Calimocho (Kalimotxo)

I was told about this drink by many a Spanish student during my TEFL years and we finally got to taste it (by the pint load!) on a trip to the Basque country many, many years ago. It has been a staple of our summer beverages since - especially good by the pool on hot days or serving during World Cup matches (cheering for or against Spain - both work!).

1 part red table wine
1 part coca cola
Lots of ice

Coca Cola is the recommended cola, Pepsi would be too sweet and the biggest tip here is not to use a good red wine but the plonkiest of plonk you have left sitting on your wine rack.

SpiBOC (Spiced Blood Orange Champage Punch)

 

A tad late with this Thanksgiving aperitif - we were traveling for the holidays, doing a lot of drinking and then a lot of recovering.  My sister created this for the feast, another sister created the hors d'oeuvres you see behind and we created an appetite and much deserved compliments.

Ingredients
3 cups blood orange juice (if you can find them - orange juice makes a great substitute)
3 tblsp sugar
1 cinnamon stick
2 whole star anise
1 cup dry white wine
1 bottle brut champagne, chilled

Place the juice, sugar, cinnamon and star anise in small pot and bring to a boil, then simmer until the liquid is reduced by half - 30-40 mins. Remove from heat but while the mixture is still hot stir in the white wine until completely combined. Cool and then place in the refrigerator to chill (at least 2 hours).

When ready to serve, pour 3 tablespoons of the mixture into the bottom of champagne flute and top with chilled champagne.


Perfect for a holiday brunch too and a nice change from mimosas.

Sangria

For me, the perfect sangria is a refreshing fruity beverage that you can sip for hours over lunch under the hot Spanish sun and when you get up you fall over. With this in mind (and consulting many Spaniards on it over the years), this is how I make sangria:

A bottle of full bodied red wine -Spanish obviously preferable

A glass of brandy – again let’s stick with a Spanish coñac

A glass of triple sec

A whole lotta (but not too much) orange juice

Slices of fruit – whatever is handy

Lots of ice

Mix together with thirsty friends (wearing cool shirts!), food on the grill, a dry evening and kids now old enough to occupy themselves in the pool and you get a successful evening - though no-one fell over when they got up from the table.