Looking for something different than beer or the usual mixed drink at cocktail hour? Look directly south. Latin America is the origin for these fantastically different drinks. Beyond the traditional margarita, here are drinks from several different countries that offer an enjoyable experience along with a sizzling buzz – not to mention some cool names that make you sound hip, knowledgeable and unique. The mojito, a classic drink from Cuba, has grown more popular at the United States bar scene. Starting with half a lime and three teaspoons of sugar, grind up mint leaves into paste and top with 1 oz. rum, ice and soda water. It is a sweet cocktail that tastes the best with fresh lime and fresh mint leaves. I tried a mojito from Bucca di Beppo, which had basil in it as well, and it was an all-around fresh herb taste. It is a cool refreshing drink that is good at cocktail hour or with a meal.
Slightly less-known than the mojito, but gaining immense popularity in the U.S., is the caipirinha. The caipirinha is the national drink of Brazil, and its prime ingredient is cachaca. Cachaca is distilled from sugarcane and is often compared to rum. To make a caipirinha you start with a base of two to three sliced key limes and two to three tablespoons of sugar. After muddling these two ingredients together, add two to three shots of cachaca and add ice. If you do not have cachaca, you can substitute vodka or rum. Cubanitas is an excellent restaurant in Milwaukee to sample this drink.
Pisco sours are so popular that both Chile and Peru have claimed it as the national drink. It has been the source of heated arguments and media coverage for centuries. Pisco is a type of brandy that is distilled from grapes in South America. The best tasting ratio is two shots of pisco, one teaspoon of powered sugar, one teaspoon of egg whites and one tablespoon of lemon juice. Add this mixture to a blender full of ice, and enjoy the result. This drink is all around enjoyable, even with the slight bite from the lemon juice. Compared with the traditionally blended margarita, a pisco sour hides the alcohol taste much better. But don’t worry – it still delivers a strong buzz.
Of course, if you do not feel like mixing a drink and still want to explore a Latin American adventure, you could always go with the Mexican national drink: tequila. José Cuervo Tradicional is a 76-proof, top shelf tequila that is incredibly smooth on its own. Tequila is an essential ingredient in many mixed drinks, such as long island iced teas. A few other fun mixed drinks using tequila are tequila sunrises and tequila sours. Sunrises are made with two parts of tequila, four parts orange juice and one measure of grenadine, making a beautiful looking drink. If you want a less sweet drink, try a tequila sour, which is made with one-and-a-half ounces of tequila, two ounces of lemon juice and one teaspoon sugar.
Although campus bars will probably not offer all these drinks, there are many bars downtown that will. These drinks don’t have to be reserved for cocktail hour only, either; they accompany a meal rather well.
So if you’re ready for an enjoyable journey to Latin America, head downtown this weekend for a delicious dinner and cocktail!
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