The national motto of Spain says: life is not given for suffering, but for pleasure. And the locals have learned to truly enjoy everything that makes up their identity: the hot sun and cheerful holidays, delicious food and exquisite alcohol. You will learn more about what they drink in Spain and what “alcoholic” traditions exist in this country from our review.
Jerez
In Spain, the birthplace of sherry, it is produced in the southern region of the country – Andalusia. Unique varieties of white grapes have long been grown here, from which Spanish spirits are prepared both for domestic consumption and for supply to the world market. Local fortified wine – sherry, or sherry – contains from 15% to 22% alcohol, and the amount of sugar in different varieties ranges from 0-5 to 400 g/l.
There are 7 main varieties of sherry in Spain: Fino, Manzanilla, Pale Cream, Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, Pedro Ximenes. The production technology of the famous “dry” Manzanilla and Fino is based on the method of fermentation of grape must, which occurs in the presence of sherry yeast (“fleur”). And the “fragrant” varieties Amontillado and Oloroso are distinguished by oxidative aging – the wine is aged in barrels without yeast, but subject to contact with air. Pedro Ximenez sherry is considered the sweetest, having a bright aroma and almost black color.
Each variety has a bright, unique taste. Spaniards drink this wine neat and as part of some alcoholic cocktails with gin, whiskey or vodka. Sometimes they even add it to soup – they say that then the broth acquires very special flavor notes!
Serving temperatures vary between varieties. Sherry aged under the “fleur” is drunk very chilled (+5…+7°C). Warm it is not at all attractive and harsh. But for Amontillado and Oloroso the temperature should be an order of magnitude higher (+12…+15°C).Unlike other wines, bottled sherry does not change over the years, it does not become better or more expensive.
Tourists traveling around Spain have the opportunity to find out what the Spaniards drink by visiting numerous wineries. One of the most famous is Tio Pepe in Jerez de la Frontera. The cost of tasting 2 glasses of national alcoholic drink (without tapas) is 15.5 €. You can also try excellent sherry in the bodegas of Alvaro Domecq, Almocaden, Blanca Reyes, Dios Baco, Harvey and many others.
The cost of a bottle of good sherry in stores starts from 3 € and can reach several hundred . Average prices for alcohol in Spain are most often offered by chain supermarkets, where you can buy sherry for 5-15 €, depending on its type.
Sangria
The Spaniards’ love for sangria is as passionate as their southern temperament. This weak aromatic alcohol (4-11%) was created in the south of Spain in the 19th century by local fruit pickers who escaped the heat with a drink based on red wine diluted with water with the addition of citrus juices. It got its name from its intense blood-red color (from the Spanish “sangre” – blood). The classic national recipe for sangria includes red wine, berries, pieces of fruit, water, sugar, dry liqueur or brandy, and spices.
Due to its multi-component composition, sangria is often called “wine okroshka”, mulled wine, “Spanish cocktail”, wine punch and even grog. There is, of course, some truth in this, but the Spaniards themselves consider sangria a very special national drink.
Travelers who want to know what kind of alcohol they drink in Spain should definitely try at least some types of sangria. Depending on the season, the drink is served either chilled or heated and flavored with spicy spices.
The most common types of sangria include:
- “quiet” (still water, grapes and citrus fruits);
- white (with white wine);
- fruit (a mixture of all kinds of fruits and berries, including pineapple and melon);
- sparkling (using sparkling wine or using sparkling water).
This national Spanish alcoholic drink can be purchased cheapest in the chain supermarkets Mercadona, Eroski, Alcampo or Carrefour. A liter of Casón Histórico sangria in these stores costs about 0.66 €, and the Don Simón brand will cost customers an average of 1 € per bottle.
Lolea is considered one of the most expensive brands of Spanish sangria. In Carrefour supermarkets, a liter of this drink can be purchased for 12.53 € . In restaurants and cafes in Madrid, for “wine okroshka” they will ask from 3 € per glass or from 9 € per liter.
Liquor
Many people say that liqueurs are the best spirits in Spain. They are made in all regions of the country based on berries and fruits growing in each individual area. Most often, the basis of the fruit aroma and taste of liqueurs are strawberries, apples, peaches, cherries, bananas, as well as spices and herbs.
Exotic varieties of national liqueurs from Spain include Licor de cantueso made from lavender, Licor de bellota based on acorns and Licor de canela with distinct notes of cinnamon.
The most famous Spanish liqueurs are considered to be:
- Crema catalana (15-18 degrees) is an exquisite liqueur with notes of vanilla and cinnamon, the taste of which is reminiscent of a creamy dessert . This drink costs about 8 € per 700 ml bottle. depending on the brand. Produced under the brands Melody, Torre Maria, Montserrat.
- Pacharan (25-28 degrees) is a sloe liqueur produced in Catalonia and Navarra. Its bouquet is filled with sloe, anise, caramel and other aromatic additives. Price – 10-15 € per 0.7 l.
- Licor 43 (31 degrees) is the most popular liqueur drunk in Spain. His recipe is kept strictly secret. What is known for certain is that the alcoholic drink contains 43 ingredients, including vanilla, citrus fruits, herbs and other fruit and spicy additives. The average price of a bottle (0.7 l) is about 13 €.
Wine
It is estimated that over 50 thousand varieties of this alcohol are produced in Spain. Grapes for its production are grown in 60 regions of the country, but the largest volumes of winemaking are noted in Castile-La Mancha, Extremadura and Catalonia.
Traditional Spanish wine can be table, local or vintage, and depending on the type of raw materials and production method – white, red, rose and sparkling.
The most famous national brands of white wines in Spain include Gramona Gessami (about 8 € per bottle), Jean Leon Chardonnay Barrica (20 €), Remelluri Blanco (33 €), Jean Leon Petit Chardonnay (10-11 €) and others.
Among the best red wines, Castell del Remei 1780 (22 €), A. Palacios Camins del Priorat (15 €), A. Palacios Les Terrasses (28 €), 200 Monges Gran Reserva (43 €), Muga Prado Enea ( 37 €), Pingus Cosecha 2004 (1250 €).
Cava
Rarely is a toast in Spain complete without a glass of cava – the famous sparkling wine . Its birthplace is considered to be the city of San Sadurni de Anoia, and the date of its creation is 1872. At the same time, not every sparkling wine can be called cava, but only those that are made in certain regions of the country and only from certain grape varieties.
Depending on the raw materials used, kava can be white, pink or even black. Based on sugar content, it is divided into Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Seco, Seco, Semiseco and Dulce. On some labels you can also find the marking Brut de Brut (very dry). The strength of the national alcohol is 11-12%, and the taste contains notes of honey and fruit sweets.
Spanish champagne is drunk chilled to a temperature of +5-7°C and served in addition to fish, seafood, caviar, as well as cold and hot meat delicacies.
The most popular brands of Spanish cava are Codorniu, Freixenet, Pago de Tharsys, Segura Viudas. The cost of a bottle of wine from these producers does not exceed 25 €. The minimum price is 3-6 € per bottle. Such offers can be found in Mercadona and other chain supermarkets. In cafes and restaurants in Barcelona they will charge 2 € or more for a glass of cava.
Vodka (Aguardiente)
There is a strong opinion in the world that the main national alcoholic drinks of Spain are wines and all kinds of cocktails based on them. But not many people know that the Spaniards can also prepare very strong vodka (up to 60 degrees).
The raw materials are the seeds, stems and skins of grapes remaining during the winemaking process. Some varieties of Spanish vodka, for example, Aguardiente de orujo, are aged in barrels for several years, which gives the drink a golden or even amber hue. Sometimes spices, herbs, honey and even coffee beans are used in production.The birthplace of alcohol was medieval Cantabria, and its creators were Catholic monks. It is noteworthy that Aguardiente de Orujo is still produced in the monasteries of Cantabria today, and you can taste the vodka at the annual November festival Fiesta del Orujo in the town of Potes.
Almost all strong national drinks of Spain are perfect for making alcoholic cocktails. Spanish vodka, which is used to prepare Queimada, an original Galician cocktail, is no exception. Among its components, in addition to Aguardiente de orujo, there are sugar, lemon zest, liqueur or port. In its pure form, local vodka is drunk as a digestif from miniature glasses.
Beer (Cerveza)
The Spaniards’ love for beer dates back quite a long time, and the reason for this lies in the hot climate of the region. In moderate quantities, cerveza perfectly quenches thirst, tones and gives strength. In Spain they prefer to brew light, effervescent, moderately strong beer.
The country ranks fourth in the ranking of European countries in terms of the number of breweries. The most famous brands are Mahou, Damm, Ambar, Magister Cerveceria, San Miguel 1516 and Estrella Galicia. Spain also has excellent craft beer – it is brewed in numerous microbreweries.
The cost of an alcoholic drink varies over a fairly wide range. For example, a 0.75-liter bottle of Damm Inedit with a strength of 4.8% can be purchased for 4 €, Alhambra 1925 with a capacity of 0.33 liters costs on average 1 €, and Brabante Blanca costs 1.5 €.
Clara
This summer low-alcohol cocktail perfectly saves you from heat and thirst. The Spaniards simply mix light beer and lemonade in equal proportions and get an original national drink. The modest alcohol content does not cause intoxication, the taste of beer is practically not felt, and the tonic effect does not take long to appear.
This beer cocktail is served during the hot season in all cafes and restaurants in Spain. A glass of clara will cost visitors an average of 1-2 €.
You can buy local national alcoholic drinks to bring home as a souvenir in any supermarket, as well as in tourist shops, markets and directly in alcohol production.
However, do not forget about how much alcohol you can export from Spain. There are no restrictions for alcoholic beverages with a strength of less than 24%; in this matter, be guided entirely by the customs regulations of the country where you are going. For example, a tourist can bring only 5 liters into Russia (three of them are duty free). Strong alcohol (24-70%) is allowed to be exported from Spain in the amount of 5 liters per adult passenger. But it is unlikely that you will be able to carry 70% alcohol in your luggage: such manipulations are strictly prohibited.