Best place to enjoy an early morning tea or coffee: Cappadocia watching all of the hot air balloons float over the other worldly landscape of Monks Valley. 

Ti Punch Rhum in Martinique

I’ve had some tasty rum throughout my travels and I always thought that the rum in Nicaragua was the best I had. Until last winter when I went to Martinique for a couple of weeks and discovered ‘Ti Punch’. Much like several other islands in the Caribbean, Martinique claims to produce the best rum. There are 7 distilleries on the small island so they may be right about that assumption.

Where to drink like a pirate: Drinking rhum on a private island couldn’t get more buccaneer. Want to travel to the Martinique more responsibly? Check out my post about sustainable travel in the Caribbean.

Thai Iced Tea in Thailand

When you first notice street food vendors in Thailand, you’ll see some doling out small plastic bags, tied tightly by the handles with a bright neon straw poking out the top. The mysterious orange colored liquid is most likely Thai Iced Tea. The recipe is pretty simple, tea, condensed sweet milk and ice. Other countries have adopted the drink and put a spin on their version, usually with herbal teas instead of the powdery tea mix and adding spices.

Best city for street food: Bangkok has some of the tastiest street vendors in Thailand and in the chaos of the city it is a perfect place to enjoy a cool drink.

 

Mojito in Cuba

Nothing is better than a warm island and a cool drink. The best drink in Cuba is the mojito made with Havana Club Rum. It’s sweet, bubbly, refreshing with a little kick. You can order a mojito just about everywhere so do your ‘research’ and be an official mojito taste tester while visiting Cuba.

Where to drink like Hemingway: La Floridita or La Bodeguita del Medio. Also, be sure to visit his home just outside of Havana, Finca Vigia. 

Vermouth in Spain

I know a lot of people will think of a glass of sangria when thinking fo the best drinks in Spain but I chose vermouth and hear me out on why. I like when I travel somewhere, have a preconceived notion about something and then the place or culture spins it around and I learn something new. Vermouth to me as an American is a dry, clear, botanical flavored mixer used sparingly to enhance a martini. Spanish vermouth is a sweet herbaceous drink that plays along perfectly with a tapas happy hour. The smell reminds me of the outdoor patio tables lined with vintage soda water bottles ready for a Sunday sipping session.

Best Place to learn Spanish Cuisine: Barcelona Cooking Class 

Coffee in Colombia

You can find a good coffee in just about every corner of the world. If you aren’t in a country that grows it, you’re in a country that consumes it. Colombia is ranked in the top five places for production of coffee. The Colombian Coffee Triangle, or the Coffee Belt is geographically made for cultivating coffee.

Find the Best ‘Cup o Joe’: Salento is a major stop on the coffee trail, and the Cocora Valley has some of the largest palm trees in the world. This unique ecosystem nestled in the Andes has some of the most incredible landscape in the country. 

Pisco Sour in Peru

South America has some of the best drinks of any continent. Coffee, cocktails, wine and teas, they seem to have it all. Out of all the choices, I think the pisco sour is the most interesting. Pisco drinks date back to the 1700’s, but the sour cocktail was invented most likely in Lima, Peru in the early 1900’s. Ok so we know that Pisco Sours are made with bitters, egg white, simple syrup and lemon juice, but what is Pisco? Pisco is a type of brandy which comes in a few varieties and its origin is fought over by the Peruvians and Chileans.

Where to enjoy a Pisco Sour: Cusco before or after visiting Machu Picchu or at the Gran Hotel Bolivar in Lima, one of the famous places for Pisco. 

Tequila in Mexico

Want to kick your vacation up a notch? Go tequila tasting. Made from an agave plant, tequila is one of the only liquors that is required by law to be made in its native location. Tequila is potent but If you aren’t a fan, Jarritos soda is a good alternative for a local drink.

Best way to visit Mexico: Skip spring break in Cabo or Cancun and go to Loreto Bay in Baja to find culture, wildlife and of course, tequila. 

Singapore Sling in Singapore

Made famous at the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel, the Sling is a fruity classic cocktail. The Singapore Sling was made famous in the 20th century so it’s a baby among some of the best drinks on this list.

Best place to have a Singapore Sling: Are you surprised that I’m suggesting to head to THE place where the sling started, Raffles Hotel.

Port in Portugal

Porto, Portugal is without question one of my favorite cities in Europe. The food, the drinks, the architecture make it a perfect place to stop, relax and enjoy a glass of wine. The Douro Valley has some of the best vineyards and what better way to try a drink than to go straight to the source. Port wine is a dessert wine but I learned it can be red, white or rose.

Best place to take in all the river city views of Porto: The Yeatman Hotel

Snake Wine in Vietnam

What sounds to be a fictional beverage, but snake wine is a real thing. It is allegedly a drink for health, vitality and for men’s virility but it seems to be more of a commodity. The whole snake is infused in rice wine so the bottles are lined up in a row with coiled cobras trapped inside. The cocktail seems to really be more shock factor than medicinal. While I didn’t purchase or consume it but I was interested in the practice in general. Like me and can’t stomach vino with a reptile floating in the jar? Try Egg Coffee while visiting Hanoi. It is just what it sounds like, an egg yolk whisked into Vietnamese coffee sweetened with condensed milk and sugar.

Best boat ride in Vietnam: Bai Tu Long Bay

Mama Juana in Dominican Republic

Mama Juana (not to be confused with marijuana, the names may sound similar but they are VERY different products. The drink is rum, wine, honey and herbs all mixed together and soaked with tree bark. This mysterious drink has been known to heal ailments or as an aphrodisiac. This cure all cocktail is a great local & cultural souvenir whether it’s really a “baby maker” or just a strong drink. If you’re not interested in Mama Juana, you can always just opt for a fresh pineapple or coconut on the beach!

Best way to experience the Dominican Republic: Take a ‘Rest & Renew’ retreat with Purposeful Nomad.

Guinness in Ireland

 

My goodness, my Guinness. Dublin has the Guinness Storehouse, the best kind of museum. Take an afternoon to learn about the history of beer, how that combines with the history of Ireland. At the end of the tour you’ll have a chance to enjoy a pint at the rooftop bar, which offers some spectacular views of the city.

Best day trip from Dublin: A 30 minute train ride takes you straight to Howth, a typical seaside town in Ireland. Walk the coastline, enjoy some delicious chowder or just enjoy the day in town

Tea in Morocco

I challenge you to find a more entertaining way to pour a drink than a Moroccan pouring tea. The cook at our boarding school quickly moved her teapot away from our glasses, a stream of warm herbal tea arcing into our glasses. Moroccan tea is more than a beverage, it’s a sign of hospitality. Moroccan tea is traditionally mint, with lots of sugar and can be drunk several times a day, so there is no wrong time to enjoy a cup.

Where to have a Moroccan Tea: All over the country! Take a road trip through Morocco to not miss one moment in this fabulous country. 

Coca Cola in the USA

There is a museum in Atlanta, Georgia commemorating the beverage. Coca Cola is sold worldwide, but has been in ice boxes and refrigerators in America since 1886. What started as a medicine is now a global beverage empire. Americans consume a variety of beverages, coffees, teas, wines, whiskeys, you name it we drink it. I think since the soft drink has made such a mark on the world, it is what comes to mind to me when I think of a drink from home.

Where to go to experience ‘Americana’ : Detroit City 

Kinnie in Malta

Honestly, I still can’t decide if I like Kinnie or not. I think it makes it way onto the list because it is without question one of the most unusual and lesser known soft drinks. Kinnie is a bitter-sweet beverage, made with orange bitters and has a licorice meets herbal flavor. It that has to be tasted to really understand the odd complexity that is Kinnie.

Best place to enjoy a cold Kinnie: Any of the beaches in Malta, the island is one of my favorite beach destinations.

 

Water, World’s Best Drink

When you live in the global north you often forget that there is clean, easily accessible and affordable drinking water. But if we have learned anything from what is still an issue in Flint, Michigan is that countries like the US are not immune to water crisis. Over 2 billion people on this planet are  consuming contaminated water.

What are ways we can be more of a solution rather than the problem with water shortage & unsafe water?

• Reduce your consumption at home and also be mindful when on vacation to do the same.
• Bring your own water purifier or water filter like LifeStraw to reduce single use plastic waste like water bottles when visiting countries that may not always have clean water.
• Donate to charities that help bring potable water worldwide. I’d encourage you to find an organization that empowers and assists communities to take initiatives on a local level. Mobilizing community leaders and partners is a great way to not step into someone else’s space to “fix” a problem but offer a hand in helping to find a solution. The United Nations has a great resource about their goal to create safe & sanitized water for all.  Water.org is a fantastic start to learn more about the water crisis on a global level and ways to move beyond charity to get everyone involved.
• There are six simple rules to help save water: be mindful of food choices, cut indoor & outdoor water waste, change buying habits and save energy. These are just a few small steps to help limit your water footprint.
• In several of these photos you will notice there are plastic straws being used. I have more recently begun to be more plastic free and one way I do this is now by traveling with my own bamboo & steel straws. They are easy to clean and are good alternative for the environment instead of single use straws. It took me awhile to get into the habit, but now I always request no straw when ordering a drink to avoid the extra waste.

 

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