South American Alcoholic Beverages

A Brazilian national cocktail called Caipirinha is made with cachaça, sugar, and lime. Cachaça is the most common distilled alcoholic drink in Brazil, and it can be consumed by itself or used as a base for a number of mixed ... READ MORE

Cachaça is a popular Brazilian drink that is distilled from freshly pressed and fermented sugar cane juice. It is believed that the first varieties of cachaça were produced sometime at the beginning of the 17th century, and ... READ MORE

Caipiroska is a cocktail that is quite similar to Caipirinha, but consists of lime, brown sugar, and vodka instead of Brazilian cachaça. This refreshing, citrusy cocktail is a trendy beverage in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Para... READ MORE

Malbec originally comes from southwest France, but recently it has become one of the most important grape varieties in Argentina, where it developed an entirely different flavor profile. Due to the unique geographic and climatic features,... READ MORE

Pisco Sour is a Peruvian cocktail made with a combination of Pisco brandy, lime juice, sugar syrup, and egg whites. The ingredients are shaken with ice and then strained into an old-fashioned glass. The cocktail is traditionally garnished with Ama... READ MORE

Pisco is a brandy that is distilled from the fermented grape juice. It was invented in the 16th century as a replacement for orujo—an ancient Spanish pomace brandy. Although it is also produced in Chile, Peruvian pisco resu... READ MORE

Although Carménère originated in Bordeaux, it has virtually disappeared from its native region, and though small amounts of Carménère are planted in Italy, Argentina, and California, the grape found its true ho... READ MORE

Pisco is a drink that is distilled from fermented grape must and juices. It is considered a national drink in both Peru and Chile, but the style and the character of pisco can differ based on the location where it was created. Chilean pis... READ MORE

The sweet, refreshing Batida (lit. shaken) is a Brazilian cocktail that's most commonly made with a combination of cachaça, sugar, and either fruit juice or coconut milk. To prepare it, all ingredients are blended or vigorously sha... READ MORE

Quentão is a traditional cocktail made with fresh ginger, red apples, sugar, cloves, cinnamon, water, and cachaça. To prepare it, ginger, apples, and sugar are first caramelized, then combined with cloves and cinnamon. Cacha... READ MORE

It is not Christmas in Chile without a glass of Cola de Mono (lit. Monkey’s Tail). There are numerous versions of this beverage, but it typically consists of milk, sugar, coffee, cloves, cinnamon, and aguardiente – di... READ MORE

Chilcano is a Peruvian cocktail made with a combination of pisco, lime juice, and ginger ale. The simple cocktail is prepared by combining the ingredients in a highball glass over ice, then stirring the combination. If desired, the cockta... READ MORE

Piscola is a popular Chilean cocktail made with a combination of Pisco brandy and a soft drink. The soft drinks that are typically used in Piscola include cola, tonic, Sprite, or ginger ale. To prepare the cocktail, a highball glass is fi... READ MORE

Although Tannat is native to France and primarily known in Madiran AOC, this dark, thick-skinned variety has become one of the most important grapes in Uruguay. The variety, which was brought to Uruguay in the 19th century, produces power... READ MORE

Melón con Vino is a Chilean drink consisting of a hollowed-out honeydew melon that is filled with chilled white wine and powdered sugar. This sticky and sweet concoction is especially popular during summer, and it is typically shar... READ MORE

Bittersweet and refreshing, Refajo is a Colombian cocktail made with a combination of Colombiana soda, pale lager, and sometimes aguardiente as well. All ingredients are typically mixed together in a chilled pitcher without stirring. The ... READ MORE

Navegado is a Chilean mixed drink that is especially popular in winter. Although there are numerous recipes for Navegado, it is typically made with a combination of red wine, sugar, orange juice, and warming spices such as cinnamon and cl... READ MORE

Chicha de jora is an ancient Peruvian alcoholic drink that is made from fermented jora—a type of yellow maize. The discovery of pottery mills near Machu Picchu suggests that the Incas have made chicha de jora, and it is belived that... READ MORE

Angostura is a concentrated bitters made with herbs and spices. It was developed in 1824 in the Venezuelan town of Angostura (now called Ciudad Bolívar), when a German doctor Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert, who was a surgeon gene... READ MORE

Singani is a brandy variety that is exclusively distilled from Muscat of Alexandria grapes. Due to the specific terroir and the strict rules regarding the production method, the base wine is complex, aromatic, and flavorful. Signani has b... READ MORE

País is a grape variety that was brought over from Spain (known as Listán Negro) to South America. Since its introduction in the 16th century, it was commonly used in the production of basic bulk wines, but it was often over... READ MORE

Canelazo is a spiced beverage that is enjoyed in various parts of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Argentina. Although there are different versions of the drink, it is usually made with a combination of cinnamon water (hot water infused with ... READ MORE

Cocuy is a traditional spirit that is made from Agave cocui, a green agave variety that is mostly found in the states of Lara and Falcón. The heads of the agave are first roasted in underground pits and then turned into a ... READ MORE

Rabo-de-Galo is a popular Brazilian cocktail made with a combination of cachaça and either sweet vermouth or Cynar (a bitter liqueur), or both sweet vermouth and Cynar, depending on the recipe. In order to prepare it, the ingredien... READ MORE

Chicha Sour is a Peruvian cocktail made with a combination of pisco, lemon or lime juice, simple syrup, egg whites, and chicha morada – a traditional beverage made from purple corn. In order to prepare the cocktail, all ingredients ... READ MORE

Invented by an American Melville Sewell Bagley, this orange-based aperitif was created in Buenos Aires, and it was initially launched in 1864. Hesperidina is characterized by its aromas of fresh oranges and herbs, while its flavor is remi... READ MORE

Ponche crema is a Venezuelan liqueur that also gave its name to a similar homemade beverage. The liqueur is often called Venezuelan eggnogs as it is milk- and egg-based. This creamy liqueur was invented by Eliodoro González P. in t... READ MORE

Although it originated in Savoie, where it is known as Douce Noir, this red grape variety has shown great potential in Argentina. The grape is dominantly planted in Mendoza wine region, and up until recently, it has been the most commonly planted ... READ MORE

Terremoto is a Chilean cocktail made with a combination of local red wine (Pipeño), pineapple ice-cream, grenadine syrup, and (optionally) Fernet-Branc or Pisco. The drink is served in a 1-liter glass. The ice cream is added first,... READ MORE

Demerara is a rum style that originated in Guyana when the Dutch founded first sugar plantations and after the British introduced distillation. This rum style is often compared to Jamaican rum due to its dark color and fuller body. Most e... READ MORE

Amargo Obrero is a dark brown bitter characterized by its herbal, almost licorice flavor. It was initially created in 1887 as a response to the sweet drinks of the upper classes, and since then it has been known as the aperitif of the Arg... READ MORE

Torrontés Riojano is a white Argentinian grape that is used in the production of the namesake varietal wine. These light-bodied wines are usually perfumed and aromatic, while they typically display a wide array of fruity and floral... READ MORE

Lemon Hart (Original 1804) is a premium, Demerara-style rum characterized by its bold flavor, full-body, complexity, and a smooth finish. The drink is produced by the namesake company known as the first rum purveyor for the British Navy. ... READ MORE

Leite de Onça (lit. Jaguar Milk) is a sweet and creamy Brazilian cocktail with a thick and smooth texture. It is made with a combination of cachaça, crème de cacao, and milk. In order to prepare it, all ingredients ar... READ MORE

Don Alfredo is a popular Peruvian cocktail made with a combination of pisco, elderflower liqueur, lime juice, and soda water. To prepare it, the first three ingredients should be poured into a glass filled with ice, then topped with a spl... READ MORE

Catuaba is a Brazilian alcoholic drink made with red wine. It is infused with guaraná, the caffeine-rich Brazilian plant, and catuaba—another native Brazilian plant that is often lauded as an aphrodisiac, an... READ MORE

Aguardiente is a generic term used for various distilled spirits from the Iberian peninsula and Central and South America. In Colombia, aguardiente is a sugarcane spirit that is flavored with anise. The drink is enjoyed in the entire coun... READ MORE

Caju Amigo (lit. Friendly Cashew) is a Brazilian shooter made with a combination of cachaça and cashew juice. In order to prepare it, both ingredients are simply mixed in a shot glass without ice. Cachaça is often served wit... READ MORE

Chileans traditionally usher in the New Year with a glass of this decadent and sweet mixed drink known as Ponche a la Romana. It is prepared with a combination of sparkling wine and pineapple-flavored ice cream. In order to prepare it, a ... READ MORE

Vaina is essentially the Chilean version of eggnog, made with a combination of ruby port, chocolate liqueur, powdered sugar, fresh egg yolks, and either cognac or brandy. In order to prepare it, all ingredients should be blended with ice ... READ MORE

Borgoña is a simple Chilean cocktail that combines red wine and fresh strawberries. The drink is assembled by chopping strawberries, mixing them with sugar, and then adding the combination to red wine. This cocktail is a staple on ... READ MORE

Medio y Medio is an Uruguayan cocktail made with a combination of dry white wine and sweet sparkling wine. In order to prepare it, equal parts white wine and sparkling wine should simply be combined in a glass and served. Both ingredients... READ MORE