Cheapflights.com Concocts Its List of Top 10 Summer Cocktails From Around the World

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - May 1, 2012) - Summertime -- how we long for it. Luckily we don't have to wait much longer as April showers are now bringing us May flowers and soon enough summer will be in full swing. The team at Cheapflights.com, the online leader in finding and publishing travel deals, has already begun to daydream about the hot summer days and nights ahead and in doing so was inspired to concoct its list of Top 10 Summer Cocktails from around the World.

"With both Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby happening this weekend, suddenly we are all in the mood for an ice cold adult beverage, complete with beads of sweat rolling down the side," said Lauren Sullivan, Cheapflights.com editor. "Summer may not officially start until next month, but we declare the summer cocktail season open now."

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, below are five of Cheapflights.com's Top 10 Summer Cocktails from around the World introduced to us by Spanish cultures near and far:

• Mojito -- Cuba - 4 parts rum, 2 parts lime juice, 2 parts simple syrup, 6 mint leaves, 1 lime, soda water: A personal favorite of Ernest Hemmingway and most recently associated with the chic Miami scene, the mojito is Cuba's best known drink. Made from white rum, sugar, mint and lime juice, the mojito evokes the tropical heat, especially when you're sweating as much as the glass holding your drink. Though perhaps best enjoyed in an elegant old Havana bar watching 1950s American cars rumble by, the mojito's combination of limey, minty sweetness is perfect on hot summer days -- or nights.
  
  
• Margarita -- Mexico - 7 parts tequila, 4 parts Cointreau, 3 parts lime juice: From Mexico and made with its national spirit, tequila, and immortalized by Jimmy Buffett, the margarita is enjoyed around the world. Though flavored variations have worked their way onto menus -- raspberry, blood orange and cayenne pepper to name a few -- a real margarita is elegantly simple: a blend of white tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice shaken and served over ice in a salt-rimmed glass. It's a far cry from the neon-green slushy versions posing as the real thing. The tartness of the lime and orange perfectly match the strength of the tequila. No need to cross the border for your next Mexican fiesta!
  
  
• Pisco Sour -- Peru - 8 parts pisco brandy, 4 parts lime juice, 3 parts simple syrup, 1 egg white, 1 dash bitters: Considered the best known cocktail from South America, the Pisco Sour was invented in Peru by an American bartender during the early part of the 20th century. Powerful due to the pisco, a form of brandy distilled from grapes, the elixir owes its sour pucker to the other ingredients: lime juice, simple syrup and egg whites. Though not as well-known as its whiskey cousin, the Pisco Sour is worth trying. You may even feel as light-headed as if you were in the high altitudes of Peru.
  
  
• Pina Colada -- Puerto Rico - 1 part white rum, 1 part cream of coconut, 3 parts pineapple juice: It's hard to think of a drink more tropical than the pina colada. Made with rum, cream of coconut and pineapple juice, it was invented in Puerto Rico in 1954 and has since been proclaimed the island's official drink. The richness of the cream of coconut mixes with the sweet acidity of the pineapple juice to give a frothy cooling kiss to your palette -- and there's a nice kick from the rum. Even without a little umbrella in the glass, you may feel as if you're on an island under palm trees when sipping one.
  
  
• Sangria -- Spain - 3 parts wine, 1/2 part brandy, fresh fruit, spices: Nothing says summer more than a glass -- or pitcher -- of this delicious fruit-infused wine punch, originally from Spain. It's typically made with red wine, brandy and fresh peaches, melons, citrus or berries, which add tanginess. The varying combinations of spices -- like nutmeg or cumin -- offer hints of mystical spiciness evocative of Andalusia. Sangria can be the perfect accompaniment to a light summer meal or a few tapas, and is perfectly enjoyable on its own (of course!).
  

The remaining cocktails rounding out our list are: Pimm's Cup from England; the Caipirinha from Brazil; Singapore Sling from Singapore; Negroni from Italy and Long Island Iced Tea from New York. To read the thirst-quenching details about these delicious concoctions and the complete list of Cheapflights.com's Top 10 Summer Cocktails from around the World, visit http://news.cheapflights.com/top-10-summer-cocktails-from-around-the-world/.

About Cheapflights Media
Cheapflights Media is an international media network helping over 11 million visitors a month find top travel deals. Our Cheapflights brand was launched in 1996 and pioneered the online comparison of flight deals for users. Today, users compare a wide range of deals from hundreds of partners including online travel agents, consolidators and airlines to find the very best flight deals. With a mission to be the starting point for travel, Cheapflights works to deliver the industry's best airfare bargains, expert tips and inspiration. There are currently Cheapflights sites in the U.K., U.S., Canada, Germany, Australia & New Zealand, France, Italy and Spain. For more information, visit www.cheapflights.com. Our newest brand, Momondo, is a leading travel search engine for finding comprehensive worldwide pricing and availability on airfares. Winner of several awards, the site is ideal for users on specific travel schedules. For more information, visit www.momondo.com.