by Gary / 2 comments - Orginally published:20th September 2017
A Spanish summer in a glass
This drink immediately conjures memories of our Spanish road trips when the car's safely parked up.
We discovered it whilst researching our 2016 trip, and set about ticking that box early on.
We actually ticked it in Bilbao, where it's commonly known as Kalimotxo in Basque.
Now, we know it's not the drink of a connoisseur, but it is a great way to turn a young, cheap, red wine into a long drink for a summer's day and an alternative to Sangria.
Why not Pin it for later?
Why not try a Calimocho
It tastes better than you'd thinkSo the thought of red wine and coke didn't sound that appealing on paper, but in the glass, it tasted surprisingly better than expected. So, if I aimed to replicate it, would it take me back to that trip?
Janis enjoying her Calimocho
How to make a Calimocho
So what's the recipe?Kalimotxo or Calimocho - The basic ingredients
Well it's not that complicated, but I've created three different options based on your location.
Bottle of Coke 330ml
A glass of Spanish red wine 125ml
Ice
Large glass (500-600ml)
Kalimotxo for two
Tips for making calimocho
- Use a cheap red wine. The flavour of the wine is not as important as the flavour of the cola, so you can save money by using a less expensive wine.
- Use a good quality cola. The cola will make up half of the drink, so it is important to use a cola that you enjoy.
- Serve calimocho over ice. This will help to keep the drink cold and refreshing.
- You can arnish calimocho with a slice of lemon or orange. This will add a bit of citrus flavour to the drink.
A drink to take you back to Spain
So does it work?Yep, it took us straight back to Bilbao. Granted, I needed to buy LSA Internationals GIO Tumblers (the large ones) to complete the look, but I guess you can use any large beer glass.
Cheers to Kalimotxo or is it Calimocho?
The drink is refreshing, slightly sweet and great in the sunshine - give it a try, and if you're in Spain, you've no excuse.
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Red wine mixed with lemonade is nice too popular again in Spain My brother told me about it as he lived in Spain with his wife, it is also a summer drink
Mmmm that sounds lovely too, I think I may just have to give that one a go as well.
Does it have a Spanish name?