Sol y sombra is an after dinner or breakfast alcoholic drink (or
digestif), consisting of equal parts
brandy
Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured with ...
and
anise
Anise (; '), also called aniseed or rarely anix is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to Eurasia.
The flavor and aroma of its seeds have similarities with some other spices and herbs, such as star anise, fennel, licorice, and ta ...
dulce (sweet anise or anisette) served in a brandy
snifter, that is well known in
Madrid
Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...
and Spain generally. Alcohol for breakfast maybe an alien concept for many but a sol y sombra is commonly taken with a bar breakfast of coffee and churros or tostada in Andalucia.
The drink's name comes from the Spanish words for sun and shade and refers to different types of seats one can buy at
bullfights. The cheap seats are Sol, and are in the full sun, whereas the most expensive seats are Sombra and are fully shaded. A Sol (Sun) y Sombra (Shadow) ticket has some shade and some sun throughout the day. The drink's name reflects this, as the drink is a combination of the dark brandy (sombra) and the clear anise (sol).
External links
* http://www.drinknation.com/drink/Sol-Y-Sombra
Cocktails with brandy