Top five tipples for a top Spanish summer

With summer here, Spain is best served chilled with a glass or two of beer, wine, spirits, cocktails…

Few things lend themselves to evocative daydreaming quite like a beverage. Snatched whiffs of aromas can whisk you back to a specific place and time quicker than Marty McFly, while certain foods, songs and pictures can also have the effect of instantly transporting you to a specific place in time.

But as summer gets into gear, this most evocative of seasons is best served with a chilled tipple if you really want to eke out as many memories from it as possible. And with Spain boasting a long, langourous summer, there is no better place in which to bring together two brilliant pastimes: drinking and relaxing.

Drilaxing? Hmmm, no, that doesn’t work… but these five Spanish drinks certainly do…1. Cerveza

Ooh how original, you may decry. And yes, it’s a cliché, a safe bet, an easy option, but also the most obvious choice. When the mercury has already elbowed its way past 30 degrees and it’s still 10am, you know you’re in for a scorcher. So what better way to stay cool than to crack open a Spanish beer brewed specifically for a climate like this?

There’s a reason ales and stouts haven’t caught on in Spain, ditto wheat beers – they’re too heavy. A crisp San Miguel, Mahou or Cruzcampo, on the other hand, is perfect served ice cold. And with this being a World Cup summer, you have endless reasons to pour yourself another glass.

Best served… while perched with legs dangling in a swimming pool, music playing and surrounded by friends.

2. Calimocho

Not just for Spanish teenagers still too young/cool/shy (delete as appropriate) to frequent local bars, calimocho is a versatile drink that is ideal for a warm afternoon. One part red wine (the cheaper the better), one part cola, served over ice this is a refreshing drink that really takes the edge off the afternoon.

A (rather fancy) glass of Calimocho, which is red wine and cola mixed

If you’re feeling creative you can add lemon, lime, cucumber or even a spirit or two – ouzo is often used to give the drink a bit of a kick.

Best served… when you’re hungover but now is not the time to be hungover. You have a barbecue to attend, the sun is shining and the temperature is approaching 35 degrees. You will be amazed how quickly a glass or two of calimocho ‘rights’ you.

3. Leche de Pantera

Ah yes, Panther Milk (as it rather clumsily translates to in English). Spanish youngsters’ very own White Russian, this cocktail really helps tie a party together.

Made with milk, crushed ice, liqueur, gin, cinnamon and condensed milk, Leche de Pantera is smooth, drinkable, delicious and, as the name suggests, rather stealthy – two of these and you’ll most certainly be feeling the effects.

Best served… with a group of friends tightly packed against the bar in any of the popular resorts along the Costa del Sol. You only need one or two to get the evening off to a bang.

4. Tinto de verano

Sangria’s less-heralded but tastier younger brother, tinto de verano is an incredibly popular drink throughout Spain, and for good reason. Mixed with carbonated fruit juices (such as Fanta) rather than still fruit, the combination of the gases and the red table wine is the epitome of heady – not only refreshing but also surprisingly refined, a glass of tinto verano is the perfect summer drink.

Best served… at private barbecues or gathering with friends, ideally as the sun is setting, the food is cooking and the heat of the day has retreated to leave a pleasing warmth best complemented by a few smooth tunes and lashings of tinto de verano.

5. Carajillo

A classic carajillo, which is strong espresso mixed with rum

There are few things Spaniards like more than alcohol but, if pushed, a strong coffee will run any beverage close. The Carajillo brings the best of both worlds together. Basically Spain’s take on an Irish coffee, a strong, dark carajillo, infused with rum, whisky or brandy, will get your day (off) off to a robust start.

Best served… after breakfast or at the height of noon when the sun is at its strongest. Retreat to some shade, sip a carajillo and perhaps partake in that other wonderfully evocative Spanish pastime – a siesta.