Some recipes take you on a journey. The smell of toasting cumin might drop you straight into a bustling spice market. A sip of something citrusy and botanical can remind you of a seaside bar in Southern Europe. That’s the magic of cooking (and mixing) with global flair — the ability to travel by taste.

And while I’ve always leaned heavily into the food side of international flavor, lately, I’ve been embracing the world of cocktails with the same curiosity. After all, if you’ve ever wandered through a night market or stepped into a tucked-away cocktail bar overseas, you know that drinks tell their own story.

I started thinking more about the craft behind global cocktails after taking a hands-on mixology class during a weekend getaway. What I expected to be a fun, lighthearted evening turned into a deep dive into ingredients I’d never used, flavor pairings I hadn’t imagined, and cultural traditions woven into every stir and shake. That single experience made me want to bring more of the world’s cocktails into my own kitchen — and into yours.

Here are a few internationally inspired cocktails you can recreate at home, along with the history, ingredients, and flavor stories that make each one worth savoring.

Brazil: The Bright Simplicity of the Caipirinha

Few drinks are as synonymous with their country of origin as Brazil’s Caipirinha. Made with just three ingredients — cachaça (a sugarcane-based spirit), lime, and sugar — it’s a drink that’s both refreshing and rooted in tradition.

Cachaça has been distilled in Brazil for over 500 years and is often referred to as the country’s national spirit. The Caipirinha, though simple, captures Brazil’s love for bold, vibrant flavors with a slightly grassy undertone that makes every sip feel sun-soaked.

To make it:

•     2 oz cachaça
  
•     1/2 lime (cut into wedges)
  
•     2 tsp sugar
  

Muddle the lime and sugar, add cachaça, and fill the glass with crushed ice. Stir well.

Japan: The Umami Elegance of the Yuzu Highball

Japanese cocktail culture is defined by precision, balance, and a reverence for quality ingredients. The Yuzu Highball is a perfect example — delicate, citrus-forward, and incredibly refreshing.

Yuzu is a tart, fragrant citrus fruit that’s become a favorite in Western kitchens, and when paired with a good Japanese whiskey and sparkling water, it creates a cocktail that’s subtle yet layered.

Ingredients:

•     1.5 oz Japanese whiskey
  
•     0.5 oz yuzu juice (fresh or bottled)
  
•     Club soda to top
  

Serve in a tall glass over ice with a thin slice of yuzu or lemon. The result is clean, crisp, and quietly complex.

Mexico: Spicy & Smoky Mezcal Margarita

While the margarita is a familiar favorite, swapping tequila for mezcal and adding a hint of chili salt takes it into richer, earthier territory.

Mezcal, often made in small batches, carries a signature smokiness thanks to the underground roasting of agave. Pair that with fresh lime, orange liqueur, and a salty, spicy rim, and you’ve got a cocktail that packs a punch and a whole lot of personality.

To make:

•     2 oz mezcal
  
•     1 oz lime juice
  
•     1 oz orange liqueur
  
•     Tajín or chili salt for the rim
  

Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a rocks glass with the rim coated, and serve over fresh ice.

Thailand: Lemongrass-Ginger Collins

Thailand’s cuisine is famous for balancing boldness with freshness, and this cocktail borrows that same ethos. The Lemongrass-Ginger Collins combines homemade syrup with gin, soda water, and lime for a bright, zesty drink with a kick.

Lemongrass and ginger aren’t just flavorful — they’re also anti-inflammatory and great for digestion, making this cocktail a feel-good choice for warm evenings or as a pre-dinner aperitif.

Ingredients:

•     2 oz gin
  
•     1 oz lemongrass-ginger syrup (homemade or store-bought)
  
•     0.75 oz lime juice
  
•     Club soda to top
  

Shake gin, syrup, and lime juice with ice, strain into a glass, and top with soda water. Garnish with a lemongrass stalk or ginger slice.

Italy: The Bitter Charm of the Negroni

Italian cocktails don’t apologize for their intensity — and the Negroni is the perfect example. A century-old aperitif, it’s bold, bitter, and beloved for a reason.

Its equal parts recipe makes it easy to remember:

•     1 oz gin
  
•     1 oz sweet vermouth
  
•     1 oz Campari
  

Stirred with ice and served with an orange twist, the Negroni is a drink with backbone. It’s also a wonderful reminder of Italy’s deep aperitivo culture — a time to pause, savor, and prepare the palate for the meal ahead.

The Culture Behind the Cocktails

Cocktails are so much more than a way to end the day or celebrate with friends — they’re part of a country’s cultural fabric. Some were born from necessity (like the Caipirinha, originally consumed by field workers), while others, like Japan’s highballs, reflect national values of harmony and craftsmanship.

As the Smithsonian Magazine points out in its exploration of cocktail history, many of the world’s most iconic drinks emerged as creative responses to local ingredients, trade, climate, and even political climates. From colonial rum punches to Prohibition-era smuggler creations, there’s always a deeper layer to every sip.

Bringing the World to Your Kitchen (or Bar Cart)

You don’t need to travel halfway across the world or have a degree in bartending to enjoy these drinks. What matters is the spirit of curiosity — the desire to mix, taste, and celebrate flavors that come from beyond your backyard.

Here are a few simple ways to explore global mixology at home:

1. Start with One Country

Pick a country and try its signature cocktail alongside a regional dish. Pair mezcal margaritas with grilled street corn or Caipirinhas with Brazilian cheese bread.

2. Build a Global Bar Cart

Stock a few international spirits: Japanese whiskey, cachaça, mezcal, and amaros. Add fresh ingredients like yuzu, lemongrass, or tamarind for authentic touches.

3. Take a Class

Whether virtual or in-person, a guided mixology class can help demystify techniques, introduce you to new ingredients, and give you confidence to mix more often.

4. Host a Culture Night

Invite friends over for a themed evening. Share cocktails, cook a dish from that country, and learn a few facts or traditions to deepen the experience.

Final Sips

Exploring international cocktails is about more than just mixing drinks — it’s about mixing cultures, stories, and traditions. Whether you’re muddling herbs from your garden, sourcing spirits you’ve never tasted before, or stepping into a mixology class to try something new, you’re creating a kind of travel experience that starts right at your kitchen counter.

In a world that’s never been more interconnected, it’s comforting (and thrilling) to know that the flavors of faraway places are just a pour and a stir away.