Brazilian Sangria

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 05/2/21
Brazilian Sangria

Thomas Barwick / DigitalVision / Getty Images

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

This Brazilian sangria recipe is one that will knock your socks off. It is filled with the fruit of your liking, a bit of cachaça, brandy, red wine and—here's the kicker—absinthe. For all the sangria recipes out there, this happens to be one of the most creative and tasting it is definitely an experience.

The recipe comes from Lucid Absinthe Supérieure, and it definitely takes an entirely different approach to sangria. It's made by the glass rather than a punch bowl, and the red wine is used as a float rather than the main ingredient. It also prefers Brazil's cachaça over other styles of rum, though it pairs that with Spanish brandy, so you get both liquors in one drink where it's typically one or the other.

Fruit does play a major role here, as it does in all sangrias, but it's left up to you as to which to include. Have fun with this aspect and find the freshest or most interesting fruit in the produce section that you can at the moment. You really cannot go wrong, and each time you mix up this drink you'll be treated to a whole new taste.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker, thoroughly muddle the fruit with the absinthe, cachaça, brandy, and orange liqueur.

  3. Pour everything (including the ice) into a wine glass.

  4. Float red wine on top of the cocktail by slowly pouring it over the back of a bar spoon.

  5. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Customarily, the advice is to serve shaken cocktails with fresh ice because the agitation breaks down the ice and causes it to melt faster in the glass. Follow this advice for the least amount of dilution, but try it using the recipe's recommended approach as well. The extra water can help marry the drink's distinct flavors.
  • For the fruit, have fun with unique combinations of strawberry, lime, orange, kiwi, passion fruit, or whatever catches your eye at the market. Cut it up so it's easier to muddle, and don't worry too much about getting exactly 1/2 cup. For instance, add one sliced strawberry with a lime wedge and a few cubes of passion fruit.
  • The most common Spanish brandy is Brandy de Jerez. It is differentiated from other brandies primarily in its production, including the soleras system that moves portions of the brandy to other barrels while aging and the use of former bourbon barrels that have also housed sherry. While this gives it a distinct flavor and it is an excellent choice, at just 1/2 ounce pour, any brandy will do just fine in this sangria.

How Strong Is a Brazilian Sangria?

There is a lot of liquor in this sangria, which means it will not be a light drink. Adding everything up, you can expect its alcohol content to fall in the 28 percent ABV (56 proof) range. To put that into perspective, it's over twice that of the average sangria's strength.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
270 Calories
0g Fat
17g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 270
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 3mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 36mg 181%
Calcium 16mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 221mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)