9 city skylines visualised inside their signature drinks

We’re not talking about transferring your domestic drinking skills abroad. This isn’t about getting your drunk on as fast as possible, or getting stuck into the habitual early-evening mood settler after a hard day’s work. We’re talking about cultural research. Really, really tasty cultural research.

The good people at Budget Direct Travel Insurance have drawn up an appetizing new set of digital postcards to get you kickstarted on your research. Each illustration spices up a mouthwatering render of a city’s signature drink with an icing of that city’s skyline, so you never need forget where you are.

Singapore Sling

Ngiam Tong Boon: that was the name of the bartender who invented this rose-tinted, gin-based cocktail back in 1915. Grenadine, lime juice, and Dom Benedictine provide the other main flavours, while the colour is added with cherry brandy and Cointreau (which doesn’t hurt the taste, either!)

Champagne

Champagne isn’t champagne unless it’s created in the Champagne region. Thankfully, plenty of it flows west to Paris, where you can find a glass almost anywhere in town. Guests of Le Meurice Hotel are even offered a glass of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Carte Jaune before they ascend to their room; the Shangri-La Paris has a pop-up champagne bar throughout the summer, where you can sip your bubbly as you take in the best possible view of the Eiffel Tower (i.e. through a champagne flute).

Manhattan

It’s a refined cocktail for a refined part of New York City – and you’ll appreciate the pared-back elegance of a Manhattan after the charming chaos of the streets. Whiskey, sweet vermouth, bitters, and of course Maraschino cherries come together in a simple lowball or cocktail glass, with a colour that’ll warm you and a sweet edge to smarten your senses.

Margarita

It gets real hot in Mexico City. The civilized alternative to a long cool beer is the refreshing punch of a margarita. Tequila, triple sec, and lime or lemon juice combine to give a sharp citrus thrill that goes down a bit too easily. Some claim the margarita was actually invented in England, but it’s now well and truly ingrained in Mexican culture – and who are you to turn one down so long as it’s being poured?

Sangria

Sangria is a drink of the people: invented by everyday Spanish folk to spice up their wine (in those days booze was the only drink you knew wouldn’t be full of bacteria), it’s now enjoyed by the common holidaymaker wherever the weather is warm and good friends are gathered. It takes on a particularly baroque charm when sipped between the exotic churches and houses of Barcelona. ¡Salud!

Caipirinha

Way down in Rio, Brazilians keep it cool with a caipirinha: based on the sock-knocker-offer cachaça spirit, lime, sugar, and ice are added to complete the taste of samba-in-a-glass.

Spirit of Sydney

Done right, the Spirit of Sydney already comes with its own skyline: pear wedges can be balanced to emerge from the Vantage, lemon, and honey water base to create an edible replica of Sydney’s famous Opera House.

Amarula

The ‘Spirit of Africa’ is a blend of marula fruit (a cousin of mangoes, pistachios, and cashews) and fresh dairy cream, and a popular glass to toast with around old Cape Town!

Pimm’s No. 1 Cup

I say, I say. Forever associated with the toffs and wannabes of the Wimbledon tennis tournament in London, a Pimms cocktail combines all that is most noble about British drinking culture: gin, daytime drinking, and generous servings.

Make sure to research responsibly while you’re on vacation!

First published here.