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The Fabled Pour
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Country

Uruguay

I have 2 sourced drinks connected to Uruguay. The label on each card says how: where it began, what the country is known for, what people drink there, or where the origin is disputed.

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Uruguay on the world map. Boundaries are generalized Natural Earth data.

Drinks of Uruguay

Signature drinks and regional ones, with the evidence behind each. A drink marked non-alcoholic has no alcohol in the traditional serve.

  • Illustration of Grappamiel: clear pale gold, the color of thin honey, in a tall straight 30 cl Collins glass.

    Grappamiel

    Uruguay, especially rural areas in cool months

    IconicSignature drink

    A honey-sweetened grappa-style drink at 20 to 25 percent alcohol, made from a grape-pomace distillate. In cold weather it is taken as a small shot to warm up, and in summer it is poured over many ice cubes into a tall glass.

    The name joins grappa and the Spanish word for honey. The drink is protected as a geographical indication food under agreements with the European Union.

    Made with: grape-pomace distillate (grappa style), honey, water, sugar.

    Confidence: mediumEvidence: en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab), univision.com (opens in a new tab), en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)

  • Illustration of Medio y Medio: pale straw yellow and clear with fine bubbles rising, in a tall champagne flute.

    Medio y Medio

    Montevideo, Mercado del Puerto

    IconicSignature drink

    Half and half, as the name says: equal parts dry white wine and sweet sparkling wine, served chilled. It is poured as an aperitif or with dessert and is also sold premixed in Uruguayan shops.

    A restaurant in the old port market of Montevideo, Roldos, claims to have invented the blend, and the name is sold under the Roldos trademark. Dates were not found in any source opened. Another reference describes a variant that mixes cane spirit with sparkling wine, so the recipe is not fixed.

    Made with: dry white wine, sweet sparkling wine.

    Confidence: lowEvidence: georgetowner.com (opens in a new tab), en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)

Map data: Natural Earth, public domain.