Kalimotxo – Spanish Red Wine with Coke

Kalimotxo (also spelled calimocho) is a popular Spanish drink made by mixing red wine with coke. What started in the Basque Country in the 1970’s as a cheap party drink has stuck around for a reason, it’s a refreshing cocktail that works. It’s cheap, unfussy and surprisingly good.

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What is Kalimotxo?

Kalimotxo is a Spanish drink that consists of equal parts red wine and Coca Cola, typically served cold over ice. The word Kalimotxo is Basque and is pronounced as kah-lee-mo-cho. It’s also commonly spelled Calimocho in Spanish.

It’s often confused with drinks like sangria or tinto de verano, but Kalimotxo is a simple, budget-friendly and refreshing cocktail all of its own.

Origin of Kalimotxo

I first learned to drink Kalimotxo when I was an exchange student in Bilbao. It was and still is a popular drink among students, mainly in the Basque Country. Only later did I discover that the drink got its name during the preparation of the Fiestas de San Nicolás, held every year in the Old Port of Algorta (Puerto Viejo de Algorta). Coincidentally, during my student days, I lived just a street away from the Old Port.

In August 1972, the Antzarrak Squad, the festival organisers that year, had stocked up on 2000 litres of red wine to sell during the festival. But there was a problem, for whatever reason the wine had turned out sour. But instead of tossing all this ‘sour’ but precious wine out they got creative and decided to mix it with Coca Cola. To sell this red wine and cola cocktail they invented the name Kalimotxo, after Kali, the nickname of one of the crew and Motxo, meaning ugly in Basque.

To everyone’s surprise the result was quite good, and to this today Kalimotxo or Calimocho is still going strong, especially in the Basque Country among students. It’s a budget friendly staple at festivals and street parties, mainly in northern Spain. This Kalimotxo cocktail is a drink that proves good ideas don’t have to be fancy.

Read also: What to see and do in Getxo – tips and information

Which ingredients to use

• Red wine: Choose any dry red wine you like. It doesn’t have to be a fancy expensive wine. Any young, budget dry red wine will do, even if it’s in a Tetra box.
• Cola: The original version was made using Coca Cola and that’s also what I recommend. Other types of cola are often too sweet, making the Katimotxo way too sweet to enjoy.
• Ice cubes: It needs to be served very cold, preferably over ice.
• Optional garnish: Add a lemon or orange wedge for a little hint of freshness and extra flavor.

Tips for making the best calimocho drink

• Use dry red wine: Kalimotxo is always made with dry red wine. Using a sweet wine will clash with the sweetness of the cola making it way too sweet. The sweetness of the coke will balance with the bold tannins of the dry red wine.
• Don’t use an expensive wine: As this drink was invented to take the taste of sour wine away, mixing a good wine with coke would be a waste of a good and expensive wine. You don’t have to use sour wine, but a cheap table wine is perfect for mixing this cocktail.
• Keep it fizzy: This red wine and coke cocktail is best drank with enough fizz to keep it refreshing and to lift the flavors. I prefer making it by the glass to keep the fizz of the cola. If you make a batch in a larger jar, stir gently.
• Use the real Coca Cola: The classic Coca Cola just adds the right amount of sweetness and fizz. Other brands and diet versions will change the flavor and balance.
• Stick to the 50:50 ratio: Balance is everything and this red wine cocktail with coke tastes best in a 50:50 ratio.
• Serve cold: Calimotcho is meant to be drank cold, so make sure it’s well chilled or served over ice.

How to serve

I prefer to directly mix the Kalimotxo in a glass over ice as it will retain the nice fizz of the cola. When making a larger batch in advance such as in a punch bowl, pour the red wine and coke in a 50:50 ratio and place in the fridge. Only add ice cubes just before serving otherwise it will be watered down with melted ice.

First pour in the wine and then add the Coca Cola as it will mix better. Gently stir and serve with optionally a lemon or orange wedge.