10 national drinks from around the world

Raki is a clear brandy made from grapes and raisins and flavoured with anise. The Turks sip the drink alongside a meal, much in the same way we drink wine in Europe – although, with most rakis packing an ABV of at least 40%, it's no surprise it's usually watered down. Fun fact: when mixed with water or ice, the liquid turns a milky white colour, which is why the Turks often refer to it as lion's milk.

Japanese sake needs little introduction. The wine is made by fermenting rice that's been polished to remove the bran – often a lengthy and specialised process that means the beverage can command a high price. Serving it in Japan usually involves a special ceremony, where the drink is gently warmed in a small earthenware or porcelain bottle and sipped from a small cup.

The recipe for sangria is simple: red wine, chopped fruit, and orange juice – or brandy if you're feeling brave. No one is really sure where the drink originated from, but it's now almost synonymous with Spain. The name is believed to have been taken from the Spanish 'sangre', meaning blood. Ominous.

When it comes to cocktails, the mojito is a crowd-pleasing classic. It has five ingredients: white rum, sugar, lime juice, soda water, and plenty of mint, which makes it one of the most refreshing bevs around. And it has an added bonus: the soda water means you're basically rehydrating while you drink. We'll take two.

Mezcal is tequila's trendy younger sibling. Both spirits are made using the Mexican agave plant, though tequila is made specifically from the blue agave species that's only found in select regions in the country. It's unlikely that distilled spirits like this were produced in Mexico before the Spanish Conquest – it was the conquistadors who began experimenting with the agave plant to make a fermented mash, thus inventing mezcal. The spirit is usually drunk straight, and has a smoky flavour.

The classic G&T is synonymous with sunny afternoons – which is weird, given that they tend to be few and far between here in the UK, the birthplace of gin. Craft gins are the hipster drink du jour, with a raft of new distilleries opening up over the past few years. This means there are hundreds of variations on the market, but you'll be sure to find the essential botanicals – juniper and coriander – in most serves.

In 2014, soju (specifically the Jinro brand) was the best-selling alcohol in the world, with 71 million cases of the stuff being sold worldwide. Yes, you read that right. Sounds like one giant headache to us, particular when you drink it the way it's meant to be drunk: neat. Made out of ethanol and water and an added sweetener, it's not one for the faint-hearted. Go on, we dare you.

Rumour has it that, when you drink ouzo, it coats your throat – which means that when you try to drink water to ease your hangover the next day, you end up drunk again. We're not sure whether that's true, but one thing's certain: at 45%, it's pretty damn strong. Like raki, it contains anise, which is why it also turns cloudy when mixed with ice or water. Best served with plenty of food. We're warning you. 

This clear liquid looks innocuous enough, but don't let that fool you: it can have an ABV of up to 60%. It's a fragrant, grape-based brandy that's made by distilling the skins, pulp, seeds and stems left over from pressing the grapes during winemaking. It's the original zero-waste drink, which gives it a thumbs up in our book.