Last year we visited the Basque region of Spain, and were introduced to this traditional drink, which is served everywhere. The Kalimotxo, pronounced ‘Cali-mot-cho’, is traditionally served over ice with a slice of lemon.
We love a bit of drink history and the story goes like this. Sometimes referred to as ‘Cuba Libre Del Pobre’ or poor man’s Cuba Libre, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Cubans came up with it.
The town decided to commemorate him by naming the drink in his honour. They combined his nickname, Kali, with ‘motxo’ (the Basque word for ugly) and voila! The Kalimotxo was born.
But the story goes that during a festival in a little Basque town called Puerto Viejo in the 1970s, the organisers discovered that their red wine had spoiled. So, one of the men working at the festival, an ugly man (more on the ugly later) named Kalimero, decided to salvage the wine by mixing it with Coca-Cola. It worked, and the drink was a big success. Kalimero had saved the day and the town decided to commemorate him by naming the drink in his honour. They combined his nickname, Kali, with ‘motxo’ (the Basque word for ugly) and voila! The Kalimotxo was born.
Kalimotxo
75ml Tempranillo
75ml Coca Cola
Build in a high ball over good cubed ice.
Garnish with lemon or orange wedge.
Vermuteria, Sydney
@vermuteriasydney
