What else is Spain famous for besides being a hub for fiestas and top-notch food? Surely, it’s Spanish drinks that are crafted differently in each region. 

Spaniards are quite enthusiastic about mixing alcohol with fruits that surprisingly come out delicious. They are not hesitant to bring versatility and uniqueness to their food and Beverages that can never disappoint you. 

Last I checked the cost of Spanish drinks, I was delighted to know they are quite reasonable. When you think about popular drinks, you must only come up with wines, and if we stretch it then surely sherry. But let’s burst this bubble for you as it comprises liquors, non-alcoholic, and even fruit and milk drinks that are suitable for all age groups. 

Ready to embark on this exciting journey of the best Spanish drinks so far, which you can enjoy during your stay in Spain?

Here in this article, we will delve deeper into the popular alcoholic, non-alcoholic along with drinking limits.

Popular Alcoholic Spanish Drinks

1. Cerveza

Trying alcoholic Spanish drinks, you will most likely come across Spanish beer that goes with the name ‘Cerveza’. It may be traced back to African, and Egyptian tribes but it was first brewed in Spain in the Middle Ages.

In 1500 BC it was brewed during the reign of Charles V, who was addicted to beer. From where it went to Castile and now it has made its place not all over Spain but in the world. 

As tourists arrive, and explore cuisines and drinks, beer has maintained its top place.

How is it usually prepared? It is made through barley, fermentation undergoes and hops are added to give it a flavour. It tastes bitter though, like typical alcohol.

Cerveza is also prepared in Lager style. Here we have two recommendations for you.

• Estrella Galicia (Excessive foam & Intense flavor)
• Mahou 5 Estrellas
• Alhambra 1925 (fruity flavor)

You must be well aware of beer vocabulary if you are sitting in a bar:

• Just want a little shot, ask for ‘Caña’. 
• If something is twice the size of Caña, order ‘Doble’. 
• Want a whole bottle, order Quinto and Tercio. 
• If you want it along with side flavors, we recommend you order from Clara.

Alcohol By Volume: 6-10%

2. Sherry

Sherry has been reigning popular Spanish drinks and got a higher rank. You can have this particular drink in your daily meals and appetizers. It is prepared through multiple flavors, colors, and textures. 

Sherry includes a variety of wines that are cultivated and brewed in the areas of Marco de Jerez.

Alcohol By Volume: 18%

3. Wine

Undoubtedly,  wine has been considered the national drink of Spain and has been immensely reveled by tourists all over the globe.  

You can go on and on with Spanish drinks from all the regions, but wines still take the crown and produce great revenue for the country.

There are plenty of types, but here we will discuss the top three wine categories; red wines and white wines.

Alcohol By Volume: 5.5-25%

Red Wines

Spanish drinks are widely recognized by tourists due to their aesthetic red wines. These wines are known as ‘Rioja’ and are prepared by Tempranillo grapes.

You must be well aware of which red wine to order in the Madrid clubs and restaurants as they are categorized as per aging.

• Crianza wines: Aging in Oak barrels for 0.5-1 year
• Reserva Wines: Aging in Oak barrels for 3 years

White Wines

Despite people being ravenous for red wines, white wines have amassed huge popularity as these stellar wines taste delicious.

Lounging on a terrace or munching on your favorite seafood, have a glass of white wine and enjoy! 

The popular white wines you can go for include, Albariño, Rueda, and Txakoli. 

4. Tinto de Verano

Plan to go to Spain this summer. You must try this refreshing drink that is produced by adding wine along with soda and ice. 

It first became popular during the early 60s when tourists started flocking to these streets that are home to guitarists and singers and are always crowded. 

You will love such Spanish drinks that are a treat in blazing summers.

Alcohol By Volume: 3.9%

5. Ratafía 

Hooked on popular Spanish drinks, you can’t possibly miss Ratafía. As per history, it may have its roots in Italy but the traditional recipes used to be made in Catalan. 

How is it prepared? By using brandy, green walnuts, herbs, and a dash of spices.  

It has its significance in medicine as it helps to relieve menstrual cramps.  It is particularly consumed in abundance on festive occasions. If you ever visit Spain and want to explore typical Spanish drinks, go for it.

Alcohol By Volume: 20-30%

6. Calimocho

It’s a Spanish cocktail that made rounds around 1920 when a group of people came and mixed expired red wine with cola. Although it is said that it made its appearance in 1920, its real fame was in 1972.

What is the history behind this drink? It’s quite interesting. When back in the 70s San Nicolás del Puerto Viejo de Algorta celebrations began, the group of organizers, Antzarrak came with 20,000 liters of expired red wines, which were injurious to health. But to camouflage the flavor they added cola.

When they didn’t come up with a name, they decided to name it after their group member, motto, who was pretty ugly. They named it Kalimotxo, but in Spain, it goes with Calimocho. 

Alcohol By Volume: 5.0%

7. Sidra

If you ever come to Spain’s North, you will come across Sidra Street in the Oveido. The street is named after this popular drink, Sidra which is widely consumed all over Austria. 

In the past, it was a favorite among royalty but now with the revolution, it has its place in almost all restaurants or cafes. 

People are enchanted by the way bartenders pour it into the glasses. They hold it knee tight with one hand and with the other hand take it high above the head without spilling a drop of this Spanish drink.

Alcohol By Volume: 5-6.5%

8. Clara 

It also goes with another name ‘Shandy’. It is prepared by adding beer and lemonade in equal volume. Although we won’t claim it has its origin in Spain. It first made its appearance in a German restaurant. 

Although, it made rounds in the streets of Spain rather quickly. Now Spaniards made it in multiple ways and owned these drinks. It is available in almost all the restaurants and local bars in Spain. 

One thing more, people prefer this because of its low cost and availability in almost all the regions of Spain as the popular Spanish drink.

Alcohol By Volume: 4.4%

9. Sangría 

Do ancient Spanish drinks appeal to you? Sangría has its roots in the West Indies when it was a British colony. During the 19th it was consumed in Ecuador and has gotten its English name pronunciation translated as ‘blood’.  

However, Spanish and Portuguese wine producers relate it to the Iberian Peninsula. Wines were very strong in the past, so fruits were added to lessen the bitterness and give it a tinge of sweetness.

Sangria is produced by wine, juice, fruit sugar, and some alcohol. 

Went to Spain and didn’t drink this pleasant liquor? You have missed on great deal.

Alcohol By Volume: <12%

10. Queimada

It has a mythical history people keep wondering about. Some claim it originated from Celts in the region of Galicia. There’s another speculation of it being arrived in the Middle Ages. 

How is it prepared? This alcoholic drink is made of citrus peels, coffee, sugar, and strong pomace brandy (commonly goes with the name, ‘Orujo’.)

Its preparations require you to adopt typical techniques. You keep stirring the ingredients in a pot until the fire turns blue. 

It has its special hype during festive seasons including St. John’s night festivities and Halloween.

Alcohol By Volume: 37-50%

Popular Non-alcoholic Spanish Drinks

1. Leche Meringada

You can never go wrong with non-alcoholic Spanish drinks. They will come with a wide assortment of tastes and textures that will satiate your cravings. 

This leche Meringada or we simply call it milk meringue. It is prepared by thoroughly beating egg whites, sugar, milk, and a dash of cinnamon. It is extremely fluffy and its texture resembles that of snow. 

We assume, it has its roots in Valencia, but again we aren’t certain about its origin. But we are certain it has its great hype in Spain. You can order it from any of the ice cream parlors. 

2. Mosto

There are a lot of us who haven’t or don’t prefer drinking alcohol. Even I haven’t tried alcohol. But curious to know what the Spanish wines taste like? We have a recommendation for you, go try ‘Mosto’.

Mosto word refers to any kind of grapes drink regardless of specifications. They are prepared by grape wines, but the fermentation is skipped. It can be prepared by adding a slice of orange, lemon, and an olive. It’s a pretty classic way of making Mosto drink.

You can enjoy this in 2 types, the red version of Mosto or the white version of Mosto. 

3. La Caserta

People usually miss this in the wide variety of Spanish drinks. This non-alcoholic drink has some of its characteristics setting it apart from others. 

First, it’s a great replacement for wines and other alcoholic beverages. Second, it’s not a soda drink, you won’t be bothered by gas. But it does taste deliciously like Sprite, and 7-up and is available in almost all the restaurants in Spain. 

Thirdly, it doesn’t contain too much sugar. You can be assured that you aren’t consuming too much calories.

4. Café

One of the most widely consumed non-alcoholic beverages all over Europe. But it got a special place in Spain. Spaniards don’t consume it in the typical manner you know. You will come across a huge list of cafés here. You will have to say goodbye to your typical cappuccino or latte unless you are visiting Starbucks or a similar brand. 

If you are in the mood for a strong black café order Americano. If you want just a black café shot, choose café solo. If you want an espresso shot with a dash of milk, café con leche. Want stronger, go for a cortado. If you are being negligent on calories, go for an espresso shot with condensed milk, and it’s Bombon. 

Fun Fact: You can even add alcohol, like rum or brandy in your café and that will be called Belmonte and it has its roots in Murcia.

5. Cola Cao

If you ever have the pleasure of having breakfast in Spain. Then it’s no surprise for you that Cola Cao is a must. This drink has nostalgic value for the Spaniards. It has its roots in Catalonia. 

This drink is conveniently made by adding cocoa powder to milk, and it’s a chocolate milkshake, you can have it hot or cold. It is popular among the natives as well as the tourists roaming around the streets of Spain. 

6. Clipper De Fresa

This is an island-specific soft drink that tastes delicious. It was made by two Spanish brothers Octavio and Mario Juan Gomez. It used to make rounds in the Canary Islands in 1956. 

Although, it was difficult to import back then. But, now it’s a global drink at the islands all over Europe, let alone just Spain.

Spanish Drinks Suitable For Children

Imagine you are vacationing in Spain and having a glass of wine, but then your kid asks for the drinks as well. You can’t give them the alcoholic ones so here are some milder drinks. You can buy your kids these and don’t have to worry about them indulging in forbidden drinks.

But if you are a Spain native, then you must be familiar with kids’ habit of indulging in sodas and Nesquik and milk. These are some best Spanish drinks we want to recommend for your kids:

1. Granizado

In the mood to try something refreshing and earthy? This one is perfect even for the kids. It is made in a slushy machine by adding lemons, sugar, and water. Quick, right? 

Another thing is you don’t have to be in Spain to enjoy this drink. You can even make this for your kids by taking these simple ingredients from your pantry. 

Besides these are sold at local bars, pastry shops, and ice cream parlors.

2. Horchata

This internationally recognized drink can be your kids’ absolute favorite. It has a history you may not be familiar with. It’s being made through tiger nuts just like the way almond milk is made. 

Tiger nuts are soaked to get a translucent white liquid with nutty flavors, these nuts are called Chufas in Valencia, Spain. Sugar can be mixed into it if you prefer sweet. 

It’s quite popular all over the domain, even in Latin America and Mexico. You can buy these Spanish drinks for your kids through ice cream parlors, pool bars, and beaches.

3. Hot Chocolate

I don’t say that hot chocolate roots back in Spain but you can’t deny me the way it tastes in Spain. It becomes particularly essential in winter and the festive season here. 

People consume it with churros. To make it in Spain, you have to use dark chocolate, sugar, cornstarch, and milk. 

The Spanish hot chocolate is thicker and has a creamy texture. It tastes delicious so we strongly recommend you this if you plan to explore non-alcoholic Spanish drinks.

4. Aquarius

This Spanish drink is popularly consumed in the Iberian Peninsula. Surprised? It goes with the name Spanish soda. It is the product of Coca-Cola. It initially became viral in Japan but quickly made its way to Spain and became a must-drink in the Spanish Olympic games.

You can give this drink to your kids with no worry as these are easy on the stomach. It doesn’t contain too much gas. You can widely access these Spanish drinks at fast-food cookouts.

Is There Any Age Limitation For Drinking in Spain? 

Yes, there is. As for everything else, alcohol consumption is not legal for minors. You must be 18 years or above to consume alcohol like wine, beer, and Sherry. 

Whether alcohol consumption is legal or not, you must drink responsibly. As over-indulgence is injurious to your health. It may affect your behavior, mood, and relationships as you lose consciousness.  

Should You Drink While Driving In Spain?

We strongly recommend you not drink if you plan to drive. However, if you must drive then please avoid drinking alcoholic beverages. You can choose non-alcoholic alternatives that taste delicious but are safe to drink. Besides that, Spain’s local transport is relatively cheap, safe and quite convenient. 

You won’t be surprised to know, that yes Spain does have a legal drinking limit. The limit is based on Blood Alcohol concentration that is measured through a breath analyzer and blood sample. 

• Blood Level: 0.5 g/liter
• Breath Level: 0.25 mg  

However, for the beginner, the limit is reduced as they quickly get intoxicated. The limits recommended for them are:

• Blood Level: 0.3g /liter
• Breath Level: 0.15mg  

But again, be careful while consuming Spanish drinks. Your safety matters the most! 

Bottom-line

In conclusion, Spanish drinks are widely recognized around the world due to their pleasant taste, and affordable prices. Tourists enjoy such drinks immensely while eating out. Confused about which one to choose, you can always ask your waiter about your preference and you will be served accordingly. You can have plenty of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, however, there’s a list of Spanish drinks for kids as well.

There are age limitations for drinking in Spain as minors aren’t allowed to drink neither are drivers. 

You can read all about your favorite Spanish drinks for your next visit to Spain. Do share your desired drink with us and let us know what you would like to read next and we will come up with that. 

FAQs on Spanish Drinks

What is a popular drink in Spain? 

There are plenty of famous Spanish drinks, but Sangría seems to be the signature drink and is prepared by using spices and fruits along with liquor.

What is a Spanish after-dinner drink?

Sol y sombre is the drink widely consumed after dinner and breakfast which is a combination of brandy and anise dulce and helps in digestion.

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