When you can’t travel, what can you do to make life feel a little more like a vacation? Whip yourself up a nice co*cktail and watch a travel-inspiring TV show or travel virtually via the internet.
I reached out to some awesome food bloggers to get their best travel-inspired co*cktail recipes to share with you. I’m giving you the basic ingredients, but please visit their sites for all the details!
I’ve made a list of my favorites and some new ones I plan to try. Let me know what you’re most excited to taste and remember to drink responsibly.
I’m going to kick things off with my co*cktail of choice these days, the New York Sour. This co*cktail is strong and sophisticated and reminds me of a night out in the Big Apple.
- 2 oz bourbon whiskey
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 1-2 oz red wine
Shake the first 3 ingredients in a co*cktail shaker with ice. Strain over a glass of crushed ice (you can use regular ice, but the presentation is much nicer with crushed!). Slowly pour the red wine on top. Let it sit for a moment to allow the wine to rise to the top.
Don’t miss my Kindle ebook, 11 TV Filming Locations You Can Visit – and custom co*cktail recipes inspired by each show!
Mexican-Inspired co*cktails
Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, here’s a Mexican Martini recipe from Frugal Foodie Mama:
- 3 ounces of good quality tequila (try an anejo or reposado)
- 1.5 ounces of triple sec or Cointreau
- Juice from 1 fresh lime
- 1 tablespoon of green olive brine
- Splash of orange juice
- Green olives & lime wedges, for garnish
- Salt to rim glass
Mix it all in a co*cktail shaker with ice, then strain into a salt-rimmed glass and garnish. This is not your average margarita!
Cabo is calling you with this Cabo Caliente recipe from Carrots ‘N’ Cake:
- 1ozfresh squeezed lemon
- 1.5slicescucumber
- Cilantro
- 1ozagave
- 1slicejalapeño
- 2oztequila
- Splash of cucumber Spindrift Sparkling Water
Muddle the lemon, cucumber and cilantro, then add in the remaining ingredients and stir. This co*cktail screams summer. And Cabo, baby!
co*cktails for Cruising the Caribbean
This creamy and refreshing Coconut Lime Margarita recipe from Sequins in the South will have you dreaming of the tropics:
- 1 shot Tequila
- 1/2 shot Triple Sec
- ½ cup Coconut Cream (canned)
- 2 tablespoons Sugar
- ½ cup Lime Juice
- 2 cups ice
- Sugar for rimming
- Lime Slice (for garnish)
Juice the lime over ice. Combine coconut cream and sugar in a small bowl, stirring until the sugar is dissolved completely. Add coconut cream mixture, triple sec and tequila to the lime and ice and blend it well with an immersion or regular blender. Dip the edge of your glass in the margarita, then dip in sugar. Pour your co*cktail into the glass and garnish with lime.
The tropical flavors of coconut, pineapple and lime blend together beautifully for this island-inspired Caribbean Sunset rum co*cktail from Swirls of Flavor:
- 1/2cupcoconut rum
- 1/2cuppineapple juice
- 2Tbslime juice
- 2Tbsgrenadine
- 1cuplemon-lime soda, divided
- fresh pineapple slices
- lime slices
Mix all ingredients except the soda and fruit slices. Pour over ice (this makes two), top off with the soda and garnish with fruit slices.
This Miami Vice co*cktail from Tammilee Tips is everything you need to imagine yourself on a cruise:
- 5 oz Bacardi 151
- 1 bottle frozen pina colada mix
- 1 bottle frozen strawberry daiquiri mix
Blend the pina colada mix with 2 1/2 oz rum and ice. Blend the strawberry daiquiri mix with 2 1/2 oz rum and ice. Add the pina colada to a co*cktail glass, then add the daiquiri on top. Make it fancy by tilting the glass to the side to layer the two drinks!
Inspired by a trip to Turks & Caicos, here’s Another Day in Paradise co*cktail recipe from Mom Endeavors:
- 1 oz Appleton Special Rum (or your favorite rum of choice)
- ½ oz Blue Curacao
- 3 oz pineapple juice
- 3 oz orange juice
Add all ingredients to a co*cktail shaker with ice and shake well. Garnish with a pineapple slice and cherry for extra tropical fun!
Southern-Inspired co*cktails
This Rosemary Grapefruit Gimlet recipe from Someday I’ll Learn will whisk you away to a big porch swing in Georgia:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 4 ounces grapefruit juice
- 2 ounces gin
- Juice of one-half lime
Make a rosemary simple syrup by the cooking sugar, water and rosemary over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves, then let cool. Stir one ounce of the syrup with the remaining ingredients in a co*cktail glass and serve over ice.
Relive your Disney vacation with this Dole Whip co*cktail with Rum recipe from A Turtle’s Life for Me:
- 3 cups frozen pineapple
- 1/2 frozen banana,
- 1 cup sweetened coconut milk
- 4 oz rum
Throw it all in a blender and – voila! – you’re at Disney World. Although I’m not a fan of rum, it does go especially well with the delicious, creamy, pineapple-y Dole Whip. Maybe I should try it with vodka? Why not?
Escape to New Orleans with this Yankee-style Hurricane co*cktail recipe from The Farm Wife Feeds:
- 1cuporange juice
- 1cuppineapple juice
- 1/4cupdark spiced rum
- 1/4cuplight rum
- maraschino cherries and the juice for garnish
Mix the juices and liquors and garnish with cherries. This makes a pitcher – not just one drink!
The Housewives of Frederick County have a slightly amped-up version of this co*cktail with their Housewives Hurricane recipe:
- 1 1/2ouncesAmaretto liquor
- 1ouncelight rum
- 1ouncedark rum
- 6ouncesfresh squeezed orange juice
- 6ouncespineapple juice
- 1tsplemon juice
- 1dashgrenadine
- 1/2cupSeagram’s ginger ale
- 1orange slice and 1maraschino cherry for garnish
Shake well in a co*cktail shaker with ice, then strain. The Hurricane was made famous by Pat O’Brien’s Bar in New Orleans and it looks and tastes as fun as Mardi Gras.
Southerners love their sweet tea and this Irish Whiskey Sweet Tea recipe from Our Crafty Mom is perfect for summer nights:
- 1 ozIrish whiskey
- 1/4lemon– cut into wedges
- Iced Tea – sweet, peach, green or raspberry flavored
Squeeze the lemon wedges over a highball glass full of ice, then drop them in. Add the whiskey and fill with sweet iced tea. Make a whole pitcher and serve in Mason jars for a real southern vibe.
Georgia means peaches and this Georgia on my Mind co*cktail from Just Short of Crazy is absolutely gorgeous:
10 oz Blood Orange Wheat Beer (or your favorite craft beer)
2 oz bourbon whiskey
2 oz peaches, sliced
Ice Cubes
Pour beer into a chilled, 16-oz glass, add the rest of the ingredients and enjoy. Every year I go to a local farm and pick fresh peaches, so this co*cktail is definitely on my must-make list!
The Farm Wife Drinks learned to make this Siren co*cktail recipe from a bartender at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota:
- 1shotSt. Germain Elderflower Liquor
- 3shotsgin or vodka
- 1shotfresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1tablespoonsimple syrup
- 1bottleProsecco or Champagne
- 1cupgrapefruit juice and cranberry juice
Several hours before you want to enjoy this co*cktail, freeze the grapefruit juice and cranberry juice in an ice cube tray. Mix the St. Germain, gin or vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a shaker and shake well. Add one or two of each type of fruit juice ice cubes to a large wine glass. Pour the shaken co*cktail over the ice cubes and top off with Prosecco or champagne.
Kentucky co*cktails
I’ve been dying to get to Kentucky to hit the Bourbon trail and take some tours. But until I get there, I’ll be happy to try these Kentucky-inspired drinks.
First, let’s try a classic Mint Julep from Rocky Mountain Bliss:
- Fresh mint leaves
- Sugar cubes or simple syrup
- Four Roses bourbon
Muddle together 5-6 mint sprigs with sugar cubes. You could also use simple syrup but Annie prefers the fresh taste of sugar cubes. Add 1 shot of bourbon and fill with ice. Serve in a glass with a mint garnish.
The Casual Foodist has a delightful Strawberry Mint Bourbon Smash recipe with fresh strawberries and a hint of smokey bourbon that you’ll be sipping all summer long!
For something different and decadent, check out this Boozy Bourbon Root Beer Float recipe from Tonya Staab:
- 3 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream
- 1 oz vodka
- Root beer
- Breyers Vanilla Caramel Gelato
Add the bourbon cream and vodka to a glass and top with root beer, leaving enough room for a couple scoops of gelato. This is totally my kind of co*cktail. Oh my yum!
More Travel-Inspired co*cktail Recipes
If you’re craving a Hawaiian luau, check out this Classic Zombie co*cktail recipe (and the Pineapple Chicken!) from Whisky + Sunshine:
- 1 ozlight rum
- 1 oz dark rum
- 1/2 ozapricot brandy
- 1/2 oz overproof rum
- 2 1/2 oz orange juice
- 2 1/2 oz pineapple juice
- 1 oz lime juice
- 1/2 oz grenadine syrup
- Mint leaves and maraschino cherries
Combine all liquids except grenadine and overproof rum in a co*cktail shaker with ice and shake well. Strain over ice in a serving glass, then gently layer grenadine on top using the back of a bar spoon. Repeat to layer the overproof rum. Garnish with mint leaves and cherries. Careful with this one or you’ll end up feeling like a zombie!
Recall the holidays with this Coquito (Puerto Rican egg nog) recipe from Kids Are a Trip:
- 1 (15 oz) can coconut cream
- 1 (14 oz) can sweet condensed milk
- 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/2 cup to 1 cup of white or dark rum (optional)
- Cinnamon sticks for garnish
Add all ingredients in a blender and mix thoroughly. Refrigerate for at least one hour (or overnight) before serving. The Coquito, or a Puerto Rican egg nog, is a traditional holiday beverage and can be enjoyed with or without the rum.
I love coffee co*cktails and can’t wait to try this Carajillo Spanish Coffee recipe from Vindulge:
- 1ozrum or brandy
- 1shotespresso (or 2 oz strong, hot coffee)
- sugar, for rimming the glass
Rim the outside of a brandy snifter or small coffee glass with sugar. Pour the rum or brandy into the glass and top with the espresso. Enjoy immediately.
Did you find a new favorite on this list?
