In less than 3 weeks the greatest sporting competition in the world kicks off and I’m not talking about the Rotterham Working Men’s Club annual Badger Baiting extravaganza. No I’m talking about the FIFA World Cup.

Whether you are a big footy pub or just an avid pub visitor, you can guarantee that conversations in your local pub will quickly change from Clegg and Cameron to Rooney and Ronaldo.

A strange thing happens during the World Cup (besides Croydon becoming more dangerous than Bagdad), peoples nationalism suddenly comes to the fore. You quickly find out that your favourite brummy accented barmaid was born in Italy or your regular Man Utd supporting friend’s mum was born in Holland and is low and behold a crazed fan of the men in orange.

As a result it can be time to capitalise on these nationalistic leanings, and on the occasion of the World Cup in general, so BarLifeUK has come up with a World Cup of Drinks (if Walkers Crisps can do it then so can we!) – no country is left untouched. So watch the specials board get dusted off and during each game see specials from the countries playing, people love to get into the spirit (or beer) of things.

GROUP A

South Africa

The host nation will be looking to feed off the home advantage to cause an upset or two, failing that they can always sit back with Castle Lager and Biltong. As for a national drink? Well it doesn’t get more South African than Amarula Cream and it is going to keep the ladies happy (it’s a bit like Bailey’s).

Drink: Amarula Cream

Mexico
Whilst their football team may not be the team they once were their Tequila just keeps getting better. So when the men in green are on your screen head for a bottle of….. Tequila! Whether it is the classic shot with lime and salt or your feeling more adventurous with a Margarita go crazy.

Drink: Tequila

Uruguay
This one is a bit tougher but Uruguay has two preferences when it comes to booze. The first is a local drink known as medio y medio which is a mix of White wine and champagne, they also love cider based punches so feel free to go down either of those routes. We would however suggest that you stick with either White wine or normal cider!

Drink: White wine or cider

France
Well let’s face it besides maybe Germany there is no-one we would rather beat in the final than France. Everyone is gonna think champagne so why disappoint but you can always give Absinthe a go! Or of course chuck a frog, garlic and onions in a blender and whizz away!!

Drink: Champagne or Absinthe

GROUP B

Argentina
So they cheat right? And they have long girly hair! On the plus side they do great steaks and have hugely successful beer called Quilmes which comes in a bottle to match their footy kit and is easily orderable on-line.

Drink: Quilmes

Nigeria
Right? Nigeria? It’s a mainly Muslim country you see so they aren’t too keen on alcohol. They do however have a soft spot for Ginger Beer and with a couple of excellent Alcoholic Ginger Beers on the market these days give them a go.

Drink: Alcoholic Ginger Beer

South Korea
It is becoming tradition in the World Cup nowadays that an Asian country does well, is this Koreas turn? As for drinking you might think they strain the juice from dogs but in fact they do a very nice local brew called Soju. The chances are you won’t be able to get that easily but it is basically a potato vodka so get your hands on that instead.

Drink: Potato Vodka (or Soju if you can)

Greece
Let’s assume for the purposes of this exercise that they can afford the flight to South Africa and move on! You say Greece you think Ouzo. You say Ouzo you think first holiday with your mates and a rather embarrassing incident with an ‘off duty’ policeman (or is that just me?). Either way everyone has an Ouzo memory.

Drink: Ouzo

GROUP C

England
We’ve searched high and low and yet haven’t been able to find a drink which tastes like disappointment and crumbling dreams, if we had it would be here. It doesn’t get more English than a pint of ale or a gin and tonic but if you do want to push the boat out here is a very patriotic and easy cocktail for you to make.

Drink: Ale, Gin OR Union Jack Cocktial
Union Jack Cocktail
45ml gin
20ml sloe gin
1/2 tsp grenadine syrup
Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a martini glass. Go on garnish it with a mini union jack flag – you know you want to

USA
They are still learning how to play a game that is over in just 1.5 hours but they’re getting better. Their beers may not be the worlds best but their whiskies are up there. If you’re gonna push an American beer then Budweiser have a lot of World Cup clout and as for whiskey well you can’t go wrong with Bourbon (or Jack Daniels!).

Drink: Budweiser or Bourbon

Algeria
Not the home of great drinks or great football, but who knows what they could do to England? Being a Muslim country booze is a bit thin on the ground so being as their second language is French and they do drink beer – Kronenbourg 1664 will do for now!

Drink: Kronenbourg 1664

Slovenia
You may not know this but Slovenia have a great history of brandy making which they call žganje (they have a honey brandy called medica don’t you know!). So in a nod to some of the more refined clientele let’s give Brandy a go (maybe get some cigars in to match with it?).

Drink: Brandy

GROUP D

Germany
Ahhh the old enemy, not the team of the 80’s but they’re still German so let’s go get them. As far as a drink goes they are famed for their Herbal Liqueurs like Jagermeister and in a nod to the war you could always have Jager Bombs! If you’re not feeling that politically incorrect then take your pick from an amazing array of beer.

Drink: Jager Bomb or good german beer

Australia
Ahhh our friends from down under – hate their cricket team, love their football team. As for their booze? Everyone knows Fosters and Bundaburg Rum and there is nothing wrong with either but if you want to be a bit more adventeurous ask your Landlord to get hold of Coopers Beer.

Drink: Coopers (or Fosters) and Bundy

Serbia
Not a lot to work with here folks but they are well known for producing a wide variety of flavoured Brandies called Rajika. It might be tricky to track down the real stuff but I bet your Landlord  has a bottle of fruit brandy knocking round the pub somewhere. Ask him/her to dust it down and get it on that specials board.

Drink: Fruit Brandy

Ghana
The Ghanaian’s football team could be the ones to do a Cameroon this year but did you know they make some really good gin’s? No neither did we but it’s true so let’s celebrate with a good old Gin & Tonic.

Drink: G&T

Groups E – H next week.

Article provided to Drinksin from BarlifeUK. The homepage of the Pub and Bar Community

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