Is yours a red wine and cola?

In Argentina it’s known as “Jesus juice”, in South Africa it’s called katemba, in Croatia bambus and in Chile it’s known as jote (black vulture). But most fans of red wine mixed with cola – typically young people who want to make a rough red wine more palatable – know it by its Spanish name calimocho, because Spain is where this cheap and cheerful “wine cocktail” is believed to have originated.

Soon it could be known by a different name again, and to a much wider audience via the launch of a new 36% proof (18% ABV) fortified red wine that’s been made to be mixed like a spirit. The advertising brain behind it, Steven Grasse, who masterminded the launch of Hendrick’s Gin and Sailor Jerry Rum, believes that Spodee, which contains high proof moonshine, will bring a bit of excitement to the “staid” wine category and that it mixes well with pretty much everything. “From simple highballs like Spodee and Coke and Spodee and orange juice, or even Spodee and tonic,” he says.