A Sangria with a Little Green Fairy Inside

For all the Sangria recipes out there, there are usually common ingredients: brandy, red wine, orange liqueur and a ton of fruit. Yet those are not set in stone as this Sangria list demonstrates, but I don't think one has gone quite as far as this Brazilian Sangria.

It is an interesting Sangria, one of the more fascinating and unique ones I have seen in quite awhile. The base is Spanish brandy, red wine and orange liqueur, but it throws in a twist with cachaca and, then, Lucid Absinthe. Yes, the "green fairy" has found its way into one of the most popular summer punches and it is a fantastic addition.

One would think that the anise flavor would protrude through all of the fruits but it actually adds an herbal, bitter quality that adds a spark and dimension. I see Lucid's reaction in this cocktail the way I see it in the Monkey Gland: it's there as an extra element, it contrasts the fruits, but it sits in the back like the quiet genius with all the answers to the world's problems.

Also try this Spanish Sangria recipe from Lisa & Tony Sierra, About.com Guide to Spanish Food