If you're looking for a vacation, look no further than a traditional Spanish cocktail. Loved for more than just its delicious foods, a Spanish cocktail can satisfy any desire, for sweet, savory, or unique. Whether you whip up a traditional sangria using Spanish wine or have an afternoon cocktail, you have plenty of options for Spanish drinks.
Zurracapote
A cousin of sangria, zurracapote is a mixture of red wine, fruit, sugar, and cinnamon. After steeping for many days, you can prepare this in big batches for fiestas and parties, and this recipe yields about five servings.
Ingredients
- 9 ounces dried peaches, cut into large pieces
- 3½ ounces raisins
- 3½ ounces prunes, cut in half
- 750 mL bottle dry red wine, such as Rioja
- 7 ounces granulated sugar
- Cinnamon stick
- Peel of one lemon
Instructions
- In lukewarm water, soak the peaches, raisins, and prunes for two hours.
- In a saucepan, add red wine, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon peel.
- Heat until mixture comes to a gentle boil.
- Remove from heat and stir.
- Strain fruit and add to wine mixture.
- Cover saucepan, and return to boil for approximately 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
- Refrigerate tightly sealed, for at least three days or up to a week.
- Reheat to serve warm, or serve chilled.
Rebujito
The rebujito cocktail is a summery mixed drink made from the famous Spanish fortified wine, sherry. The rebujito cocktail recipe calls for plenty of ice for lemonade, sherry, and mint leaves. It's the perfect, refreshing summer sipper.
Ingredients
- 2½ ounces dry sherry
- 3¾ ounces lemon-lime soda
- Ice
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add dry sherry and lemon-lime soda.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with mint sprig.
Agua de Valencia
The first agua de Valencia was served in 1959 at Cafe Madrid de Valencia in Valencia, Spain. While it was popular among locals, it didn't become a national phenomenon until the 1970s. This tasty cocktail uses Cava, a Spanish sparkling wine. If you can't find Cava, substitute another sparkling wine, such as Champagne or prosecco. The recipe makes four servings.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces London dry gin
- 1½ ounces vodka
- 8 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
- Ice
- 750 mL Cava
- Sugar to taste
Instructions
- In a pitcher, add ice, gin, vodka, and orange juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Add Cava.
- Add sugar for desired sweetness.
Sangria
Sangria is a refreshing summer wine punch typically made from fruity red or white wines such as Rioja.
Ingredients
- 750mL Rioja
- ¾ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- ½ cup brandy
- ¼ cup orange liqueur
- 2 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Lemon and grapefruit slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, add ice, Rioja, orange juice, brandy, orange liqueur, and lime juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Serve in wine glasses over fresh ice.
- Garnish with lemon and grapefruit slices.
Flor de Jerez
The name of this cocktail translates to "flower from Sherry," and it's another Sherry-based Spanish cocktail recipe. Use a high-quality Amontillado Sherry for this delicate cocktail.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and sugar for rim
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- 1½ ounces amontillado sherry
- ½ ounce dark rum
- ¼ ounce apricot liqueur
- Ice
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the martini glass or coupe with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, lemon juice, simple syrup, bitters, sherry, rum, and apricot liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
Tinto de Verano
Translated to red of summer, tinto de verano is a wine spritzer with a fancy Spanish name. Use a Spanish wine here - a good Rioja is perfect.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces Spanish red wine, such as Rioja or tempranillo
- 3 ounces lemon-lime soda
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a wine glass, add ice, red wine, and lemon-lime soda.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with orange slice.
Gin Tonica
The Spanish gin and tonic takes the classic highball and gives it a beautiful spin, transforming both the flavors and presentation.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- 4 ounces tonic
- Rosemary sprig
- Lemon slice
- Ice
Instructions
- In a wine glass, add ice, gin, tonic, rosemary sprig, and lemon slice.
- Stir to mix.
Kalimotxo
This unusual cocktail is quite popular; think of it as a way to enjoy your red wine with a bit of fizz and sugar.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces rioja
- 3 ounces cola
- Ice
- Lemon slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add ice, Rioja, and cola.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with lemon slice.
Leche de Pantera
A creamy cocktail, this cocktail is budget-friendly and easy to make, which is why its popularity increased thanks to college students in the 1970s.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce rum
- ½ ounce brandy
- 2 ounces condensed milk
- Ice
- Ground cinnamon for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, brandy, rum, and condensed milk.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with ground cinnamon.
Vermouth
This cocktail is more than just sweet vermouth-- it's actually mixed with club soda. Unique? Absolutely. Your next favorite highball? Totally.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces sweet vermouth
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Orange slice and Spanish olives for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball or rocks glass, add ice and sweet vermouth.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with orange slice and Spanish olives.
Asiático
This Spanish coffee drink stands out from the rest with its beautiful layers.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces condensed milk
- 1 ounce brandy
- ¾ ounce Licor 43
- 1 ounce coffee liqueur
- Rosemary sprig and three whole coffee beans for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add condensed milk.
- Slowly add brandy and Licor 43 by pouring down the back of a bar spoon.
- Layer coffee liqueur by slowly pouring down the back of a bar spoon.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig and coffee beans.
Agua de Sevilla
This tropical cocktail has bubbly and juicy flavors to delight the tastebuds.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- ½ ounce whiskey
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- 2 ounces cava
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, pineapple juice, whiskey, and orange liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with cava.
- Garnish with orange peel.
Clara de Limón
While this doesn't include spirits, this is a popular Spanish drink, one you may know better as a shandy.
Ingredients
- 6 ounces Spanish beer
- 6 ounces lemonade
Instructions
- In a pint glass, add beer and lemonade.
- Stir gently to mix.
Mentira
A lemony coffee cocktail, don't let the ingredients throw you off, and it's great for a pick-me-up.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce citron vodka
- 2 ounces coffee liqueur
- ½ ounce espresso
- Ice
- Lemonade to top off
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with lemonade.
- Garnish with cherry.
Sol y Sombra
This easy two-ingredient cocktail is considered a digestif, perfect for an after-dinner sip or a brunch drink.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces brandy
- 1½ ounces anisette
- Ice
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, brandy, and anisette.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into snifter or rocks glass.
- Serve neat.
Traveling Spirits
One of the best parts of cocktails is exploring new drinks and new cultures different from your own. You never know what you'll learn or discover once you open your cabinet and mix up a new drink.
