Argentinian Cocktails: Classic Drinks from the Heart of South America

Argentinian cocktails combine local ingredients like Malbec and yerba mate with European influences. Popular drinks include Clericó, Cynar Julep, and wine spritzes.  

This gorgeous mashup has made Buenos Aires home to one of the most vibrant aperitivo cultures outside of Europe. And there’s also a herbal liqueur tradition to top it all off.

Here’s what you need to know about Argentinian drinks, plus a few of our favourite Argentinian cocktails to try at home.  

What makes Argentinian cocktails unique?

Argentinian cocktails pull from an exciting mix of influences, but the magic comes from how those pieces fit together. Buenos Aires grew up on Italian and Spanish-inspired aperitif rituals, but the way locals shaped those traditions gives the drinks their own vibe.  

There’s bitters-based Argentinian herbal liqueur in the mix and wine everywhere you turn: Malbec (red) for deep berry notes, Torrontés (white) for something soft and floral, and rosé for those long summer hangs. 

Argentinian drinks are also meant to be shared. Think big jugs on the table, spritz batches passed around at asados (BBQs), and easy-going serves that feel like an open invitation to stay a little longer. That social heartbeat traces back to Argentina’s golden age of bartending — from the 1930s through the 1950s — when local pros were creating bold, elegant cocktails long before the global mixology scene caught up.

Yerba mate is also in its glow-up era. It’s a traditional South American tea with earthy, green, almost smoky edges, and modern bartenders use it to bring serious depth to vodka infusions, syrups, and herbal riffs. 

PRO TIP: Argentinian cocktails are often low-ABV, and designed for long, sociable meals and warm evenings. Pair them with easy eats like empanadas (baked or fried pastries) or choripan (sausage sandwiches). 

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The most iconic Argentinian cocktails

1. Clericó Cocktail

A summertime staple across South America, this bright white wine punch leans into sun-ripened fruit and easy sipping. Light, fresh, and perfect for long afternoons with friends, it just gets better as it chills. 

Ingredients 

• 2 bottles Dry white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc) 

• 0.25 cup Brandy 

• 1 tbsp Fresh lemon juice 

• 0.25 cup Sugar 

• 1.5 cups Sliced peaches 

• 1 cup Sliced strawberries 

• 1 cup Halved seedless grapes 

• Thinly sliced banana 

• Ice 

Method 

1. Combine white wine, brandy, lemon juice, and sugar in a large 3-litre jug 
2. Stir until the sugar dissolves 
3. Add peaches, strawberries, and grapes 
4. Chill for at least 2 hours or overnight 
5. Add banana slices just before serving 
6. Fill glasses with ice, pour in the Clericó, and spoon some fruit into each glass 
7. Serve 

2. Herbal Highball (Argentinian-style)

Light, fizzy, and great for easy sipping, this highball pairs a bold herbal liqueur with your choice of cola or soda water. It’s simple, tasty, and built for warm summer evenings. 

Ingredients 

• 60 ml Herbal liqueur (any bittersweet or aromatic style) 

• 120 – 160 ml Cola or soda water 

• Ice 

• Lemon wedge or orange slice, for garnish 

Method 

1. Fill a highball glass with ice 
2. Add the herbal liqueur 
3. Top with cola or soda water 
4. Stir gently 
5. Garnish with a lemon wedge or orange slice 
6. Serve 

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3. Vincha Rosada

A classic from Argentina’s golden age of cocktails, the Vincha Rosada is bright, elegant, and wonderfully balanced. Created by legendary bartender Santiago ‘Pichín’ Policastro, it combines citrus, rum, and cherry notes for a vibrant sip that still feels timeless today. 

Ingredients 

• 60 ml Rum (opens in new window) 

• 20 ml Grenadine 

• 20 ml Lemon juice 

• 15 ml Kirschwasser (cherry brandy) 

• Ice 

• Lemon twist, for garnish 

Method 

1. Add rum, grenadine, lemon juice, and kirschwasser to a cocktail shaker with ice 
2. Shake until well chilled 
3. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice 
4. Garnish with a lemon twist 
5. Serve 

4. Malbec Spritz

Light, bubbly, and effortlessly stylish, the Malbec Spritz stands out from the crowd of Argentinian wine cocktails. The deep berry notes of Malbec meet crisp soda water for an easy, anytime sipper with a citrussy lift. 

Ingredients 

• 90 ml Malbec 

• 90 ml Soda water 

• Ice 

• Orange peel, for garnish 

Method 

1. Fill a wine or spritz glass with ice 
2. Add the Malbec 
3. Top with soda water 
4. Stir gently 
5. Garnish with an orange peel 
6. Serve 

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5. Día de Campo

A bright, earthy cocktail, Día de Campo blends yerba mate–infused vodka with Campari, orange, and apricot for a vibrant sip inspired by Argentinian seasonal traditions. 

Ingredients 

• 45 ml Yerba mate–infused vodka 

• 30 ml Campari (opens in new window) 

• 30 ml Orange juice 

• 15 ml Apricot brandy 

• Ice 

Method 

1. Add all ingredients to a glass filled with ice 
2. Stir to combine 
3. Serve 

How to make yerba mate–infused vodka 

Combine 1 cup of vodka with 1–2 tablespoons of loose yerba mate in a sealed jar. Let it infuse at room temperature for 3 to 12 hours, tasting as it develops. Once it reaches your desired strength, strain through a fine mesh sieve or coffee filter to remove all the sediment, then store in a clean bottle. This concentrated infusion adds an earthy, tea-like depth to your cocktails. 

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6. Mate Julep  

A South American twist on the classic Julep, the Mate Julep blends bourbon, mint, and yerba mate syrup for an earthy, aromatic take on a crowd-favourite cooler. 

Ingredients 

• 60 ml Wild Turkey 101 bourbon (opens in new window) 

• 15 ml Yerba mate syrup 

• 6–8 Mint leaves 

• Crushed ice 

• Mint sprig, for garnish 

Method 

1. Lightly muddle the mint leaves with yerba mate syrup in a Julep cup or highball glass 
2. Fill the cup with crushed ice 
3. Pour in the bourbon 
4. Stir until the cup frosts 
5. Top with more crushed ice 
6. Garnish with a mint sprig 
7. Serve 

How to make yerba mate syrup 

Combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Once the sugar dissolves, add 2 tablespoons loose yerba mate and simmer gently for 5–7 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve or coffee filter to remove the sediment, then cool completely. Store in the fridge for up to 1 week. 

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7. Cynar Julep

Another vibrant riff on the original hot-weather sipper, the Cynar Julep pairs the bittersweet depth of artichoke liqueur with bright, fragrant mint for a cool, herbaceous serve. 

Ingredients 

• 60 ml Cynar (opens in new window) 

• 15 ml Sugar syrup 

• 15 ml Lemon juice 

• 6–8 Mint leaves 

• Crushed ice 

• Mint sprig, for garnish 

Method 

1. Lightly muddle the mint leaves with sugar syrup and lemon juice in a Julep cup or highball glass 
2. Fill the cup with crushed ice 
3. Pour Cynar over the ice 
4. Stir until the cup frosts 
5. Top with more crushed ice to mound the glass 
6. Garnish with a mint sprig and add a straw 
7. Serve 

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8. Dulce de Leche Espresso Martini

Rich, silky, and dessert-level indulgent, the Dulce de Leche Espresso Martini puts a Latin-inspired twist on the classic. The sweetness of dulce de leche (caramelised milk and sugar) blends beautifully with espresso and vodka, giving you a creamy, holiday-party showstopper. 

Ingredients 

• 60 ml SKYY Vodka (opens in new window) 

• 15 ml Coffee liqueur 

• 30 ml Freshly brewed and cooled espresso 

• 15 ml Dulce de leche (add a splash of hot water if too thick) 

• Ice 

• Coffee beans or a caramel swirl, for garnish 

Method 

1. Add vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso, and dulce de leche to an ice-filled cocktail shaker 
2. Shake hard for 30 seconds until chilled and frothy 
3. Strain into a pre-chilled coupe or Martini glass 
4. Garnish with coffee beans or a light caramel swirl 
5. Serve 

Exploring Argentina’s modern cocktail scene

Buenos Aires is having a moment. The city’s new wave of bartenders mixes classic technique with local swagger, pulling in herbs, flowers, and yerba mate in ways that feel both playful and grounded in place.  

You’ll find cocktails built with Patagonian berries, citrus from the north, and botanicals that show off the country’s massive range of flavours. A booming rooftop and speakeasy culture means aperitivo hour stretches long and late. 

Modern bars remix global classics through a South American lens. Think Negronis with local tea, a Martini tinged with native aromatics, or a highball brightened with regional fruit. It’s a scene that rewards curiosity.  

Even the posh spots keep things warm, generous, and social, which sums up the spirit of Argentina’s drinking culture today. The locals want you to feel at home, even if you’re thousands of miles away. 

How to make Argentinian cocktails at home  

Recreating Argentinian aperitifs and flavours at your UK home bar is easier than it looks. You don’t need exact brands to capture the vibe; you just need the right anchors.  

For herbal liqueurs, reach for Cynar, Aperol, or Campari. All of these are great for building that bittersweet backbone you find in many Argentinian serves. If a recipe calls for yerba mate syrup or an infusion, supermarket yerba mate teabags work surprisingly well. 

Wine plays a big role, so keep a bottle of Malbec, a Torrontés, or a dry rosé on hand. Think about texture and temperature, too. Argentinian cocktails are all about easy sipping, so don’t hold back on the ice. Big cubes for slow dilution, crushed ice for Juleps, and plenty of citrus to keep things lifted. 

Sharing is also built into the culture, instantly bringing that Buenos Aires energy to your home. In short, jugs are a vibe! 

¡Salud! Now you’re all set to serve up some Argentina mixed drinks at home. Discover more after-work cocktail recipes  (opens in new window)and learn about Cynar (opens in new window) ― why this bitter liqueur is so special. In the meantime, sign up for our newsletter (opens in new window) to stay in the mix.