Touring overseas counts among the many most enjoyable and academic experiences attainable, and when Individuals go to eating places and resorts in different nations, they usually take pleasure in tasting native dishes and drinks. That stated, worldwide bartenders inform us they discover sure telltale patterns the place American drink orders are involved.
Sure cocktail kinds and particular drinks are, in accordance with the non-U.S. bartenders we surveyed, probably the most generally chosen drinks by American vacationers.
American vacationers overwhelmingly order traditional cocktails when visiting overseas nations.
It’s straightforward to imagine that Individuals would go for flashy TikTok-worthy cocktails when touring to different nations, however the bartenders we interviewed overwhelmingly agreed that probably the most common orders from American visitors come within the type of “classic drinks like margaritas, Manhattans and martinis. They’re familiar, and I think that when you’re far from home, ordering a drink you know well helps you feel at ease,” stated Axel Gonzalez, bar supervisor at Horrible Child in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Domenico Fotia, assistant bar supervisor of The American Bar at The Stafford London, agreed, including that “American guests often gravitate toward timeless classics such as the martini, Negroni, and old-fashioned, cocktails that embody both tradition and sophistication,” since these drinks are each recognizable to American drinkers and comply with easy recipes that stay constant regardless of the place they’re ordered.
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The martini (and martini-related drinks) is extra American than some other cocktail.
Even among the many ordinary traditional cocktail suspects, bartenders instructed us that one drink stands out as a selected favourite amongst Individuals: the martini.
“We find that martini cocktails are very popular. It is not necessarily what an Irish or European guest would order,” stated Dawid Smietana, meals and beverage director of Kilkea Fort in County Kildare, Eire. After we requested Smietana to hazard a guess as to why American vacationers wish to order martinis, he stated, “I believe it comes from the historical and cultural differences. Prohibition, Hollywood movies, and ’50s and ’60s culture shaped a widespread love of martinis in America. You wouldn’t have anything similar to this in Ireland.”
Valeria Tummolo, head bartender at Il Vizio in Rome, has additionally observed the prevalence of martini orders amongst American vacationers, saying, “Here’s a classic example of a martini-style drink order that American tourists often make when traveling: ‘Can I get an extra dirty vodka martini, shaken, not stirred?’ Most traditional martinis in Europe are made with gin, but many Americans prefer vodka, which is smoother and more familiar to their palates. [They ask for] ‘extra dirty’ because American drinkers enjoy a saltier and more savory profile. The ‘shaken, not stirred’ phrase popularized by James Bond is often used by American tourists for the cool factor, even if it’s not the best technique for a clear martini.”
Soiled martinis stand out to Graham Hart, mixologist at Blacktail Bar at Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis, Canada, as an American favourite, and he theorized that this can be as a result of “they make them very well in American steakhouses. [But] it’s not as popular to order olive juice/olives in a beverage in European countries; [they prefer] a martini with a lemon peel.”
Margaritas additionally are usually well-liked orders amongst American guests (particularly in hotter climates).
One other traditional cocktail that exhibits up usually on American visitors’ bar tabs? The margarita. This tequila-and-lime beverage tends to be a giant hit in worldwide locations with hotter climates. Ana María Martínez, meals and beverage director of Peacock Alley on the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, instructed us that “the margarita is almost a symbol of vacation for many American guests. It’s refreshing, approachable, and instantly recognizable, but its popularity today also reflects the global boom of agave spirits, [which] carry centuries of Mexican history and craftsmanship. For travelers, ordering a margarita feels like embracing that cultural legacy while relaxing by the beach.”
Individuals love their whiskey, particularly within the type of an old school.
The American fondness for whiskey shines clearly within the minds of the worldwide bartenders who’ve served U.S.-based visitors. Nareg Aroyan, beverage director at Gustav in Yerevan, Armenia, instructed us that the whiskey cocktail that “remains a top choice among our American tourists” is the old school.
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“Rooted in American cocktail heritage and first popularized by the iconic bartending pioneer Jerry Thomas, it represents more than just a drink — it’s a ritual. Its bold yet balanced profile continues to resonate with American palates, offering both familiarity and sophistication,” Aroyan defined.
When doubtful, Individuals usually go together with a easy spirit-and-soda mixture.
Whereas all of our interviewed bartenders agreed that American vacationers are likely to order extra cocktails basically than guests from different elements of the world, some American drinkers desire to maintain issues easy. In these conditions, “they typically order straightforward [drinks] like a tequila soda or vodka tonic. These choices are familiar, lower in sugar, and align with what they’re accustomed to drinking at home, making them easy go-to options while on vacation,” stated Kyien Moss, beverage director and mixologist at Upstairs at Romora Bay Resort & Marina on Harbour Island within the Bahamas.
Asking for a ’gentle’ or ‘crisp’ beer usually reveals a visitor’s American-ness.
Individuals who’d relatively take pleasure in a chilly beer than a elaborate libation even have totally different tastes than many worldwide guests. Luke Slater, an assistant restaurant supervisor within the U.Ok. and the creator of The Cask Connoisseur, insisted that Individuals visiting the U.Ok. typically like beers with “a pale color and lighter body [rather than] the deeper amber styles we see in traditional U.K. beers.” He’s observed that beers like “Coors Light and bottled Budweiser” get ordered by Individuals frequently, whereas U.Ok. and EU visitors may lean towards extra classically British kinds like “cask beer.”
When abroad cocktail traits make their approach stateside, overseas bartenders see extra Individuals requesting these drinks.
Because of social media, it’s by no means been sooner or simpler for abroad traits to change into embraced and adopted by American bartenders.
Lapo, a legendary bartender (so legendary that he goes by just one title) at Harry’s Bar Firenze inside Sina Villa Medici in Florence, Italy, talked about the Aperol spritz — an iconic Italian aperitivo — as a chief instance. He stated that many American vacationers ask for Aperol spritzes at his bar, however a Southern Italian different often known as the Limoncello spritz proves much more well-liked throughout the hotter months.
“The Limoncello spritz offers everything an American traveler is often seeking in a cocktail while abroad: something refreshing, quintessentially Italian and photogenic. It’s lighter and brighter than a traditional Aperol spritz, with the zesty charm of the Amalfi Coast in a glass. Americans tend to associate limoncello with vacations and indulgence, and ordering it in spritz form lets them extend that experience into a relaxed, social moment. Plus, it’s a beautiful drink to enjoy while people-watching on a sunny Florentine afternoon,” Lapo stated.
