According to the legend reported by the Instituto Hemingway, one of the drink’s creators was a small man nicknamed “kali” (meaning “short”). Apparently, Kali was not very attractive, so they added the word “motxo” (meaning “ugly” in Basque). Thus the name kalimotxo was born. In the rest of Spain, the drink is often translated from Basque to Spanish, spelled calimocho.
Are There Other Popular Wine-Plus-Soda Cocktails in Spain?
Besides the kalimotxo, there are a number of wine-and-soda drinks that Spaniards love. Among them are the Rebujito (fino sherry mixed with 7-Up or Sprite and garnished with mint) and the Tinto de Verano (red wine mixed with 7-Up or Sprite and a squeeze of citrus). Wine lovers are often skeptical of these drinks, but trust me, they are delicious over ice on a hot day.
How to Make a Kalimotxo Cocktail
There really is no “recipe” for the classic Kalimotxo. You basically pour 3 to 4 ounces of red wine into an ice-filled glass and an equal amount of Coca-Cola. The drink works best with a bold, oaky wine like cabernet sauvignon or Spanish tempranillo, but any red wine works fine. You can squeeze a slice of lime in if you want to get fancier.
Fancier still is this recipe below for a Kalimotxo Premium, which adds an orange liqueur.
Kalimotxo Premium
Ingredients
½ ounce Grand Marnier
2 ounces red wine, preferably something bold and oaky
3 to 4 ounces of Coca-Cola
Dash of Angostura bitters (optional)
Orange or lime wedge
Directions
In a large wine glass filled with several large ice cubes, pour the Grand Marnier. Then, add the red wine, then the Coca-Cola and finally a dash of bitters. Stir gently, then add citrus wedge. Here are a few tips to make wine taste better.
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