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Last weekend I went to A Basq Kitchen in Redondo Beach, California with my cousin so that we could gorge ourselves with pintxos. We were successful in our mission, but while we were there my cousin ordered a Kalimotxo.

A Kalimotxo, for those of you unaware, is simply a combination of red wine and Coke. If you need further instruction than that, here’s a recipe from All Recipes.

Since I just did some research on the history of the Picon Punch, another popular Basque cocktail in the United States, it got me wondering where the Kalimotxo came from. 

I’ve heard this mixture of red wine and Coke is popular in different countries around the world, not just the Basque Country. So I asked myself, “Is the Kalimotxo really Basque?”

I did some digging, and here’s what I found.

Photo: Tim Nusog

Where Does the Kalimotxo Come From?

According to the Huffington Post, the kalimotxo was originally called Rioja Libre or Cuba Libre del pobre (poor man’s Cuba Libre).

The name Kalimotxo came from a cuadrilla (group of friends) during the 1972 Puerto Viejo festival in Algorta, Getxo, Bizkaia. Servers at one of the drinks stands at the festival noticed the wine they were trying to sell was of poor quality, so they mixed it with Coke to mask its sour taste.

They named the drink after two friends of the cuadrilla, Kalimero and Motxo. Hence, the Kalimotxo was born and the name caught on throughout Spain.  

Eventually the drink spread to other countries, especially in eastern Europe and Latin America.

In Chile, it is called jote (black vulture).

In Romania it is known as motorină (diesel fuel). In the former Yugoslav nations it’s known as bambus (bamboo). In the Czech Republic it’s called houba (mushroom). In Hungary it is called vadász (hunter) or vörösboros kóla (red-wine cola) or just VBK.

So back to my original question…

Photo: The Dearborn

Is the Kalimotxo a Basque Drink?

I guess it’s safe to say the answer is yes!

Photo: Recipes Recipe

While people may have drunk red wine and Coke together before that Basque festival in 1972, the cuadrilla of Algorta popularized the drink and gave it a name.

So go forth and make yourself a kalimotxo this summer. You can be proud in knowing it came from the Basque Country.

CONTINUE READING:

• Picon Punch: Basque America’s Favorite Cocktail
• The Ultimate List of Basque Restaurants in the United States (2019)
• Basque Hotel Recipes You Have to Try