Here is the US our national liquor is Bourbon. Our friends to the North in Canada have their Canadian Whiskey. Down in the Caribbean there are several variations of rum. Definitely have had a sip of many.
But as we move across the world map and land in countries like China or Japan or other areas of East Asia, we come across drinks I admit I have never heard of let alone tasted. Many are distilled from rice but then I see there are others that are distilled from mare milk (See Kumis from Mongolia).
I’m fascinated with all of these and the extent in which they are drank in their country of origin. I can attest that bourbon is definitely drank in America and having that as our national liquor is a well deserved distinction. What about the rest from this list? Are you from a country on this list and have any insight as to the beverages listed? I’d be curious to hear from any of you!
East Asia
China: Baijiu (including Kaoliang liquor)[1][2] (sorghum, rice, wheat, barley, millet)
Taiwan: Kaoliang liquor (Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor and Matsu Kaoliang from Matsu Distillery)
Japan: Shōchū (including Awamori) (rice, barley, sweet potatoes, buckwheat), Japanese whisky
North Korea: Pyongyang Soju[3]
South Korea: Soju[4] (rice, barley, corn, potato, sweet potato)
Mongolia: Kumis (Airag)
Europe
Albania: Rakia[5]
Austria: Inländer Rum & schnapps[6] (fruit)
Belarus: Krambambula
Belgium: Jenever (malt and Juniper)
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Rakija (fruit: apples, plums, pears)
Bulgaria: Rakia[7] (grapes, apricots, plums)
Croatia: Rakija[8] (fruit: plums, pears) and Pelinkovac
Cyprus: Zivania (wine or grape residue left over from winemaking) and Commandaria (sweet dessert wine)
Czech Republic: Becherovka[9] (herbs) or Slivovice[10] (plums)
Denmark: Akvavit (grain or potatoes)
Estonia: Vana Tallinn
Finland: Koskenkorva Viina[11] (grain (barley) and Finlandia vodka[12] (barley)
France: Calvados (apple brandy from Normandy); Armagnac and Cognac,[13][14] Pastis
Germany: Schnapps (fruit) (in the South), Korn (in the North)
Greece: Raki (Ρακί ή Ρακή), produced from fruit. Ouzo[15] (distilled 96 percent pure ethyl alcohol and Anise). Crete: Tsikoudia (pomace raki). Mainland Greece: Tsipouro (pomace raki)
Hungary: Unicum (herbs), Pálinka[16] (fruit), Tokaji
Iceland: Brennivín, aka “Black Death” (potatoes)
Ireland: Irish Whiskey (fermented mash of cereal grains), Poitín (malted barley grain)
Italy: Grappa (pomace and grape residue left over from winemaking), Limoncello, Amaretto, Amaro, Fernet, Mirto, Alchermes, Aperol, Campari, Cynar, Frangelico, Maraschino, Rosolio, Sambuca, Strega
Latvia: Riga Black Balsam
Lithuania: Midus
North Macedonia: Rakija and Mastika (Typically, red and/or white grapes. Plums used in some areas such as Kichevo. Mastika is anise and herb flavored rakija)[17]
Montenegro: Rakija (Loza), produced from red grapes
Netherlands: Jenever (Malt and Juniper)
Norway: Akevitt (must be distilled from Norwegian potatoes and aged for a minimum of six months in oak casks to be labeled “Norwegian Akevitt”,[18] unlike Danish and Swedish akvavit, which is commonly grain-based and unaged)
Poland: Nalewka, Krupnik, Vodka[19] (grain, rye, wheat, potatoes, or sugar beet Molasses), and, during the era of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, mead
Portugal: Madeira wine, Port wine, Ginjinha, Jeropiga, Licor Beirão, Bitter almond liqueur and Madeiran rum.
Romania: Ţuică[20] (plums) or Pălincă (fruit)
Russia: Vodka[14] (grain, rye, wheat, potatoes, or sugar beet molasses)
Serbia: Rakija (šljivovica in particular)
Slovakia: Slivovica,[21] Borovička (juniper berries)
Spain: Sherry (brandy-fortified Spanish wine)[4]
Sweden: Brännvin, Akvavit, Snaps and Punsch
Switzerland: Absinthe, Goldschläger, Pflümli, Poire Williams, Kirsch
Turkey: Rakı[20][23] (twice-distilled Suma and Anise)
Ukraine: Horilka (Ukrainian vodka), Hrenovuha
United Kingdom:
England : Gin (south) Whisky (north) [citation needed]- Northern Ireland : Irish Whiskey[citation needed]
Scotland : Scotch Whisky, particularly Single malt whisky is considered the national drink of Scotland.[citation needed]
Wales : Welsh Whisky[citation needed]
Isle of Man: Manx Spirit[citation needed][note 1]
South America and Caribbean
Argentina: Wine,[24] fernet con coca (cocktail),[25] hesperidina (apéritif)
Barbados: Rum[26] (sugarcane molasses)
Belize: Rum[27] (sugarcane molasses)
Bolivia: Singani[28] (muscat grapes)
Brazil: Cachaça[29] (sugarcane)
Chile: Pisco[30] (grapes; in contention with Peru[31])
Colombia: Aguardiente[32]
Costa Rica: Guaro (sugarcane)
Cuba: Rum (sugarcane molasses)
Dominican Republic: Rum and Mamajuana
Ecuador: Aguardiente (sugarcane)
El Salvador: Guaro (sugarcane)- French West Indies: Rum[33] (sugarcane)
Guatemala: Rum, and Cusha
Haiti: Rum, and Clairin (sugarcane)
Honduras: Guaro
Jamaica: Rum[4][34] (sugarcane)
Nicaragua: Rum (sugarcane)
Panama: Seco Herrerano (sugarcane)
Paraguay: Caña blanca (sugarcane)
Peru: Pisco[30] (grapes; in contention with Chile[31])
Puerto Rico: Pitorro, Rum
Trinidad & Tobago: Rum (sugarcane)
Uruguay: Grappamiel (grape pommace, honey), Grappa (grape pommace, originally Italian), espinillar (sugar cane)
Venezuela: Rum[35] (sugarcane), Miche andino[36] (brown sugar) and cocuy[37][38] (agave cocui)
North America
Bermuda: Rum
Mexico: Tequila[39] (blue agave), Mezcal, Pulque, and Brandy[40][41]
Canada: Canadian Whisky
United States: Bourbon Whiskey
Oceania
South Asia
Bangladesh: vodka and brandy from Carew, toddy (palm wine) (pronounced tari in Bengali)
India: Rum (Old Monk)[citation needed], Feni (Cashew or coconut)[citation needed], Toddy (palm wine)[citation needed], tharra[citation needed], Chandr Haas[42]
Nepal: Raksi, Chhaang
Sri Lanka: coconut Arrack, coconut Toddy and Palm Toddy
Southeast Asia
Cambodia: Sombai infused rice wine[43][44]
Indonesia: Arak (Bali), Tuak (Sumatra & Java), Moke (Flores), Sopi (Ambon & Nusa Tenggara), Cap Tikus (Manado), Ballo (Toraja), Swansrai (Papua)
Laos: Lao-Lao (Lao: ເຫລົ້າໄຫ) is a Laotian rice whisky produced in Laos.[45][46] Along with Beerlao, lao-Lao is a staple drink in Laos.[citation needed]
Malaysia: Tuak[citation needed]
Philippines: Gin (Ginebra San Miguel), Lambanog[citation needed]
Thailand: Lao Khao, Sato, Mekhong whiskey (95% sugarcane/molasses and 5% rice), Mekhong, Namtanmao, Sang Som[citation needed]
Vietnam: Rượu đế (glutinous or non-glutinous rice) and Rượu thuốc (herbs and raw animals)[citation needed]
West Asia
Armenia: Oghi
Georgia: Chacha
Iran: Aragh sagi and Shiraz wine (historically, as alcohol consumption is currently banned for Muslims)
Israel: Arak,[47] Tubi 60
Jordan: Arak
Lebanon: Arak[48] (Anise)- Levant: Arak
Palestine: Arak
Syria: Arak (Anise)- Turkey: Rakı[20][23] (twice-distilled Suma and Anise)