Amazing Old Spanish Cocktail Recipe

If you’re looking to have a great time and enjoy a delicious drink that will refresh you while relaxing with friends or celebrating a special occasion, among the Spanish recipes, you’ll find the best ones.

The old Spanish cocktail combines classic alcoholic beverages from southern Spain, shaken with just the right amount of juice and ice to perfectly balance the flavors and ensure that every sip offers a harmonious blend of sweetness and citrus zest.

In this article, you will learn how to make this cocktail from scratch, with the best tips to customize the ingredients and the best ways to serve it.

a pin with a old spanish cocktail in a glass decorated with an orange peel

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Pssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Spanish recipes? Have a look at my other posts: 

  • Spanish red wine cocktail

Background of the Dish

old spanish cocktail poured in a small glass decorated with orange slice

Records show that the Old Spanish Cocktail was created over 100 years ago, during the early 20th century, and it quickly became a beloved classic in Spanish cocktail culture.

The main reason behind its popularity was that it combined classic regional ingredients, such as sherry and sweet vermouth, with a touch of citrus, offering a refreshing yet sophisticated flavor profile that resonated with both locals and visitors alike.

Today, the Old Spanish Cocktail stands out as a timeless classic, sharing the spotlight with other Andalusian staples like tinto de verano and the iconic Spanish gin and tonic.

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a pin with a old spanish cocktail in a glass on a wooden table.

Things You’ll Need for Old Spanish Cocktail

To prepare the old Spanish cocktail, you will need orange juice, dry sherry, sweet vermouth, grenadine, Angostura bitters, and ice cubes.

grapes and wine in a basket on a wooden table for the old spanish cocktail

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (240 ml) dry sherry
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) sweet vermouth
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) orange juice (freshly squeezed is best)
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) grenadine
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) Angostura bitters
  • 1 orange
  • Ice cubes (enough to fill your glass or shaker)

How to Make Old Spanish Cocktail – Step by Step Guide

a woman with a cocktail shaker in hand, and on the table there's a glass of old spanish cocktail
  1. For the first step, slice one orange to use as a garnish for the drink. If you’re making homemade orange juice, squeeze the other oranges; otherwise, skip this step.
  1. To continue making the Spanish old-fashioned cocktail, chill your serving glasses in the freezer for about 10 minutes. You would need two regular glasses or four shots.
  1. Now, grab a cocktail shaker, and mix the liquids with the ice cubes. Shake for around 20 to 30 seconds. If you don’t have a shaker, you can use a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid or any sturdy container that can be securely closed. Make sure it is large enough to hold all the ingredients and have some room for shaking.
  1. After that, pour the old-fashioned cocktail into the chilled glasses, and as an optional step, add some extra ice.
  1. To finish making one of the most popular Spanish cocktails, garnish each glass with a slice of orange. With the amounts listed, you could fill two 200 ml glasses or four 50 ml shots.

Substitution of Ingredients

2 glasses filled with old spanish cocktail with ice and orange slices on a black table

The beauty of traditional Spanish cocktails lies in their simplicity, requiring only a few ingredients, but each one is essential to achieving the perfect outcome when making the recipe.

When it comes to the old Spanish cocktail, you have a little bit of room to play around with the ingredients, but we encourage you to stick to the basis.

Some changes that you can make to these Spanish cocktails are adding some spices, like cinnamon sticks or a dash of nutmeg, to give a warmer flavor to this drink.

Like most classic Spanish cocktails, you can make it sweeter by adding more grenadine, or substitute it with a splash of simple syrup. 

Ready to try more easy Spanish cocktails? Then, you can explore our recipes for Spanish wine cocktail, sherry cocktail, and agua de Valencia.

Tips on Serving Old Spanish Cocktail

old spanish cocktail in 2 glasses with oranges in the back

The old Spanish cocktail is a fall and winter staple, usually served in the late afternoon, with different tapas to serve as the appetizer for the main course during dinner.

Other drinks that are also served during the colder months are the Spanish coffee cocktail, while the best Spanish cocktails for summer and spring include the rebujito and the fruity Spanish drink.

As the Old Spanish Cocktail has a strong flavor, it isn’t served with meals, allowing the distinct taste of the sherry, vermouth, and bitters to shine through.

Just like the agua de Valencia and kalimotxo, you can garnish the Old Spanish Cocktail by covering it with a bit of orange juice and a rim of sugar, for a sweet, citrusy finish that enhances its flavors.

How to Store Old Spanish Cocktail

How to Store Old Spanish Cocktail.Ingredients and plastic containers in a fridge.

The Old Spanish Cocktail only takes a couple of minutes to make, and it is supposed to be served as soon as you prepare it.

Unfortunately, you can’t make it ahead of time, as the fresh flavors from the citrus and the combination of the ingredients are best enjoyed immediately for the optimal taste and experience.

However, we have some Spanish cocktail recipes that you can make ahead and store for later, such as the delicious sangria, the sweet fermented pineapple drink
and the timeless classic gazpacho shot.

Recipe Card: Old Spanish Cocktail

Yield: 2

Old Spanish Cocktail Recipe

old spanish cocktail in 2 glasses with oranges in the back

If you're looking to have a great time and enjoy a delicious drink that will refresh you while relaxing with friends or celebrating a special occasion, among the Spanish recipes, you’ll find the best ones.

The old Spanish Cocktail combines classic alcoholic beverages from southern Spain, shaken with just the right amount of juice and ice to perfectly balance the flavors and ensure that every sip offers a harmonious blend of sweetness and citrus zest.

In this article, you will learn how to make this cocktail from scratch, with the best tips to customize the ingredients and the best ways to serve it.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 seconds
Total Time 15 minutes 6 seconds

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (240 ml) dry sherry
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) sweet vermouth
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) orange juice (freshly squeezed is best)
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) grenadine
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) Angostura bitters
  • 1 orange
  • Ice cubes (enough to fill your glass or shaker)

Instructions

  1. Slice one orange to use as a garnish for the drink. If you're making homemade orange juice, squeeze the other oranges; otherwise, skip this step.
  2. Chill your serving glasses in the freezer for about 10 minutes.
  3. In a cocktail shaker, mix the vermouth, orange juice, ice cubes, grenadine, angostura bitters, and dry sherry. Shake for around 20 to 30 seconds. If you don't have a shaker, you can use a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid or any sturdy container that can be securely closed. 
  4. Pour the Spanish cocktail into the chilled glasses, and optionally add some extra ice.
  5. Garnish the old Spanish cocktail with a slice of orange on each glass. With the amounts listed, you could fill two 200 ml glasses or four 50 ml shots.

Notes

Similar to other Spanish cocktails, you can serve this one in a short, wide glass (like a rocks glass or tumbler) for a more traditional look, or a coupe glass for a more elegant presentation.

While choosing a cocktail shaker or mason jar, ensure that it is large enough to hold all the ingredients and have some room for shaking, or split the drink into two batches.

Some famous Spanish cocktails cover the rim of the glass with sugar for extra sweetness, so feel free to do the same here.

Nutrition Information

Yield

2

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 109Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 111mgCarbohydrates 16gFiber 2gSugar 11gProtein 1g

All information presented and written are intended for informational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. The writers and publishers of visitsouthernspain.com are not nutritionists or registered dietitians. Statements within this site have not been evaluated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

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