Sip & Savor: 13 Tastiest Asian-Inspired Cocktails Unveiled

February 28, 2024 by Anna-Bet Stemmet

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 favorite Asian drinks to spark a touch of wanderlust in your palate. Happy adventuring!

1. Singapore Sling

Two Singapore Sling cocktails in a beach bar setting

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 favorite. Tart, refreshing, and very drinkable, there’s a good reason this classic drink has remained one of the most fashionable cocktails of our time.

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2. Asian Pear

The Asian Pear cocktail has been crafted to absolute perfection. It’s a delight from start to finish and easy to whip up. Add 1.25 oz Chinese baijiu, 0.25 oz maraschino liqueur, 0.25 oz pear liqueur, 2 oz white pear juice, 0.75 oz lime juice, 0.5 oz agave syrup, and a few dashes of bitters to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well-chilled, decant into a frosted glass, and serve.

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3. Cherry Blossom

This Asian cocktail brings plenty of springtime flair to the party. To make two Cherry Blossom drinks, combine 1.5 oz sake, 1 oz cherry liqueur, 0.5 oz Bulldog Gin, 0.25 oz Grand Marnier, 0.25 oz grenadine, and 0.25 oz lemon juice in a mixing glass with ice. Stir until thoroughly chilled, and strain into two chilled glasses. Garnish with fresh or brandied cherries.

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4. Poktanju (Soju Bomb)

This party drink is a complete Korean pub classic. Fill a glass halfway with chilled beer. Place two chopsticks across the top of the glass. Pour the soju into a shot glass, and carefully balance it on top of the chopsticks. Now slam your hands on the table on either side of the beer glass and watch the shot of soju drop into your drink. Enjoy!

Read next: 10 Beer Cocktails for the Win

5. Sparkling Strawberry Boba

If you have a soft spot for fun and festive Asian cocktail recipes, you’ve got to make the Sparkling Strawberry Boba cocktail. To make this bubble tea cocktail, you will need 1 oz SKYY Vodka, 2.5 oz strawberry simple syrup, 0.5 oz fresh lime juice, two tablespoons of tapioca pearls, and 3 oz of sparkling water or club soda. Combine the tapioca pearls and syrup in the bottom of your serving glass, then top with the vodka and fresh lime juice, and charge with sparkling water.

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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.

To make one, combine 2 oz Japanese whisky, 0.25 oz fresh lemon juice, 0.25 oz yuzu juice, 0.5 oz kuromitsu (or honey syrup), and 1 egg white in a shaker and dry shake (without ice) for 10 seconds. Add ice cubes and shake again until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass, add a few drops of bitters and serve.

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7. Mango Mojito

If you’ve ever enjoyed a cool, velvety sip of a Mango Mojito, you have India to thank for this Asian-inspired cocktail. It’s the birthplace of the mango and the population can’t get enough of them. A Mango Mojito is a fruity and fragrant fiesta, with a smooth texture that only mango can deliver. To transform your Mojito into a Mango Mojito, simply muddle in some fresh mango, and add a splash of mango juice to the regular Mojito mix.

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. Dry toast a handful of sesame seeds in a warm pan, remove, and add to 4 oz of The Glen Grant whiskey. Infuse for an hour. Build 2 oz sesame-infused whiskey, 0.5 oz simple syrup, and 4 dashes of bitters in a rocks glass over ice. Stir, serve, and enjoy this popular Asian alcoholic drink.

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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. In a glass, muddle a few fresh raspberries with 1/2 oz simple syrup. Add ice and 2 oz soju. Stir gently and garnish your pretty Asian alcoholic drink with a few fresh raspberries.

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 favorite Asian alcoholic drinks. This stir-and-strain drink is a spin-off of the famous Americano cocktail, featuring a beautiful balance of bittersweet and savory flavors. To make one, combine 1.5 oz Japanese whisky, 0.75 oz Cinzano Vermouth Bianco, 0.75 oz Amaro Averna, and a dash of grapefruit bitters in a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into a chilled coupe before serving.

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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. To make one, combine 2 oz Appleton Estate Rum, 0.25 oz Grand Marnier, 0.25 oz cherry liqueur, 0.5 oz lemon juice, 0.5 oz simple syrup, 0.25 oz grenadine, 1 egg white, and a dash of bitters in a cocktail shaker. Dry shake to combine, then add ice, shake until frosty, and double strain into a glass filled with fresh ice.

13. Sabai Sabai

Sabai Sabai, also known as the ‘Thai Welcome Drink’, is the official alcoholic drink of Thailand. To make one, add 2 fresh sweet Thai basil leaves to a cocktail shaker, along with 1.5 oz Mekhong, 1.5 oz fresh lemon juice, and 0.75 oz simple syrup. Add ice and shake vigorously for about 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or an old-fashioned glass filled with fresh ice, top off with club soda and 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 traveling in a cocktail glass, sign up for our newsletter so we can send you a first-class ticket to your next drinkspiration destination.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We like to stay on theme and serve up interesting Asian cocktails like the Cherry Blossom, Mango Mojito, Chinese Fizz, or Indian Hot Buttered Rum.

The Asian Pear and Chinese Fizz are two popular Chinese cocktails that are often enjoyed on Chinese New Year.

The Japanese Sour is one of the best Japanese cocktails. It follows the classic sour cocktail recipe format and features Japanese whisky, lemon juice, yuzu juice, kuromitsu, and egg white as ingredients.

Sabai Sabai, also known as the 'Thai Welcome Drink', is the official alcoholic drink of Thailand, incorporating Mekhong liqueur with lime juice, syrup and basil leaves.