For dr_nic and the_christian.

San­gria is stronger than you think. It isn’t just wine and fruit. There’s brandy and cognac in there too. All up, about 20% alco­hol. €2.

You guys would *love* the way they pour drinks here. Take one high­ball. Add three large cubes of ice. Pour spirit until you reach about half-way. Do not use a meas­ure. If pos­sible, don’t even look, just pour until it feels right. Far as I can judge, it’s about three nips. Supply cus­tomer with bottle of mixer, opened but not added to drink so cus­tomer can add as desired. I’ve been drink­ing Cutty Sark and water and a vari­ety of gin with a dif­fer­ent name but the same label as Gor­don’s with a superb tonic called Nordic Mist. €5.

Good red wine. A Tem­pranillo is a sim­ilar grape to a Merlot. At El Ambigú, this is served with a tapas of cheese or a small paella. Deli­cious. €1.50.

Dis­covered the Span­ish equi­val­ent of Chartreuse last night (yellow rather than green). Called Orujo Vieja, it’s a herbal liqueur, and about 60 proof. To my amazement, a shot is only €1.50. Why? Because to them, you don’t charge more unless you’re pour­ing that insane three-nip meas­ure into a tall glass.

Salud!