13 cocktails that taste just like that vacation you had to cancel

If you’re like most people who had vacation plans in 2020, you canceled your trip due to the pandemic and have been pining for some travel ever since. While traveling is still not advisable per guidelines from the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control, it’s possible to at least get a taste of vacation thanks to some destination-themed cocktails you can make at home put together by Loew’s Hotels. Their “Getaways in a Glass,” ginned up by their resident mixologists, represent cities across North America. 

Try these cocktails you can make at home

So, whether you’re nostalgic for New Orleans, tortured over Tucson or mooning over Miami, there’s a cocktail here that can at least whisk your mouth away to another locale.

1. Hollywood, California

The Hollywood Hills is fresh and frothy, just like Hollywood.

Hollywood Hills

2oz. Pisco

¾ oz. Lime juice

¾ oz. Matcha tea

1 egg white

Splashes of bitters

Pour all ingredients into a shaker and shake to mix. Pour mixture over ice into a high ball glass. Garnish with a mint sprig.

2. Miami Beach

This Aperol Fresca will make you feel like you’re right on the beach.

Aperol Fresca

1 ½ oz Aperol

1oz fresh local guava puree

1oz fresh squeezed local grapefruit juice

¼ fresh lemon juice 

Prosecco splash

Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker, except for the Prosecco. Shake vigorously for 5 seconds. Fill a dante glass with crushed ice and strain the cocktail into the glass. Add a splash of Prosecco for a floater. Garnish with an edible orchid and Florida orange peel. Salud!

3. Kansas City, Missouri

The New Midwest, is a buttery, modern twist on a classic Old Fashioned. It takes some time to make, but it’s oh, so worth it.

New Midwest

2 oz brown butter bourbon

¼ ounce Disaronno

¼ ounce maple syrup

Grapefruit peel

Large ice cube

To make the Brown Butter Bourbon: Brown eight ounces of butter. Strain out solids and then add four bottles of Tom’s Town Double Oaked Bourbon. Stir and infuse for two days in the freezer. The butter will rise to the top, then remove and strain all solids in a chinois.

In a yarai mixing glass, add brown butter bourbon, Disaronno and maple syrup. Stir all ingredients fifteen times, then strain and serve over a large cube in a double old fashioned glass. Finish with grapefruit zest.

4. Nashville

Another twist on an old fashioned, the Mason’s Old Fashioned uses Nashville’s own Belle Meade bourbon. 

Mason’s Old Fashioned

2 oz Belle Meade Bourbon

¼ oz Simple Syrup

3 dashes of Angostura Bitters

1 orange

In a rocks glass, place one large square or sphere ice cube. Pour the bourbon, simple syrup and bitters over the ice. Gently stir until bourbon is chilled and ice has begun to melt (using the very slight melt in place of a dash of water.) Using a peeler, get 1 ½” by 3” piece of orange peel, rub the outer side of the peel around the top of a rocks glass and then drop the peel into bourbon mixture as garnish.

5. San Diego, California

Named for that lovely glow just after sunset, the Abendrot will have you thinking of warm nights on the beach. 

Abendrot

1/4 oz Agave

1/4 oz Campari

1/4 oz Apricot Liqueur

3/4 oz Lemon juice

1 1/2 oz Y&Y Summer Citrus Vodka or Absolut Citron Lemon Vodka

Pour all ingredients over ice in shaker of choice. Shake vigorously for 5 seconds. Double strain over ice into a stemless wine glass. Express the peel of orange and lemon into your glass. Top with peels for garnish.

6. Tucson, Arizona

The name may sound uncomfortable, but this Prickly Pear Margarita goes down smooth.

Prickly Pear Margarita

1 ¼ oz. Herradura Silver tequila

½ oz. triple sec

½ oz. lime juice

½ oz. prickly pear syrup

Add all ingredients to shaker and shake with ice. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with lime zest and fresh lime. Enjoy.

7. Seattle

The addition of Cynar, an herbacious Italian amaro, grapefruit bitters and maraschino liqueur elevate this classic rye Manhattan.

Back to Baker

1 1/2 oz Woodinville Rye

1/2 oz Dolin Dry Vermouth

1/4 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur

1/4 oz Cynar

2 dashes of grapefruit bitters

Combine all ingredients, stir and strain into rocks glass with large cube. Orange peel garnish.

8. Toronto

The Aviation Mister C cocktail is based on a drink called the Aviation, invented by Hugo Ensslin, the head bartender at the Hotel Wallick in New York in the early 20th century. Aromatic and tart, it will beguile you with its lovely pale-purple color.

Aviation Mister C

1 1/2 oz Tanqueray gin

1/2 oz Maraschino liqueur

2/3 oz creme de violette

1 oz lemon juice

3/4 oz simple syrup

Add all ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry. Serve straight up, without ice.

9. Santa Monica, California

Another ode to coastal evenings, the Cali Sunset is like a wine cooler you’d actually want to drink.

Cali Sunset

4 oz of Rosé

1 oz Aperol

1/2 oz Pamplemousse liqueur

Splash of grapefruit juice

Splash of lime juice

Pour all ingredients over ice in shaker of choice and shake to mix. Serve over ice in a wine glass.3

10. Philadelphia

Even the City of Brotherly Love can use a little extra chill every now and then. This cocktail, the Citrus Chill, provides just that.

Citrus Chill

1 1/2 oz Four Roses Single Barrel bourbon

1/2 oz Pamplemousse liqueur

1/2 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice

2 dashes of Peychauds bitters

2 oz of Pinnacle Ridge Brut Rosé 

Blend and shake Four Roses Bourbon, Pamplemousse liqueur, fresh lemon juice with ice and strain over a coupe glass. Float with the Pinnacle Ridge Brut Rosé. Garnish with two dashes of Peychaud’s bitters and lemon peel.

11. New Orleans

If there’s any more quintessential beverage than the Hurricane when it comes to New Orleans, we don’t know of one. 

Created in the French Quarter during World War II due to a whiskey shortage, this classic New Orleans cocktail is refreshing, fun and flavorful. It’s an homage to the cultural crossroads that makes the city of New Orleans unique and a great way to get a true taste of NOLA at home.

NOLA Hurricane

1 oz light rum

1 oz dark rum

1 1/2 oz pineapple juice

1 1/2 oz fresh orange juice

1 1/2 oz passion fruit juice

1 tsp grenadine

1 tsp simple syrup

Fill a shaker with ice. Add all measured liquids. Shake it up vigorously. Pour the cocktail into a hurricane glass. Use a toothpick to skewer an orange slice and cherry. Place garnish on top of the cocktail. Enjoy!

12. Minneapolis

If you’re in Minneapolis in winter, you’re going to need a warming drink. This peachy twist on a classic Old Fashioned may be just the thing you need.

Old Fashioned Receipt

2 oz Bulleit Bourbon

½ oz Peach Liqueur 

½ oz Demerara Simple Syrup

1 bar spoon of Luxardo cherry juice

1 dash of Angostura Bitters

1 dash of Peychauds Bitters 

Stir in Bar Glass with ice. Strain into large rocks glass with one large ice sphere. Garnish with orange peel and 2 Luxardo cherries.

13. Boston

It’s cold in Boston, and that’s OK. The Whiskey Winter is here for you.

Whiskey Winter

2 oz Makers Mark Bourbon

1 oz Madeira wine

5 oz simple syrup

1 whole egg 

Nutmeg

Crack whole egg into a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously 20 times. Add Bourbon, Madeira, simple syrup and ice, again shake vigorously 20 times. Strain cocktail into glass and grind or shave fresh nutmeg on top.

More drink ideas:

• These boozy root beer floats are for adults only
• The most popular beer in every state

This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.org.

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