Monty Python and the Sangrial

Originally Posted by Guy VERSION 1.5
I once had thai sangria and the thing was, it was really sweet. I never had a wine that sweet. How the hell do i make that?



Sangria is a fortified wine, usually a red wine mixed with a pulpy citrus juice, like orange or lemon, but sangria is a lot like barbecue sauce: it's one of the few recipes where individuality is not only encouraged, but expected. The word "sangria" translates to "holy blood", and if corrupted slightly to the English language, you get "Holy Grail". So all that time, Indiana Jones was looking for THIS RECIPE. Yay me!

Sangria is basically a way to take a shitty wine and spruce it up for company, especially when that company is 300-400 violent Italianates wanting to ask you for a favor on your daughter's wedding day. Get yourself something that comes in a gallon, Rossi is perfectly acceptable, and make sure it's a deep red, like a merlot or a cabernet (don't worry, with sangria it doesn't matter if it's utter swill... all that matters is the alcohol content and the color).

1 Bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja, Zinfandel, Shiraz)1 Lemon cut into wedges
1 Orange cut into wedges
2 Tbsp sugar
1 Shot brandy (ever wonder what that shit is good for besides hanging below the necks of St. Bernards? Here you go.)
2 Cups... and here's the secret... GINGER ALE.

Eschew the recipes asking for 7-up, and demand naught but the best.

Now, you've got the basic recipe. Want to deuce it up? Want to live life on the WILD SIDE? FLY INTO THE DANGER ZONE?! Drop the Ginger Ale and add:

1.5 tsp Hot sauce
1 Shot of Rum (Bacardi 151 is the best bet)
1 Bottle of Coca Cola (Coke works here while Pepsi does not... it's the citrus syrup element that does the trick).

But Sangria isn't all about wine. Sangria is more of a state of mind. Want Thai Sangria? We can oblige. They don't have grapes in Thailand. Those fully functional, anatomically correct Azns have figured the following out, when they're not shooting ping pong balls from their wa-was. A basic Thai Sangria recipe is as follows:

Peach Schnapps – 1 shot
Triple Sec – 1/2 shot
7-Up/Sprite – 1 shot
Orange Juice/Lychee Juice – 1 shot
Singha (a brand of Thai beer... strictly optional) - fill to top
Garnish – lemon/lime

The alcohol content here is probably a lot greater by ratio than the traditional European sangria recipe, but you're on your own. I've not tried it, give it a shot. I'll stick with the rum and coke.