Drinks From Around The World That Really Aren't

by Vilmarie Estrella Subscribe to Vilmarie Estrella's posts Posted Jul 31st 2011 09:00 AM

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Scotch and Russian vodka are not merely drinks in their respective homelands, they are the manifestations of tradition and deeply held beliefs. This is the appeal of the exotic drink – that it offers centuries of refinement and craftmanship and a window into a different culture.

But many cocktails are not what they seem. Given names that are more evocative than accurate, they trick barflies into believing they're having an authentic experience when, in fact, they're being treated to a bit of refreshment thought up by a mixologist in far-off Flagstaff.

Don't be fooled. The list below unmasks the origin of a few poseur drinks.

StuartWebster/Flickr

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White Russian

Here's a cocktail with an identity crisis. This drink's distinguishing component is the Mexican, coffee-flavored liqueur Kahlua, so why the Soviet pomp? It may be due to the fact that it contains vodka, a stereotypically Russian spirit. If the Stolichnaya is replaced with Grey Goose from France, does that make it a White Frenchman or a White Flag?

The cocktail's origin is murky, but one thing is for sure: It does not come from the land that birthed Matryoshka dolls and Regina Spektor. The drink is an evolution from the Black Russian, which is credited to a bartender who mixed drinks at Hotel Metropole in Brussels in 1949. When cream is added to the drink, it becomes a White Russian.