There are few things more appealing than a refreshing cocktail on a hot day. But since a cocktail can contain almost any mix of beverages and garnishes, some pretty questionable—for lack of a better word—ones have been served up in bars around the world.
You won’t believe that these are actual drinks you can buy and drink!
*Disclaimer: We actually specifically chose not to include images for each cocktail, as some of them produce vivid images just by description.
Smoker’s Cough
Let’s start this list with a relatively tame drink (compared to what’s coming!)
The Smoker’s Cough is a shot of Jägermeister with a tablespoon of mayonnaise. As odd as it sounds, this “interesting” shooter has gained popularity thanks to its simple ingredients, which are easily accessible to most people. It’s a far cry from the classic Jägerbomb, but it shares the same infamous, adventurous spirit that draws people in for the experience.
The origins of this drink are unclear, but you can look out for this at a bar near you.
And out of all the cocktails on this list, this is one you might actually enjoy—if you can get past the fact that it really does look like something you’d hack up after 50 cigarettes!
Antz Cocktail
If you’ve ever felt inspired by the bushtucker challenges on certain TV programmes, but wished they could be a little more glamourous, then we have found the cocktail for you!
Served up at Native bar in Singapore, this drink contains soursop, coconut yogurt, salt-baked tapioca, rum and basil meringue, mixed with…local weaver ants.
It is garnished with a large basil leaf that balances on top of the glass and is sprinkled with flash-frozen Thai ants. The different types of ants are important, as they have slightly different flavours.
You are supposed to put the whole leaf in your mouth and eat it before drinking. There’s actually a lot of nutritional value in this concoction, with protein from the ants and vitamins in the basil. The cocktail itself gives fermented milk vibes that you might even enjoy.
The Antz cocktail was big news back in 2017, but it is curiously no longer on Native’s menu. If you’re desperate to try something similar, you’ll find other cocktails with ants around the world. Head to Seefah in Bandra in Mumbai to find another ant-astic mixture.
Native Bar is regularly featured in the Top 50 Best Bars around the world, so perhaps they know what they’re talking about—maybe putting ants in your drink is worth a try?
Would you risk getting ants legs stuck in your teeth to see what all the fuss is about?
The Aragog Cocktail
The ingredients list for this drink starts well. Mexican mezcal, Chilean pisco, Brazilian cachaça, mango juice, and lemon—so far, so good.
But the exact recipe is a highly guarded secret, and there is an extra ingredient which might make you think twice about ordering: a drop of tarantula venom.
The signature cocktail of Luciferina Bar in Mexico, the Aragog Cocktail won’t have any long-term health effects, as only a tiny amount of venom is included, but it might cause your tongue to go numb and give you throat cramps for a few hours after drinking (no big deal)!
Romeo Palomares, head bartender, came up with the drink in 2015 after being challenged to create something that would draw in the customers.
He discovered the spider venom on a market stall and was instantly drawn to it. It took him five days to get the cocktail just right, with a short hospital stay in between.
At its peak, the bar was selling 200 Aragog cocktails a day. Sadly, it has now shut down, so you’ll have to look elsewhere for your spider venom fix!
Pig’s Blood Piña Colada
Ever considered adding a little blood to your cocktail? Well, that’s exactly what Jason Brown, bartender at Kinmont Restaurant did in 2014.
He was listening to music by Werewolves of London when inspiration hit, and he decided to add pig’s blood to his Pina Colada.
The drink was surprisingly popular, and although it put the restaurant on the map, Kinmont has since sadly closed down. The cocktail, however, lives on through brave home mixologists who like to add something special to their parties.
The recipe contains Bombay Dry Gin, Pimms, pineapple juice and coconut syrup, with a splash of pig’s blood.
The ingredients are blended, shaken and strained over crushed ice and the final drink has the bright red hue you might expect after adding the plasma-filled ingredient.
At the time, Brown insisted that the drink was actually quite tasty, with botanical notes from the spirits and a fruity twist with the pineapple and coconut. Sounds bloody lovely, doesn’t it!
The Sourtoe Cocktail
Surely the most horrific cocktail on our list, the Sourtoe cocktail is a drink served at the Downtown Hotel in Yukon, Canada.
It is made up of a double shot of alcohol—you get to choose—and garnished with a single, mummified toe. The rule is: You can drink the alcohol and leave the toe, but that gruesome garnish must touch your lips.
This traditional drink dates back to the 1920s, when a rum runner lost his toe to frostbite. He popped it in a jar filled with alcohol and it was discovered 50 years later, well preserved, by Captain Dick Stevenson, who promptly drank the liquid (as one does).
The drink has now become a rite of passage for travellers passing through Yukon. The toe is pickled in medical alcohol and then kept in dry salts to ensure it is safe for “consumption”, which is lucky, because toes have been accidentally swallowed, although you are fined for doing so.
The very first toe was swallowed by a patron who fell off his chair while drinking the Sourtoe cocktail, while other toes have either been lost or stolen.
Luckily, with frostbite being such an issue in the area, the hotel has never been without a willing supply of toes! What do you think—ready to put someone else’s foot in your mouth?
If you’ve got guts of steel or an over-curious mind, maybe you are brave enough to try one of these unusual creations. We’d love to hear what you think of them!
