After a long workweek or a particularly stressful Monday, we totally get the appeal of a nice beer-and-shot combo or a liberally poured glass of red wine. These options are true classics and they're all simple ways to get from point A (queued up at the crowded bar) to point B (pleasantly buzzed and ready to de-stress with friends in your cozy booth). Still, there's a big, wide world out there, and it's filled with exotic libations that deserve to be tasted.With this in mind, we've rounded up the best cocktails from around the globe — from the decadently frothy Chilean Pisco Sour to the Sanpellegrino® Sparkling Fruit Beverages-infused Italian spritz to the surprisingly medicinal British G&T. Think of it as a means to turn your next happy hour into an epic, multi-country vacation that is — bonus — all but guaranteed to cost far less than an international plane ticket.
England: Gin & Tonic
Created by the British East India Company as means to make antimalarials go down easily, the G&T is as simple to create as the name suggests. The drink doesn't prove medicinally effective these days, but it is icy, refreshing, and a surefire way to keep it both classy and classic.
Korea: Subak-Soju
The bright-looking — and equally bright-tasting — Subak-Soju combines fresh watermelon juice with Soju, Korea's most popular alcoholic beverage. Local tip: Serve it straight out of a chilled watermelon.
Italy: Winter Spritz
Equal parts celebratory and cozy, this fresh take on the popular aperitif is made with Sanpellegrino Aranciata Rossa, bitter liqueur, lemon juice, sparking wine, and more. Hailing from northeastern Italy, it's also a low-alcohol option, so go ahead and sip down a few. Saluti!
Peru: Pisco Sour
The Pisco Sour is so mouthwatering that both Chileans and Peruvians claim it as their national tipple. The Peruvian version, however, is a touch more deluxe, thanks to its blend of key lime, bitters, pisco brandy, and a frothy egg-white base.
Canada: The Caesar
Much like the Bloody Mary, The Caesar beefs up America's brunch mainstay with a big splash of clam juice. It's said that the original mixologist was inspired by the success of clams and tomato sauce in cuisine — hence the ultra-Italian name. Sounds...fishy, but our Great White North neighbors swear by it.
Australia: The Pavlova
Originally a local Brisbane favorite, the vodka-infused Pavlova calls for apricot brandy, yellow chartreuse, lemon and grapefruit juice, and egg whites. It's as sunny and cheerful as most Aussies we know.
Cuba: Mojito
While ordering a mojito won't win you any favor with the bartender (too sticky, too much muddling), the rum-based concoction is pretty much synonymous with fun. And really, if it's good enough for Ernest Hemingway, it's good enough for us.
Singapore: Singapore Sling
Perhaps the fanciest of the lot, the gin-based Singapore Sling is said to hail from an upscale hotel in (you guessed it) Singapore, and requires a serious array of fresh juices and bitters. Unless you've got a supremely well-stocked fridge situation, stick to ordering this one from a pro mixologist.
United States: Manhattan
Was there ever a classier order than a Manhattan? The exact genesis is a bit hazy (most say it originated in NYC's Manhattan Club in the early 1870s), but the bitters, vermouth, and bourbon blend is always the same. Don't forget to toss in a cherry!
Spain: Tinto de Verano
Think of this as sangria's chiller, more low-maintenance sister. Made with Spanish red wine, soda, and lemon, the cocktail straight-up translates to "wine of summer." We'll drink to that — especially as summer sun becomes an increasingly distant memory.
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