You Must Make Your Calimocho Valentine
Dinner on Valentine’s Day is often too deliberate and overworked: the food should be sumptuous but not too plentiful, and the drinks should be fluid but not so strong that you fall asleep. (The easiest way to get around this problem is just to have lunch before dinner , but not everyone can fit this into their schedule.) But I can solve the drink issue here and now: Serve your valentine a calimocho.
What is in kalimocho?
Kalimocho is a 50/50 blend of dry red wine and Coca-Cola. This is not a “classic” drink, but a European one that Americans often interpret as “classic”. Originally invented in the Basque region of Spain as a way to sell sour wine, it is now a favorite among Spanish teenagers and casual American students.
I know none of this is good for a romantic night, but hold on to me. Being sloppy and sleepy is definitely not pretty, and calimotcho keeps you in the game by diluting the strength of your wine by half while adding some caffeine to keep you nice. (You could also call it “hydration” since soda is mostly water, but I don’t want to push my luck here.)
Then there’s the cool factor. Anyone can buy a bottle of wine for $40, but serve an unexpected mix of cola and tempranillo with a suave “Oh, this is a cocktail from the Basque region. It’s very popular with the local disgruntled youth”, much cooler, especially if it’s your first Valentine’s Day with a girl and you don’t want to look too enthusiastic. Kalimotxo is best made with a cheap dry red (don’t pay more than $10), and you can use some of that extra money to buy caviar and potato chips , another cheap treat that will make you look a little more worldly than you are.
Finally, there’s the taste: Kalimotxo dominates the Basque region, not because it’s a cute party trick, but because it’s good with just about everything. The dry red color keeps the soda from cloying, while the bubbles and sugar are a delight. It’s festive, it’s just sweet enough and it’s a conversation starter.
To make it, all you have to do is mix equal amounts of Coca-Cola Classic and cheap dry red wine in a glass filled with ice. You can add an orange wheel if you need a garnish. A red orange would be especially relevant.