The social distancing and quarantine continues during to the COVID-19 crisis, so the ideal is to stay at home and go out only when really necessary. Of course, this includes not having that classic meet up at the bar with friends, chilling and having some shots. So, what better time to learn how to make 5 popular Spanish drinks?

We imagine that you are asking yourself the same question as us. After so many days and even weeks at home without socialising, “What to do now during the rising temperatures to cool down and enjoy the evening on your balcony or backyard?!” How about picking up some new useful skills? In this blog we will show you 5 super-tasty and popular drinks in Spain. Furthermore, you will keep the isolation safety measures! Sound good? Let’s do this!

Tinto de Verano

A classic that should be found in each and every traditional bar in Spain. As the name suggests, Tinto de Verano is consumed mainly in the summer. It literally means Summer Red Wine, and its composition is, besides red wine, some soft drink and lots of ice. Orange or lemon soda is an excellent option. Some people add rum in the drink, others like to add sparkling water as well. As you can see, there are several variations of this drink. Below is one of them, which can be prepared in less than 1 minute:

½ glass red wine

½ cup soda orange or lemon flavor

1 slice of lemon or orange

Ice cubes

Sangria

This is most likely the first drink that comes to your mind when you think of Spain, and in fact, it is the most popular cocktail among foreigners when they visit the country. This drink was created over 100 years ago and was born in the region of Andalusia, where it gained the world with its surprising flavor and vibrant colors. There are dozens of different recipes to make this drink with the most varied combinations, but originally its base is red wine, chopped fruits, and some liquor or soda. A special touch that makes all the difference is cinnamon. If you don’t have the branch, you can use the powder. Our suggestion that yields up to 10 portions and can be made in a few minutes is this:

4 doses of 200ml of red wine

½ medium apple in small cubes

1 slice of lemon

1 slice of orange

1 tablespoon lemon juice

200ml orange juice

tablespoon sugar

bunch of cinnamon

Preparation: In a jar add the juices and sugar. Mix and then add the wine, the chopped apple, and the orange and lemon slices. If you prefer, add ice cubes to the jug, or refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

Gin and Tonic

This world-famous classic cocktail had its appearance in India, and as the name implies, it is the union of gin and tonic water. Spain leads the world ranking of countries that consume more gin, with an annual average of 1.07L per person, followed by Belgium (0.73L) and in third place Netherlands (0.63L). You can already tell that the Spaniards love this drink, right? That’s why Gin and Tonic is a very popular drink that you will surely find in any bar in the country. The ratio of gin to tonic varies from 1:1 to 1:3. That depends on your palate, and how strong your gin is. It is very easy to make this drink at home, and it can be prepared in less than 1 minute:

⅓ glass of gin

⅔ glass of tonic water

1 slice or wedge of lemon

1 Ice cube

Bonus tip: Place the ice cube first, and finally the tonic water, slowly, so that the drink does not lose its effervescence.

Calimocho (Kalimotxo)

Maybe you’ve already made this drink at some point in your life and didn’t even know it was one of the most popular in Spain. Calimocho, or Cubata Gitano, as it is known in Barcelona, began to be popular in the mid-1970s, and is composed of the simple combination of red wine and Coca-Cola. Leaving it in the fridge for a while before serving can make the experience even tastier! You can prepare it in a few seconds:

½ glass of red wine

½ glass of Coca-Cola

Ice cubes

Bonus tip: If you want to boost your drink, you can add a slice of lemon and mint leaves to the surface to garnish and flavour.

And rememeber, you don’t necessarily have to freshen up only with alcoholic cocktails.

Agua de Valencia

Don’t worry, you don’t have to go all the way to Valencia to try this wonderful cocktail! In fact its name is related to the beautiful seaside town in the southeast of Spain, where it was created by Constante Gil in 1959. It’s a combination of Cava ("Champagne" from Spain), orange juice, gin (him again!), and vodka. Valencia is known worldwide for its delicious oranges, so if you have the opportunity to visit the city, you can be sure that the drink from there will be even more special. In case you do go there, we have a post explaining how to save money while travelling. The recipe is simple to prepare and we will teach you:

125ml orange juice freshly squeezed

75ml cava semi sweet sparkling wine- chilled

25ml vodka

25ml gin

Bonus tip: We recommend to leave the drink in the fridge for 1 hour before it is served to cool your afternoon even more. If you don’t have Cava available at the time, any sparkling white wine will do a good job too. Oh, add sugar to taste!

Did you like it?!

Now you can organize an online happy hour with your friends and show off your new skills while you enjoy the early summer. Count on us from Oasis Hostels to help you get through this period with more fun and always with care. See you next time!

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