Here’s An Agua de Valencia Recipe That Will Have You Sipping In No Time!
Agua de Valencia is a refreshing drink that is perfect for the warmer months. It has a base of orange juice (preferably freshly squeezed) mixed with vodka, gin, and cava or champagne.
It is served ice cold with orange slices and has a sweet and bubbly taste that is hard to resist.
Agua de Valencia originated in Valencia, hence the name, and has a deeper meaning since the city is famous for its oranges.
It is the perfect drink to have at brunch, gatherings with friends, barbecues, and more. But be careful, because it is very easy to sip on and has a high alcohol content.
So drink responsibly and enjoy this delicious orange cocktail!
Side note from Eric and Lisa: We had Agua de Valencia at the famous cocktail bar Cafe de las Horas when we visited Valencia in the summer! It was delicious and the bar is known for its beautiful “night sky” ceiling.
Ingredients
Here are the Agua de Valencia ingredients that you will need to make this delicious orange cocktail. The quality of each ingredient matters.
- Orange juice – Preferably freshly squeezed orange juice.
- Cava – Alternatively champagne or prosecco. Use a white sparkling wine.
- Gin – Plain gin (not flavored).
- Vodka – Plain vodka (not flavored).
- Orange – Preferably an organic orange.
- Ice cubes – Plenty of ice to keep the drink cold.
Recipe Tips and Substitutions
This Agua de Valencia recipe is very straightforward, but have a quick read through these recipe tips and tricks so that your cocktail turns out amazing:
- Agua de Valencia tastes best when it’s made with freshly squeezed orange juice, but bottled orange juice will also work.
- For a sweeter Agua de Valencia, choose a cava (alternatively champagne or prosecco) on the sweeter side. In general, use white sparkling wine and avoid using rosé cava.
- For the gin and vodka, use unflavored varieties.
- If you want your drink to have more fizz, leave some room at the top of your glass for a cava top-up.
How to Make Agua de Valencia – Step by Step Instructions
This section is all about seeing just how to make this Agua de Valencia recipe. We’ve included all the recipe process photos so that you can follow along as you mix at home!
The printable recipe card with exact measurements is located at the bottom of this post.
If you want to use fresh orange juice, squeeze the oranges until you have enough juice. You can strain the juice to remove the excess pulp. Set aside.
Slice one orange, then cut each slice into triangles. Add most of the triangles to a large pitcher.
Prepare the serving glasses by adding some ice cubes and a few orange triangles to each glass.
Fill the pitcher with ice cubes until it is almost half full. Then add the orange juice.
Next, add the vodka and gin and stir well.
Open the bottle of cava or champagne and add about one cup to the pitcher.
Gently stir everything together.
Optional final step: Fill each glass with the drink, leaving a little space at the top. Top up each glass with more cava if desired. Enjoy!
Storage Tips
Agua de valencia can be made ahead of time and stored in a sealed bottle without ice in the fridge. You can then just add the ice cubes to the drink when you are ready to serve it.
If you have any leftovers, which is unlikely because this drink is so delicious, you can store them in a sealed pitcher in the fridge without any ice. This will prevent the drink from being diluted by the melted ice.
The drink may lose some of its fizz over time, but it will still taste good for up to 3 days.
FAQ
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about making Agua de Valencia!
Originally from the city of Valencia which is known for its oranges, Agua de Valencia is a Spanish summer drink made from a base of orange juice and a variety of other alcohols, including Spanish cava.
Agua de Valencia tastes sweet and citrusy due to the orange juice. Depending on the exact mix, the sparkling cava and other alcohols are barely noticeable… which is why it’s a dangerous drink to sip on!
To make Agua de Valencia, mix the orange juice ice with ice, orange slices, gin, vodka, and cava in a pitcher. Serve in glasses with ice and a slice or wedge of orange. You can top up individual glasses with more cava if desired.
Related Recipes
If you liked Agua de Valencia, here are some other Spanish drinks – some alcoholic, some non-alcoholic – to warm you up or cool you down!
- Classic Spanish Sangria
- More Sangria Recipes
- Tinto de Verano (Also Red Wine Drink)
- Leche Merengada (Meringue Milk)
- Spanish Hot Chocolate (Chocolate a la taza casero)
Agua de Valencia
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups orange juice
- 1 cup Cava, alternatively Champagne or Prosecco
- 2/3 cup gin
- 2/3 cup vodka
- 1 orange
- ice cubes
Instructions
- If you want to use fresh orange juice, squeeze the oranges until you have enough juice. You can strain the juice to remove the excess pulp. Set aside.2 1/2 cups orange juice
- Slice one orange, then cut each slice into triangles. Place most of the triangles in a large pitcher.1 orange
- Prepare the serving glasses by adding some ice cubes and a few orange triangles to each glass.
- Fill the pitcher with ice cubes until it is almost half full. Then add the orange juice.ice cubes
- Add the vodka and gin and stir well.2/3 cup gin, 2/3 cup vodka
- Open the cava or champagne bottle and add about one cup to the jug. Gently stir everything together.1 cup Cava
- Optional: Fill each glass with the drink, leaving a little room at the top. Top up each glass with more cava if desired.
Notes
- For the best flavor and freshness, use freshly squeezed orange juice. Alternatively, you can use bottled orange juice.
- Choose a Cava (alternatively Champagne or Prosecco) on the sweeter side for a sweeter Agua de Valencia. In general, use white sparkling wine and avoid using rosé.
- For the gin and vodka, use plain varieties and avoid using any flavored liquors.
- If you want your drink to have more fizz, leave some room at the top of your glass for a cava top-up.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
