Passport to Flavor: Travel Inspired Cocktails To Create at Home in 2025
Great food and delicious cocktails are part of the travel experience. When we are back home, we love recreating the best food and travel inspired cocktails from our dream destinations. This collection of travel-inspired cocktails is for everyone with adventurous spirits – pun intended.
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My Go-To Cocktail Bar Assistant
Before I get to the recipes, I have to be honest. When it comes to travel inspired cocktails, I cheat.
Even though they are tested and delicious, I don’t actually use these recipes. I have a personal bartender that makes all my travel inspired drinks for me.
Well, I have this –
For the past year, the Bartesian Cocktail System has been making happy hours at our house easier than ever. Nicknamed the “keurig for cocktails”, this miracle of modern home bars mixes our top shelf spirits with pods of fresh fruit juices and extracts to create our favorite cocktails.
Why did we pick the Bartesian? Easy access. While our bar was always stocked with spirits, we rarely had the needed extras like Curacao or triple sec to recreate our favorite cocktail recipes from our travels. Plus, ingredients like fresh juices would go bad when they weren’t used before their expiration dates. So, we just didn’t bother.
Enter the Bartesian! This thing really is like a Keurig for cocktails. Bartesian offers over 60 specialty cocktail pods filled with all the freshest juices and mixers to create the perfect cocktail. All you need to add are your favorite spirits and any garnishes. We can recreate Rum Swizzles we enjoyed in Bermuda and the Cherry Old Fashioned from our DisneyWorld Monorail Pub Crawl. New mixers are also released seasonally with unique flavors I never would have even though to create.
So, read on for the complete recipes for the cocktails on our favorites list. But, if you want to have a wide variety of cocktail mixers at the tip of your fingers, check out the Bartesian. And, read to the end for answers to our most often asked questions about the Bartesian.
Now, let’s get to the best travel inspired cocktails to make at home this year…
Mai Tai (South Pacific Islands)
The Mai Tai has been synonymous with tropical paradise since Victor Bergeron first mixed it up in 1944 at his Polynesian themed restaurant, Trader Vics. This classic summer cocktail brings up visions of palm trees and beach huts with thatched ceilings and carved tikis. (I do add the dark rum floater when I make my Bartesian version.)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz white rum
- 3/4 oz orange curacao
- 3/4 oz lime juice
- 1/2 oz orgeat
- 1/2 oz dark rum
Steps
- Add the white rum, curaçao, lime juice and orgeat to a shaker with crushed ice and shake.
- Pour into a rocks or fun tiki glass.
- Splash the dark rum over top as a floater
We love these fun Tiki Glasses
Blackberry Margarita (Mexico)
The classic margarita has a few origin stories. But, most cocktail experts agree that the citrus and agave favorite evolved from the Daisy cocktail somewhere along the Mexico / US border around the 1940s. We’ve tried several of Bartesian’s recipes for this traditional Mexican cocktail and the Blackberry wins out every time. Its not too sweet and the blackberry gives it a great tang.
Ingredients
- 2 ripe blackberries
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
- 1/2 oz curacao or triple sec
- 1/4 oz simple syrup
- 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
Steps
- Muddle blackberries in a cocktail shaker.
- Add remaining ingredients and ice.
- Shake well until chilled
- Double strain into rocks glass or margarita glass.
Try these fun Margarita Glasses
Mint Julep (Kentucky Derby)
The Mint Julep has a long history dating back to 900 AD. Bartenders in West Virginia, New York, and St Louis all claim to have created the modern version. However, since 1938, this bourbon cocktail is best known as the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby. Over 120,000 are served each year at the iconic horse race, including $1000 and $2500 options that benefit local charities. The Derby is a bucket list item for me, but in the meantime, I’ll add some fresh mint to my Bartesian version.
Ingredients
- 8 fresh mint leaves
- 1/4 to 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 2 oz bourbon
- crushed ice
Steps
- Muddle mint leaves in 1/4 oz simple syrup.
- Add bourbon and fill cup with crushed ice.
- Stir to chill the glass.
- Add simple syrup to taste (if desired).
- Garnish with a fresh mint sprig
Serve in Mint Julep Cup or Kentucky Derby Glass
Cosmopolitan (New York City)
With roots in San Francisco and Cleveland, the pink cocktail was made famous by Carrie Bradshaw in HBO’s Sex and the City which sealed its connection with the Big Apple. Garnish your Cosmo with an orange peel for a sophisticated twist.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz cointreau
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
Steps
- Combine ingredients in a shaker.
- Add ice and shake until well chilled.
- Strain into chilled coupe or martini glass.
Serve in a Martini Glass
Espresso Martini (London)
Bartending legend Dick Bradsell is credited with inventing the Espresso Martini in London’s famous bar, Fred’s Club. Whether you make yours from scratch or cheat the system with Espresso Martini pods from Bartesian, be sure to garnish it with three coffee beans to represent health, wealth, and happiness.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1/2 oz coffee liqueur
- 1 oz espresso or cold brew
- 1/4 oz simple syrup
Steps
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker and fill with ice. Shake until well chilled.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
These stemless Martini Glasses ooze sophistication.
Rum Swizzle (Bermuda)
The national drink of Bermuda originated in the West Indies and is named for the multi-pronged stick traditionally used to mix the drink. While the sticks come from a tree native to the Caribbean, you can pick up a stainless steel swizzle stick on Amazon or at restaurant supply stores.
Ingredients
- 1 oz dark rum
- 1 oz gold rum
- 2 oz orange juice (pulp free)
- 2 oz pineapple juice
- 1/4 oz peach or apricot brandy
- 1/2 t grenadine
- 1 dash angostura bitters
Steps
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
- Shake well until it is frothy
- Strain into a cocktail glass filled with ice.
Tall glasses work beautifully with the long swizzle stick.
Apple Pie (North Georgia Mountains)
The Apple Pie cocktail tastes like Fall in the North Georgia Mountains. The heat from the cinnamon whiskey contrasts perfectly with a brown sugar rim. This Bartesian capsule is one of my personal favorites throughout the fall and well into winter.
Ingredients
- 1 oz vanilla vodka
- 1 oz Fireball whiskey
- 4 oz fresh apple cider
- 2 T sugar
- 1/2 t cinnamon
- honey
Steps
- Combine sugar and cinnamon on a shallow plate.
- Rim a glass with honey and dip into sugar mixture.
- Combine vodka, whiskey, and apple cider in a cocktail shaker and shake well.
- Pour over ice into cocktail glass.
Add some cinnamon sticks to the lowball glass.
Sidecar (Paris)
Picture it. Paris. The Great War. A motorcycle zips through the streets, stopping every evening at a local bar. The bartender invents a brandy drink and names it after the sidecar carrying the military captain to his bar each night. Scratch that. Maybe it was London. Historians disagree, but whether is was born in London or Paris – it was made famous in the City of Lights so we are giving credit to the French.
Ingredients
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz Cointreau or triple sec
- 1 oz brandy
Steps
- Fill cocktail shaker 3/4 with ice.
- Add lemon juice, Cointreau, and brandy.
- Shake well until outside of shaker is cold and frosty.
- Strain into martini glass.
These Fluted Coupe Glasses bring just enough pizazz.
Sangria (Spain)
Sangria is traditionally made with red wine, sliced fruit, and some additional liquors. The Bartesian pod is actually a rum based drink, so in this case, you’ll want to craft your own if you are looking for authenticity. I like the lightness of white wine Sangria, so that is the recipe I’ve included below. Either way, Sangria is a refreshing drink to help beat the summer heat. I add some soda water or prosecco to my Bartesian version for a little extra fizz.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle white wine (750 ml)
- 1/2 cup apricot brandy
- 1/4 cup peach schnapps
- 2 oranges sliced
- 2 limes sliced
- 2 peaches pitted & sliced
- 1 1/2 cups strawberries halved
- club soda, prosecco, or gingerale
Steps
- Combine brandy, peach schnapps and fruit in large pitcher.
- Add white wine and stir.
- Refrigerate 4 hours
- To serve, add soaked fruit to a glass and fill 3/4 with sangria
- Top with bubbly of your choice.
These Goblets allow the fruit to shine through.
Hurricane (New Orleans)
New Orleans is one of our favorite cities and I spent many nights in the Crescent City during college. Those nights out typically started or ended on Pat O’Brien’s patio where this popular drink was invented in the 1940s. Definitely serve this one in a properly shaped hurricane glass. I found our mini versions second hand and I’m sure I have an authentic Pat O’s glass packed away in my college memory boxes.
Ingredients
- 2 oz light rum
- 2 oz dark rum
- 1 oz lime juice
- 1 oz orange juice
- 1/2 oz passion fruit puree
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 1 t grenadine
Steps
- Add ingredients to shaker with ice and shake until well chilled.
- Strain into Hurricane glass with ice.
For authenticity, serve in a Hurricane Glass just like they serve at Pat O’Brien’s.
Bee’s Knees (Boston)
While its origins aren’t exactly known, most stories have this gin and honey cocktail born in the US during prohibition. The honey was supposedly added to mask the flavor of the “bathtub gin” and to throw off the scent so cops wouldn’t find the illegal booze as easily.
Ingredients
- 2 oz gin
- 3/4 oz lemon juice
- 1/2 oz honey syrup
Steps
- Combine ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well chilled.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
These Coupe Glasses have a vintage vibe.
Hemingway Daiquiri (Havana, Cuba)
The story goes that famed author Earnest Hemingway ordered his daiquiris at La Florita in Havana with half the sugar and double the rum. Thus, the Hemingway Daiquiri was born. The story goes on that Hemingway loved the drink so much he would order has many as a dozen each day.
Ingredients
- 2 oz light rum
- 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
- 1/2 oz fresh grapefruit juice
- 1/2 oz marashino liqeur
Steps
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain contents into chilled cocktail glass.
Serve in a coupe glass or these stylish lowball glasses with a midcentury vibe.
Painkiller (Jost Van Dyke, BVI)
The Painkiller was invented as an alternative to the Pina Colada at the Soggy Dollar Bar on the gorgeous island of Jost Van Dyke. The bars name came from the fact that you have to swim to the bar from your boat. The drink has since been trademarked by Pusser’s Rum, so when the drink appears on a menu it should be made with Pusser’s.
Ingredients
- 2 oz rum
- 4 oz pineapple juice
- 1 oz orange juice
- 1 oz cream of coconut
Steps
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake to combine.
- Strain into a hurricane glass or snifter over crushed ice.
Serve in these Tiki Tumblers.
Paper Plane ( Chicago)
The Paper Plane is probably the newest travel inspired cocktail on our list and it doesn’t have roots in an exotic location. It was created at Chicago’s The Violet Hour in 2007. But, with such a great name and fun garnish possibilities we had to include it here.
Ingredients
- 3/4 oz bourbon
- 3/4 oz Aperol
- 3/4 oz Amaro Nonino
- 3/4 oz lemon juice
Steps
- Combine ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain into a coupe glass.
Serve in this angular Coupe Glass.
Check the Details and Get Your Bartesian Cocktail Maker
FAQs About the Bartesian Cocktail Machine
customize your bartesian bottles
Download My FREE Bartesian Bottle Labels!
I made these custom Bartesian liquor bottle labels using my Cricut Maker and the Frosted Opaque vinyl. The frosted vinyl gives an etched glass look to the bottles and makes it so much easier to tell them apart.
Now, I’m sharing my Bartesian Bottle Labels with you for FREE! You will receive 5 PNG label files – Bourbon, Gin, Rum, Tequila, and Vodka.
No physical product will be sent. Cut these on a Cricut, Silhouette or similar cutting machine and apply per your vinyl directions.
