When it comes to Spanish cocktails, the delicious Aqua de Valencia is undoubtedly one of the best known and most popular. This sparkling drink, which originated in the beautiful city of Valencia, is characterised by its fruity freshness and is the perfect companion - and not just for warm summer evenings. In this article, you will learn more about the history of Aqua de Valencia and receive an authentic recipe that you can use to easily prepare this Spanish classic at home.
The history of Aqua de Valencia
The Aqua de Valencia was first created in the Spanish city of Valencia in the 1950s. The cocktail was created in the legendary bar „Café Madrid“, where bartender Constante Gil offered it as a refreshing alternative to the popular drinks of the time. The combination of fresh orange juice, cava (Spanish sparkling wine), vodka and gin was an instant hit with guests and quickly spread beyond the city limits. Today, the Aqua de Valencia is a symbol of Spanish joie de vivre and enjoyment not only in Spain, but worldwide.
500 ml freshly squeezed orange juice (ideally from Valencian oranges)
500 ml cava (Spanish sparkling wine) or alternatively champagne - 50 ml vodka
50 ml gin - sugar (of your choice) - ice cubes - orange and sugar for decoration
Squeeze the oranges until you have 500 ml of fresh orange juice. The flavour of the Aqua de Valencia depends heavily on the quality of the juice, so it is worth using ripe and sweet oranges. Pour the freshly squeezed orange juice into a large carafe. Add the cava, vodka and gin. Stir the mixture gently to retain the carbonation of the cava. Add 2-3 tablespoons of sugar to the mixture to taste and stir again until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add a generous amount of ice cubes to the carafe to chill the drink well. Allow the Aqua de Valencia to infuse for a few minutes so that the flavours can develop optimally.
Pour the finished Aqua de Valencia into chilled glasses. Decorate each glass with a sugar rim and a slice of orange to give your drink a great look.