Rebujito

Ingredients

Drink

• 1 bottlemanzanilla or fino sherry, very cold
• 1 litrechilled lemon soda, Sprite or 7-Up

Also

• plenty of ice
• a few mint sprigs

Garnish

• a mint sprig
• a lemon slice, optional

Equipment

• a large jug and small tumblers

Directions

1. Use manzanilla from Sanlúcar or a fino from Jerez, and it must be a dry sherry. Dry sherry only.
2. Chill everything hard: the sherry, the soda, the jug and the glasses. It has to be genuinely cold, because it is drunk in real heat and ice alone will not chill a warm jug without watering it down.
3. Fill the jug with plenty of ice. Use a lot of ice rather than a little, because more ice melts slower and keeps the drink cold to the last glass.
4. Pour the sherry over the ice first. Add the chilled lemon soda slowly, down the side of the jug.
5. Stir once, gently, with a long spoon and no more.
6. Serve immediately in small tumblers rather than large glasses. Small glasses are the tradition, because it is drunk quickly and refilled from the jug rather than nursed.
7. Make it fresh rather than in advance, because it goes flat within twenty minutes. It is drunk standing, in the heat, over many hours, and its lightness is deliberate rather than accidental.

Technique

• Manzanilla has a distinct salinity from the coastal bodegas of Sanlúcar and it suits this better than fino.
• It is served with olives, jamón and fried fish at the ferias.
• It is deceptively easy to drink and sherry is stronger than wine.

Substitutions

• Any dry fino or manzanilla sherry.
• Any clear lemon soda.

Variations

• Made stronger, at one to one.
• With a splash of soda water as well, for a drier drink.
• With cucumber instead of mint, which some casetas do.

History

The drink of the Seville April Fair and Andalusian ferias, made to keep sherry drinkable in the heat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Rebujito?

Rebujito is a cocktail from Spain: manzanilla or fino sherry lengthened with lemon soda, poured by the jug. The drink of the Seville April Fair and Andalusian ferias, made to keep sherry drinkable in the heat.

How long does Rebujito take to make?

Rebujito takes 5 min of preparation and no cooking at all. The recipe makes 1 jug, about 6 glasses. It is rated easy to make.

What can I substitute in Rebujito?

Yes, within limits. Any dry fino or manzanilla sherry. Any clear lemon soda.

What is the most important thing to get right in Rebujito?

Use manzanilla from Sanlúcar or a fino from Jerez, and it must be a dry sherry. Dry sherry only.