How Cheers! “tastes” all over Europe

With every distinct form of saying Cheers! around Europe, usually there’s a local drink to improve the toast. Whether it is wine, spirits or beer, every country has a valuable version of it. This article explores Europe’s most popular drinks and the countries which produce them. Find out how Cheers! “tastes” all over Europe! How many of the drinks have you already tried?

France:

french-champagne-online

Champagne is actually a sparkling wine which is fermented twice. It is produced mostly in Champagne region of France. It seems that the first champagne was created by accident and people called it le vin du diable which can be translated as the devil’s wine. Santé!

 

Spain:

200508493-001
Sangria is made of fruits, red wine and brandy. It’s name can be translated as bleeding, because of it’s red color. Salud!

 

Finland:

kossuetu_0803JID_503_ru
Kossu is a grain alcohol diluted with spring water. Sugar is added and it is very similar to vodka. Kippis!

 

Greece:

ouzoo
Ouzo is made from distilled grape remnants and flavored with anise and other spices. Greeks are serving ouzo with olives, fried potatoes or grilled octopus. The way it’s consumed is pure or combined with very little water. Υamas! 

 

Scotland:

scotch
Scotch is barrel-aged whisky. Is is kept for aging at least 3 years. Slainte!

 

Italy:

grappa

Grappa is distilled pomace. It’s helpful in aiding  digestion. It can also be blended with espresso. Cin cin!

 

Norway:

akevitt

Akevitt is a spirit drink distilled from grain or potatoes. It can be flavored with caraway or dill. In Norway it is normally consumed at room temperature. Skål!

 

Portugal:

portowine

Porto wine is a kind of fortified wine. It is sweeter than other types of wine and it fits desserts. Saúde!

 

Austria:

Schnaps

Schnaps is distilled fruit brandy. It has been in Austria since the 1700s.  It can be made from berries, wild fruits or pinecones. Prost! 

 

England:

pimms

Pimm’s No. 1 is a gin-based spirit made from dry gin, liqueur, fruit juices and spices. It is associated with Wimbledon since 1971. Cheers!

 

Germany:

beergerman
Reinheitsgebot beer is made under the German Beer Purity Law, which restricts beer ingredients to water, hops, and barley. It means quality beer. Prost!

 

Holland:

Hollandse_Graanjenever_0495

Jenever is a juniper-flavored liquor. It is made by distilling malt wine and adding juniper berries. Proost!

 

Ireland:

guinness

Guinness is an Irish dry stout and is the best selling alcoholic drink in Ireland. It was first brewed in 1759 and it’s official color is very dark red. Sláinte!

 

Czech Republic:

absinth

Absinth is made of distilled herbs, such as aniseed, fennel, and wormwood. Absinth was consumed mostly by artists and other creative people. The mystique of the spirit’s potentially psychotropic qualities have only added to its popularity. Na zdraví!

 

Turkey:

raki

Raki is a fermented grape drink flavoured with anise. Turkish people use to call it lion’s milk, because it becomes milky when mixed with ice. Şerefe!

 

Iceland:

Brennivin

Brennivin is made of caraway, cumin and gin or unsweetened schnapps. It can be translated as burning wine. It is usually served together with fermented shark meat. Skál!

 

Hungary:

unicum
Unicum is a barrel-aged herbal digestif, made from more than 40 herbs. When Hungary was under communist regime, the family who was producing this drink lived in exile in the US. They were using there a different recipe, but after democracy came the family returned in Hungary and improved the recipe. Egészségetekre! 

 

 

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