Sol y Sombra

Name: Sol y Sombra
Total time: 2 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 45 ml Spanish brandy; 45 ml Aniseed liqueur

Difford’s Guide

Discerning Drinkers (8)

Measurements in:

Serves:

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Ingredients
1 ¹⁄₂ fl oz	Spanish brandy
1 ¹⁄₂ fl oz	Aniseed (anise) liqueur

How to make

Glassware

Serve in a Snifter/Brandy balloon glass

Method

Select and pre-chill a SNIFTER/BRANDY BALLOON GLASS.
STIR both ingredients with ice.
STRAIN into ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice).

Flavour Profile

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Alcohol content:

2 standard drinks
30.71% alc./vol. (61.42° proof)
27.7 grams of pure alcohol

History

A traditional after-dinner cocktail from Madrid that's popular throughout Span. The name translates to Sun and Shade/Shadow, referencing the colours of the two ingredients: anisette (crystal clear) represents 'sun' and brandy (brown amber) 'sombra'. Sol y Sombra is also the name of the different types of seats available for bullfights; the cheap seats are Sol due to being in the full sun, while the expensive seats are Sombra due to being shaded. A Sol y Sombra ticket is for seats that have some sun and shade, depending on the time of day.

Review

With such a generous splash of Anis del Mono Dulce liqueur, you might expect this cocktail to be overly sweet and dominated by anise, but the brandy holds its own. OK, it's a touch on the sweet side, but enjoyable after a meal, especially during a warm Madrid night.