Local Liquors You Must Sample When Travelling Around The Globe
The best part about travelling is, indisputably, the food. However, when we are talking about speciality dishes, can local tipples be far behind? The next time you’re globe-trotting, here are a few local liquors that you should sample.
Limoncello
This delicious liquor is at the heart of Italian cuisine and originates from the gorgeous Amalfi coast. Crafted from the zest of the locally grown Sorrento lemons, pure alcohol, sugar, and water, the Limoncello is a citrusy, sweet and tangy delight. If you’ve watched the film Under The Tuscan Sun, Frances Meyes delightfully savours the drink on a white sand beach, courtesy of her to-be Italian boyfriend. This drink is traditionally served chilled and after a meal as a digestif, but it can also be added to citrus cocktails or poured over sorbets.
Drambuie
While the whiskies do deserve all the attention when in Scotland, do leave some room to try Drambuie which is a blend of scotch whisky, honey, herbs, and spices. It perfectly balances the warmth of the whisky with sweet, spicy, and herbal tones that also produce an enriching aroma. You can enjoy this neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails such as The Rusty Nail.
Chartreuse
You guessed right! This liquor is French and was first made by Carthusian monks, who blended 130 herbs, plants, and flowers to create a minty and herbal drink. This drink is often sipped neat as a digestif or can be added to cocktails such as the Last World.
Kahlúa
This Mexican liquor is extremely popular around the world and is a key ingredient in a lot of coffee-based cocktails. It is made from rum, 100% Arabica coffee beans, vanilla, and sugar to produce a sweet, bitter, rich and robust coffee liquor. You can enjoy it on its own, pour it over ice, add it to a hot coffee, or even in the White Russian, where it is a key ingredient.
Ouzo
This liquor is a very popular Greek aperitif. Made from succulent local grapes and flavoured with anise and other botanicals, this clear liquor turns a gorgeous milky white when you add some water to it. It tastes sweet and almost like liquorice, and can be enjoyed with a bit of water and over ice. It pairs really well with a Greek mezze platter.
Feni
If you’re in Goa, you cannot leave without trying the local feni, a delightful liquor made from cashew apples or coconuts. The cashew feni has a nutty flavour profile while the coconut feni has more of a sweet taste to it. Feni can be enjoyed neat or in cocktails.
Mahia
This liquor is made in Morocco and is a traditional spirit that is crafted from distilled figs or fig juice. It has a sweet flavour profile and is extremely aromatic. It is traditionally served on the rocks and enjoyed during festivals and celebrations.
Amarula
This cream liqueur hails from South Africa and is made from the fruit of Marula trees. The fruit is fermented and distilled and then mixed with cream. It has a caramel and vanilla note to it and goes well with coffee-based cocktails, or just plain coffee, and desserts. It is also an ingredient in the cocktail Amarula Sunset.
Like we always say, moderation is key to enjoying your drinks!
