Sip & Savour: 13 Tastiest Asian-Inspired Cocktails Unveiled

Asian cocktails are vibrant, diverse, timeless, and almost always have a tasty hint of intrigue in the mix—much like the continent itself. Inspired by this captivating region with its splendid array of landscapes, climates, cultures, and people, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite Asian drinks to spark a touch of wanderlust in your palate. Happy adventuring! 

1. Singapore Sling

This famous Asian cocktail drink has inspired countless variations, but we still adore the original. Ngiam Tong Boon created the Singapore Sling recipe in 1915, and it quickly became a local favourite. Tart, refreshing, and very drinkable, there’s a good reason this classic drink has remained one of the most fashionable cocktails of our time.    

2. Asian Pear

The Asian Pear Cocktail is crafted for pure delight. It’s delicate, aromatic, and beautifully balanced from the very first sip. It’s also wonderfully easy to shake up when you’re in the mood for something elegant.

Ingredients

• 40 ml Chinese Baijiu

• 20 ml Maraschino Liqueur

• 20 ml Pear Liqueur

• 60 ml White Pear Juice

• 20 ml Lime Juice

• 15 ml Agave Syrup

• Few dashes Bitters

• Ice

Method

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice

2. Shake until well-chilled

3. Strain into a frosted glass

4. Serve

Get festive: 12 Chinese-Inspired Cocktails to Celebrate the Chinese New Year  

3. Cherry Blossom

Stay sweet: 13 Cherry Cocktails to Indulge Sweet & Tangy Flavours 

4. Poktanju (Soju Bomb) 

A high-energy party classic straight from Korean pub culture. Simple, fun, and guaranteed to get the room buzzing.

Ingredients

• 1 shot Soju

• Chilled Light Beer

• Chopsticks, for setup

Method

1. Fill a beer glass halfway with chilled light beer

2. Place two chopsticks across the top of the glass

3. Pour the soju into a shot glass and balance it carefully on the chopsticks

4. Slam your hands on the table on either side of the beer glass to drop the shot into the beer

5. Serve

Read next: 10 Beer Cocktails for the Win  

5. Sparkling Strawberry Boba

If you love festive Asian-inspired cocktails with a playful twist, this strawberry boba serve is going to be your new party favorite.

Ingredients

• 30 ml SKYY Vodka

• 75 ml Strawberry simple syrup

• 15 ml Fresh lime juice

• 2 tbsp Cooked tapioca pearls

• 90 ml Sparkling water or club soda

Method

1. Add the tapioca pearls and strawberry simple syrup to the bottom of a serving glass

2. Pour in the SKYY Vodka and fresh lime juice

3. Top with sparkling water or club soda

4. Stir gently to combine

5. Serve

More here: Jump on the Latest Boba Cocktail Trend with These 3 Cocktails 

6. Japanese Sour

No list of Asian-themed cocktails would be complete without the Japanese Sour. Smoky, sour, smooth, and seductively frothy on top, this slow sipper is a spin-off of the classic Whiskey Sour. 

Ingredients

• 60 ml Japanese Whisky

• 20 ml Fresh lemon juice

• 20 ml Yuzu juice

• 15 ml Kuromitsu or honey syrup

• 1 Egg white

• Bitters, a few drops for garnish

• Ice

Method

1. Add the Japanese Whisky, lemon juice, yuzu juice, kuromitsu or honey syrup, and egg white to a shaker

2. Dry shake for 10 seconds

3. Add ice and shake until well chilled

4. Strain into a chilled coupe glass

5. Add a few drops of bitters

6. Serve

Kanpai! 10 Japanese Whiskey Cocktails to Master

7. Mango Mojito

A fruity, fragrant twist on the classic, this Mango Mojito brings bright, tropical flavor and that silky mango texture everyone loves.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Wray & Nephew white rum (opens in new window)

• 30 ml Mango juice

• 15 ml Fresh lime juice

• 15 ml Sugar syrup

• 4–6 Mint leaves

• 2 tbsp Mango chunks

• Soda water

• Ice

Method

1. Add the mint leaves, lime juice, sugar syrup, and mango chunks to a shaker, then gently muddle

2. Pour in the white rum and mango juice, then add ice and shake until well chilled

3. Strain into a tall glass over fresh ice

4. Top with soda water and give it a quick stir

5. Serve

Read next: 15 Delicious Indian Cocktails to Make at Home

8. Sesame Old Fashioned

The traditional Old Fashioned is one of the most popular short drinks around the globe, and the Sesame Old Fashioned takes this sought-after drink template into a beautifully nutty and aromatic direction.

Ingredients (for the infusion)

• 120 ml The Glen Grant Whiskey (opens in new window)

• 1 tbsp Toasted sesame seeds

Ingredients (for the cocktail)

• 60 ml Sesame-infused whiskey

• 15 ml Sugar syrup

• 4 dashes Bitters

• Ice

• Orange peel, for garnish (optional)

Method

1. Dry toast the sesame seeds in a warm pan until fragrant

2. Combine the toasted sesame seeds with The Glen Grant Whiskey and infuse for 1 hour, then strain

3. Add the sesame-infused whiskey, sugar syrup, and bitters to a rocks glass over ice

4. Stir until well chilled

5. Garnish with an orange peel if desired

6. Serve

Go pro! Best Whiskey for an Old Fashioned Cocktail 

9. Raspberry Soju

Following in the slipstream of dainty drinks like the Raspberry Martini, the Raspberry Soju provides a beautiful way to showcase the tender taste of this picture-perfect fruit. 

Ingredients

• 60 ml Soju

• 15 ml Sugar syrup

• Fresh raspberries, for muddling

• Ice

• Fresh raspberries, for garnish (optional)

Method

1. Add a few fresh raspberries and the sugar syrup to a glass, then muddle gently

2. Add ice

3. Pour in the soju and stir to combine

4. Garnish with a few raspberries if desired

5. Serve

More where this came from! 20 Soju Cocktails to Master at Home 

10. Toki Americano

Japan meets Italy’s aperitivo hour in one of our favourite Asian alcohol drinks. This stir-and-strain drink is a spin-off of the famous Americano cocktail, featuring a beautiful balance of bittersweet and savoury flavours.

Ingredients

• 45 ml Japanese whisky

• 20 ml Cinzano Vermouth Bianco (opens in new window)

• 20 ml Amaro Averna (opens in new window)

• 1 dash Grapefruit bitters

Method

1. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass filled with ice

2. Stir until well chilled

3. Strain into a chilled coupe

4. Serve

Asked & Answered: Is There Really a Substitute for Your Favorite Cinzano Vermouth?    

11. Indian Hot Buttered Rum

As far as Asian-inspired winter cocktails go, the Hot Buttered Rum might just be the king. It contains butter and we all know that everything is better with butter. To give your buttery bomb an Indian twist, all you have to do is add some chai spice to the usual butter, sugar, and vanilla mix. Top it up with rum and hot water, and you’ve got yourself a fragrant Indian Hot Buttered Rum.    

12. Chinese Fizz

Love a Ramos Fizz? Try this delightful Asian summer cocktail.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Appleton Estate Rum

• 10 ml Grand Marnier

• 10 ml Cherry liqueur

• 15 ml Lemon juice

• 15 ml Sugar syrup

• 10 ml Grenadine

• 1 Egg white

• Dash Grapefruit bitters

Method

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and dry shake for 10 seconds

2. Add ice and shake until frosty

3. Double strain into a glass filled with fresh ice

4. Serve

13. Sabai Sabai

Also known as the “Thai Welcome Drink,” this bright, basil-kissed classic is a staple of Thailand’s cocktail culture.

Ingredients

• 45 ml Mekhong

• 45 ml Fresh lemon juice

• 20 ml Sugar syrup

• 2 Fresh sweet Thai basil leaves

• Soda water, to top

• Ice

Method

1. Add the Thai basil leaves, Mekhong, fresh lemon juice, and sugar syrup to a cocktail shaker

2. Add ice and shake vigorously for about 10 seconds

3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or an old-fashioned glass filled with fresh ice

4. Top with soda water

5. Serve

There you have it — 13 amazing Asian cocktails to inspire your exploration of this captivating region and all its gorgeous delicacies. If you love travelling in a cocktail glass, sign up for our newsletter (opens in new window) so we can send you a first-class ticket to your next drinkspiration destination.