By Traci Magnus
We love to travel as much as the next person, but sometimes the circumstances don’t permit it–and we all need to take a break and find ways to enjoy life from the comfort of our homes. Of course, we’re still dreaming about where we’ll jet off to next once we’re able to travel again. But, for the time being, we’re silencing our wanderlust by creating our own homestyle version of favourite destination cocktails. Sip on a Mai Tai from the comfort of the lawn chair in your backyard and envision the beautiful mountains of Hawaii. Or, mix up a mint julep, throw on your best Derby-style hat and practice a Southern drawl to prep yourself for a future visit to Charleston, S.C. If you’re feeling creative, check out some of our other cocktails you can whip upright in your own kitchen.
Mai Tai
A classic tropical drink, the Mai Tai is easy to concoct and will definitely satisfy some of that vacation FOMO we’re suffering from right now. The Mai Tai is often associated with the islands of Hawaii, but it is also served in plenty of other tropical destinations. Although the Mai Tai was created on the mainland by a bartender in Oakland, California, named Victor Bergeron, it became a staple of Hawaii. As the islands grew into a popular travel destination, two hotels hired Bergeron to create their cocktail menus, which of course included his famed Mai Tai. Here’s a quick recipe you can try at home:
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp. dark rum
- 2 tbsp. white rum
- 2 tbsp. fresh orange juice
- 1 tbsp. triple sec
- 1 tbsp. fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp. simple syrup (or to taste)
- Splash of grenadine or maraschino cherry juice
- Garnish: a slice of orange
Directions:
Add ingredients to a shaker with 1 cup of ice. Shake well. Strain into glass and garnish with an orange slice.
Pina Colada
If the thought of white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters is calling to you, we have another great tropical cocktail recipe you can test out from your home. The beloved pina colada is a favourite frozen drink for a hot day. The exact origin of this cocktail is a bit difficult to pinpoint, but it was first mixed up somewhere in Puerto Rico. One story tells of a bartender who created a hotel cocktail with coconut, but when the fresh coconut ran out, he used pineapple juice as a replacement and the pina colada as we know it was born. Test your frozen drink making skills with this recipe.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp. white rum
- 1 tbsp. Coco Lopez (or other coconut creams)
- 1 tbsp. heavy cream
- 6 tbsp. pineapple juice (preferably fresh)
- 5 c. crushed ice
Directions: Add your ingredients to a blender. Mix until you have a smooth consistency. Pour into a tall glass and top with a pineapple slice and a cherry.
Mint Julep
The official drink of the Kentucky Derby, the mint julep will forever remind us of days spent in some of our favourite southern cities. The julep is easy for home bartenders to whip up in a flash and serve at a dinner party or sip on by yourself. Some stories suggest that the original mint julep was actually used for medicinal purposes and mentions of it can be found as far back as 1782, but the drink as we know it was announced as the Kentucky Derby drink in 1938. Grab some of that fresh mint from your garden and try shaking one of these.
Ingredients:
- 4 to 5 mint leaves
- ½ tbsp. simple syrup
- 2 ½ tbsp. Bourbon
- Garnish: mint sprig
Directions:
Add the mint leaves and the simple syrup to a Collins glass or a julep mug (similar to a Moscow Mule mug). Muddle the mint to release the flavour. If you don’t have simple syrup on hand, you can use two sugar cubes instead and muddle these in with the mint. Pour in bourbon and fill the rest of the glass with crushed ice. Garnish with a mint sprig.
Sangria
Some days, we’re craving a glass of red wine. But a warm summer day isn’t always the time for this kind of drink, which is why Sangria is the perfect way to get your wine fix while still sipping on something refreshing. Sangria originated in Spain and was introduced to the people of the United States in the Spain section of New York’s World Fair 1964. It quickly became adopted as a drink in bars, Spanish restaurants and house parties. You can whip this one up in a few minutes and add your own fresh fruit twist, but we always suggest letting it sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving for the best taste possible.
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle dry Spanish red wine
- ⅓ c. Brandy
- ¾ c. orange juice
- 3 to 4 tbsp. simple syrup
- ½ orange (skin on, seeds removed)
- ½ apple
Directions: Chill the red wine and brandy in the fridge before making. Add brandy, orange juice, simple syrup, apple and orange to a pitcher and then muddle. Pour in red wine and stir well. Taste the mixture and add more brandy, simple syrup and/or orange juice to taste. Add ice and stir to chill. Serve as is with orange garnish or put in the fridge to further chill.
Sip Away Your Staycation
No matter the reason you’re stuck inside–be it bad weather, a stay-at-home order or a few work from home days–you can make this time fun with some cocktail experimentation. Once you’ve logged off the computer for the day and finished up any work, treat yourself to a special cocktail that reminds you of your favourite place to escape. Mint juleps bring back memories of days spent visiting Charleston, S.C. or cheering on racehorses at the Kentucky Derby, while tropical concoctions like the Mai Tai or pina colada send us into vacation mode. Invest in your own home cocktail shaker and impress all of your friends with your new cocktail-making skills.
Read other articles from Traci Magnus
- 6 of the Best Wildlife and Outdoor Festivals in the U.S.
- 7 Surprising Facts You May Not Know About South Carolina
- 4 of the Best Historic Attractions in Charleston