A special, Spanish start to a chilly winter morning, or a fancy cocktail on ice-  Carajillo!

If you are lucky enough to live in the beautiful Marina Alta, the weather in November and December is mostly perfect (in our opinion!). Gone are the blistering temperatures of August and time to light the fire and get cozy in the evening. It is my personal favourite time of the year. Blue skies and sunshine make it warm and sunny through the middle part of the day, but the early morning and evenings can be chilly.

My favourite mornings, when I am not working, involve my dog, a walk through the vineyards and a stop, on the way home to refuel. The main plazas in Llíber, Jalón, Alcalalí and Parcent, depending on where my walking route takes me, are great spots to sit, enjoy the view and watch the morning get started in the village.

Most mornings my hot drink of choice is a cortado, a short coffee served in a glass with a shot of coffee and a splash of milk. However, in December, when the temperatures dip to below 10 degrees, I can be talked into a “carajillo”. (If you don´t speak Spanish say “Ka-Ra-Hee-Yo” your tongue should hit the roof of your mouth on the H like the ch in the Scottish “loch”). 

A carajillo is a shot of coffee on top of a measure of alcohol of your choice. You can choose between; rum, cognac, anise, pomace or whiskey. Carajillo is widely believed to originate from the Cuban War, when Spanish soldiers were supplied with coffee and rum to give them “corajillo” which translates as “a little courage”. If you are drinking it in Columbia it will be with brandy, Cuba- rum, Mexico- Kahlua or Tia Maria, Venezuela- rum or brandy.  Here in the Marina Alta, if you don´t specify your choice, you will normally be given rum, possibly because rum is relatively cheap and most of the customers, in the past, were agricultural workers. 

If you love a Carajillo, the really good news is- you can enjoy it all year round without going to a fancy cocktail bar. Order “carajillo del tiempo” (for the weather) and you will be brought an extra, larger glass with ice to pour your coffee over.

Another popular choice to make a carajillo, is the vanilla liqueur "Licor 43" which adds sweetness to the warmth. However, this one is more often served over ice, as a cocktail.

The measure, as always in Spain, depends on how the barman feels, but if you are drinking it early, I would urge caution and get ready to say “when”!

If you have the opportunity to spend the morning at your leisure, it is a fabulous way to warm you up and put a spring in your step. That said, a lot of workers drink it on their way to work. Their alcohol tolerance is well practised I guess!

Have a beautiful day!