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Calimocho, kalimotxo, rioja libre, Cuba libre are names of a cocktail made from a 50-50 mixture of red wine or spirits and cola beverages, such as Coke, Pepsi, or any soda that has cola flavoring.

Created perhaps by the Basques around 1970, the cocktail has an interesting history. Legend has it that calimocho was created to save a sour wine delivered to a festival. Finding the wine not so good, the inventive Basques added a liter of Coca-Cola to each liter of wine and served it over ice. The cocktail caught on and the rest, as the metaphor says, is history.

Traditionally served in Spain in short glasses filled with ice, wine is added to about half and a cola makes up the remainder. It is then stirred very well with a spoon. A popular method of mixing calimocho calls for a liter of red wine added to a liter of cola in a two-liter plastic cola bottle. The mixture is then poured over ice.

Rare variations include pitilingorri or caliguay made with 50% white wine and 50% lemon soda, such as 7UP or Sprite, what we might call a spritzer. Another common name for calimocho is Rioja libre, taken from the Spanish city of Rioja.

Another cocktail made with cola is Cuba libre. According to its history, Cuba libre was created in Havana around 1900. It is made with rum, cola and limejuice. Here in the United States it is called rum and Coke, and limejuice is optional.

Finally, experience has taught me that the flavor of calimocho is not changed appreciably by the kind of cola used. It tastes about the same whether Pepsi of Coke is used. A touch of blackberry liqueur can be added for variation. Now, the quality of the wine CAN make a difference, but that is left to you.

Salud!

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