One of the best things about traveling the world is trying all the local favorites.
Whether it’s authentic food or a native beverage, there is no better way to experience the place you are visiting than indulging in what the locals love.
Below are five cocktails you should try when you’re traveling around the world.
Caipirinha
The caipirinha is Brazil’s national cocktail made from their sugar cane liquor cachaça.
It is made by mixing lime with sugar and pouring the cachaça over it. If you like sweet lime drinks, you love caipirinhas.
There is also a sister drink called a caipiroska made with vodka, but caipirinhas are king.
The party drink of Brazil, sometimes people make it in large batches to serve to many people in individual glasses.
You can catch people drinking caipirinhas on the street during carnival or in a restaurant eating some amazing Brazilian food.
Raki
A national favorite in Greece, raki is a strong anise-flavored drink that has been popular since the early 1900s.
It’s usually served with meze appetizers to encourage conversation, and locals say it should be sipped very slowly.
The liquor raki is made into a cocktail simply by adding water. Pour the clear liquid over ice and add water.
This creates a cloudy hue and a simple cocktail. Made of aniseed and grape pomace, raki is the national drink and most popular alcohol in Turkey.
Soju Cocktails
In South Korea, the national alcoholic beverage is soju.
A distilled rice liquor, the drink has a mild flavor and a nearly clear appearance when diluted with club soda or tonic water.
The word “soju” means “burned liquor,” not in reference to how it tastes, but because of its distillation process, which was historically done at home.
Soju is great because you can have it many ways, with a variety of different ingredients.
It is also popular to substitute soju for another liquor to create new versions of popular cocktails like the Moscow Mule, Cosmopolitan or Mojito.
Mojito
If you are going anywhere near Cuba you should be drinking mojitos.
White rum with lime, sugar, and mint, a mojito is a delightful combination of flavors. The cocktail is perfect on a hot day at the beach or on a rooftop bar.
Mojitos are delicious, but they can also pack a punch. Grab one when you are eating those delicious Cuban beans and fried plantains.
You simply can’t go wrong with a mojito in your hands, it is nothing but pure happiness.
Pisco Sour
Pisco is liquor made from the skin of the grape. A cousin of wine, it has a floral, bright flavor.
You can drink pisco straight or in Peru’s national cocktail, the pisco sour.
Pisco, sour mix, egg whites, and a bit of cinnamon go into making this dynamic and interesting cocktail.
A pisco sour is great when you are eating cuy in the mountains of Cuzco or when you are enjoying the nightlife of Lima.
Wherever you are in Peru, pisco sours will be available to you.
When it comes to traveling abroad, there is a drink to try. Whether you’re in Mexico and want to try something unauthentic like margarita freeze pops or want to keep it simple and authentic with raki and water in Turkey, there is an option for you. But if you’re interested in trying something not on this list, you could try your hand at brewing delicious smoothie beers.
Ryan Beitler is a writer and traveler who has written about travel for many publications. Follow him on Twitter @ryan_beitler