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“Spirits can be consumed as a digestive after each meal”

The consumption of spirits has traditionally been associated with celebrating. To meet with family and friends. To special occasions. But in Malaga there are flavors and artisan drinks that can be enjoyed all year round. One of the proper names among the homemade liqueurs of Malaga is resoli. This drink has a slight touch of anise and coffee flavor. In Malaga, it is customary to drink it alone or with ice after dinner as a digestive.

Although it is a drink consumed throughout the year, it is especially popular as an accompaniment to homemade sweets during times such as Christmas or Easter. The municipality of Alfarnate stands out for the homemade preparation of this drink without any artificial additives. Among the most common ingredients are anise, coffee, spices such as cinnamon, calves or walnuts and citrus fruits such as lemon or orange peel. Mistela is another popular spirit drink in Malaga. In some places this liquor is mistakenly equated with resoli. Nothing is further from reality. These are two totally different types of spirits. Traditionally, mistela has been a sweet-tasting liquor that is made with alcohol and grape must. However, the Malaga mistela variety is made with brandy, sugar and an infusion of spices and aromatic plants. The mistela recipe is peculiar.

Each town in Malaga and each family makes it in a different way with different ingredients and in different proportions. In Arriate, for example, it is common to make mistela with spices and caramel, but without a drop of alcohol, making it a drink for all audiences. As with resoli, mistela is a very common drink at Easter and Christmas as a digestif and accompaniment to homemade sweets and desserts. Gin, queen of Malaga spirits But if there is one spirit that has established itself among the spirits 'made in Malaga', it is gin. Málaga gin has made a name for itself in gourmet spaces through several premium brands. It is a drink with personality in which each flavor is indicated for a special occasion. Málaga gins are 100% native products made mostly with local grains and citrus fruits from Axarquía.

• The secret of gin

The emergence of gin as a premium drink has led to numerous flavors and varieties. Depending on the ingredients, we can distinguish between several types of gin families: floral, herbaceous, dry, classic, fruity, spicy and citrus. Each one has unique characteristics. But the secret of all of them lies in the quality of the cereals chosen for their manufacture, since this drink is made with fresh cereal alcohol of 96 degrees. The quality of the gin is also related to the number of distillations and the selection of the botanicals that make it up.

• The resoli against the cold

Resoli is a drink that is consumed especially in the autumn and winter months. This liquor is common in the towns in the interior of the province to combat the cold. In fact, it is no coincidence that the town in which artisanal resoli production is most deeply rooted is the highest town in Malaga. This is Alfarnate. Its streets are located more than 900 meters above sea level and the winters there are harsh because it is surrounded by mountains.

• The mistela recipe

To make mistela at home, the first thing you need is a little patience. The resting process should last 40 days. On each of those days you should shake the container to encourage the mixture of flavors. To make it, you have to squeeze the grape juice and mix it with brandy (one third for every two thirds of juice), with sugar, with ground coffee, with a few coffee beans and with cloves of spices. At the end of the 40 days of rest, leave the drink undisturbed for 72 hours and extract the liquor with a tube so that the dregs do not come out.