Mix Lab Cocktails Class 3: Exotic Cocktails for a Taste of Travel

No travel? No problem! Thanks to these exotic cocktails sourced from all across the globe, the world’s flavors are just a shake or stir away. Sip your way through Europe, Asia, and the Americas with delicious DIY drinks from each region.

You’ve conquered the basics of bartending and gotten creative with at-home ingredients and tools. Now, you’re ready to take on the world (literally)!

The first stop is Europe, where you’ll be crafting classic drinks from the UK to Italy. Then, we head to the Americas for a range of tropical cocktails. Finally, finish up with traditional Asian flavors now known and loved all across the planet (hello, milk tea!).

Buckle up and get ready for a flavor take-off!

Allen Fang, Carson Xie, Choni Song, Gary Hu, and Jackie Lo are back and better than ever! Our team of international expert bartenders is more than qualified to take you on this world tour of the planet’s most popular cocktails.

No baggage is needed for this trip--just your handy at-home bartending tools. To be fully equipped, you’ll want a jigger, shaker, and strainer nearby, but don’t worry! There are plenty of common kitchen substitutes if you’re still building your home bar.

Martinis, margaritas, and Bloody Marys...oh my! While classic cocktail formulas are mainstays for a reason, there are so many ways to play with old favorites. Sours, for example, are most often associated with whisky, but you can easily swap it with a liqueur for a lighter drink. Daiquiris are typically citrusy, but a variation with strawberries or bananas is just as delicious.

Still stuck sipping on a Pimm’s Cup or reusing that outdated Aperol spritz recipe? Europe invented countless classic cocktails, but we’re taking the continent’s well-known drinks to a whole new level.

Upgrading your at-home cocktail recipes doesn’t have to be complicated. Unlock endless flavor combinations with this simple infusion technique, which blends your bottle of choice with notes of your favorite herbs, fruits, or whatever ingredients you choose!

The UK’s beloved “Pimm’s Cup” gets a modern makeover with the Bombay Berry Fizz, a crisp, refreshing warm-weather cocktail that draws on fruity flavors, a hint of citrus, and the lightest of herbal notes.

Italy is known for its mastery of the Aperol spritz, but it’s about time the old classic received a contemporary upgrade. Aperol is swapped for the zesty, bittersweet Martini Fiero in this drink, bringing loads of citrus, white wines, and botanicals your way.

Light floral notes and bubbly Martini Prosecco will definitely put St. Germain in the running for your new favorite brunch drink. And the addition of fresh and fruity elderflower is just the thing to push it over the edge. We’ve got a winner!

Inspired by Sweden's national drink, “Akvavit,” the Nordic Martini is a nuanced take on a straightforward classic. This savory, herbaceous cocktail sets itself apart from the crowd with notes of dill, fennel, and citrus, all topped off with a slice of smoked salmon.

Sangria fans will find even more to love with this aristocratic update on the fruity, wine-based cocktail. Baron Otard Cognac, Patrón Citronge, and All-Spice Liqueur level up traditional ingredients like honey and orange peel to make the Sangroyal fit for a king.

The Bacardi Legacy Cocktail competition is all about finding the best cocktails in the world, and Black Gold scored a spot on the winners’ list in 2016. Served in one of Shanghai’s most exclusive bars, this upscale drink brings together the stunning flavors of Bacardi Gold, DOM Benedictine Herbal Liqueur, and truffle honey.

The Americas are set to take your tastebuds on a tour! From summery Mexican drinks to Caribbean-inspired Piña Colada and Daiquiri recipes, this part of the world is pulling out all the stops.

Just when you thought the time-honored Piña Colada couldn’t get any better, the Banana Peanut Colada comes along. Creamier and smoother than its counterpart, this version incorporates bananas and peanut butter for a sweet spin on the original.

With bananas, brown sugar, and Bacardi Spiced Rum, the Banana Daiquiri will bring you back to beach vacations and sun-soaked afternoons. Best enjoyed by the pool or sitting in front of old travel photos.

Ah, rum and coke. The combination of cheap ingredients and an easy-to-make recipe has skyrocketed this drink to major popularity. It’s a staple at everything from college parties to family get-togethers, but our Spiced Cuba Libre takes it back to its Cuban roots...with a little twist.

Your sweet tooth is in for a treat. Creamy, toasty, and infused with caramel popcorn, this whisky-based American cocktail is like dessert in drink form. Top it off with cinnamon and call it a night!

Avocado, basil, and Patrón Silver Tequila aren’t exactly the flavors you’d expect to come together in a summer cocktail, but the Mexicano heads south of the border in style. This is a one-of-a-kind savory drink for the health-conscious that still want to have a good time.

Perhaps nowhere in the world pushes the boundaries of flavor more than Asia. Sweet, savory, sour, spicy...it’s all covered here, drawing on some of the region’s oldest culinary traditions to boot.

Like beautiful latte art, the fluffy foam used to top off a particularly fancy cocktail is something we tend to skip in the at-home version. But no longer! Dry shaking is the secret behind this special touch, and it’s the perfect skill to add to your bartending repertoire.

Bright, complex flavors of cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, and grapefruit come together in a mouth-watering syrup that adds serious flavor to an Indian-inspired cocktail. Here’s how to make your own!

Coconut + coffee is a dangerously delicious combination that really packs a punch, perfect for hot summer days and tropical flavored drinks. It’s super easy to brew and just as at home in a cocktail as it is in an iced coffee.

Sweet, foamy, and totally delectable, this is a drink that has learned its lessons from decades of rich Vietnamese coffee culture. The blend of homemade coconut cold brew, pandan-infused vodka, and egg yolk + condensed milk whipped to perfection is unlike anything you’ve ever sipped on before.

Standard Grey Goose gets a punchy makeover, freshly blended with lemongrass, lime leaves, and red chili to bring the flavors of Southeast Asia to a classic Puerto Rican drink. Just add the Thai-spiced vodka to a mix of traditional Piña Colada ingredients, shake, and serve!

Sour, tangy kimchi, a staple in Korean cooking, finds itself right at home in the savory, nuanced layers of a classic Bloody Mary. Brunch just got spicier, and more international too!

The Hot Toddy found its start in Scotland centuries ago, a simple blend of hot water, lemon juice, honey, and whiskey that was said to banish winter ailments like the cold and flu. This Chinese take on the classic swaps honey with homemade herbal syrup, creating a sweet, earthy flavor that blends beautifully with Dewars 12 Whisky.

“Mala,” the spice at the centerpiece of infamously fiery Sichuan cuisine, takes on a new role, bringing the heat to a typically sweet cocktail. But classic Piña Colada flavors like coconut, pineapple, and passionfruit stick around to balance out the bite.

Sweet? Savory? The rich, mysterious Midnight Okinawa Martini falls somewhere in the middle, pairing unsweetened yogurt and espresso with the secret ingredient--a complex, earthy miso butter cordial that truly takes this cocktail up a notch.

A treasure trove of aromatic herbs and spices gives life to a cocktail inspired by one of India’s most popular drinks. Masala Chai Tea is believed to bring with it dozens of health benefits, especially in cocktail form (right?).

Sweet, creamy, and layered with traditional Thai flavors, this cocktail works in yummy additions like pandan and tea leaves. Despite the sugar we all know is associated with oh-so-popular milk tea, the resulting drink is surprisingly light and refreshing.