by alextabar
Each region of Latin America has at least one traditional drink for celebrating and sharing great moments. With the right ingredients and a little creativity, your guests will be delighted to enjoy cocktails at happy hour from their favorite mixologist: you!
Here are five different ideas for turning your happy hour at home into an unforgettable event. And to make your gathering even more special, serve some tasty snacks to accompany your delicious cocktails!
Mojito
When talking about Latin music and dancing, one of the first words that come to mind is Mojito! The king of Cuban drinks, this refreshing cocktail is one of the most popular drinks in the Caribbean region. The base is white rum, and despite its many variations, the key ingredients are peppermint (some use mint leaves), sugar, lemon and club soda. You can also add a couple of drops of angostura bitters for a distinctive, special flavor.
Caipirinha
One of the most popular cocktails in Brazil and in the world, Caipirinhas are well known for their easy preparation and refreshing taste. But beware, they’re so delicious you could easily overdo it. This cocktail is made with cachaça, a distilled spirit made from fermented sugar cane juice. A perfect caipirinha is mixed with lime and a lot of ice, although its popularity has given way to many flavor variations, including one that uses vodka instead of the original cachaça.
Pisco Sour
Oh, the rivalry! Was this drink invented in Peru or Chile? Since both countries produce Pisco, an alcoholic beverage derived from grapes, they each claim this cocktail originated in their country. We might never know the answer, but one thing is true for sure: Pisco sour is a heavenly drink! To make this cocktail, simply mix pisco, lemon juice, gum syrup or just sugar, egg whites, angostura bitters and a lot of ice. Have you tried it yet?
Piña Colada
Summer party? Caribbean style? Outdoors? If your celebration fits into one of these three categories, a delicious piña colada should be the hero of your party. Piña colada is another Latin American world famous cocktail, its origins are unknown but Puerto Rico claims it as their own invention. Regardless of where it came from, its sweet flavor is unparalleled and its preparation is very simple. White rum, pineapple juice, coconut milk and lots of chopped ice. Don’t forget to serve it in beautiful, colorful glasses, to bring some life into your celebration.
Coco Loco Sanandresano
Want to taste a piece of the Caribbean region in Colombia? Then you have to make this cocktail. Coco Loco Sanandresano is a drink that takes the delicious coconut to another level. To make it, mix equal parts of vodka, tequila and white rum with lemon juice and coconut cream. In the island of San Andrés in Colombia, where this cocktail gets its name from, they serve it inside the coconut.
So get creative and have fun making these classics or reinventing them to delight your guests at happy hour.
Please, drink responsibly.
by Alex Tabar & Jose V. Arcieri
