I love the so called legend behind the birth of this bubbly cocktail ‘Agua de Valencia’ Valencian Cava Cocktail. It goes something like so a man walks into a bar and… No try several men. A group of Basque tourists to be precise who walked into Cafe Madrid in Valencia and asked for Agua de Bilbao ‘the best sparkling wine in the house’. Fatigued from asking for the same drink they challenged the owner to offer them something new. He offered them ‘Agua de Valencia’ almost as a joke and then knocked together this new cocktail. The tourists loved it and would return on their travels and ask for that same Valencian Cava Cocktail. He got lucky! I am not surprised at all that this drink is so successful. Heady from vodka and gin, bright and citrus from orange and acid but light from Cava. When I am hosting and it’s party time this is my go-to bubbly cocktail everytime.

Valencian Cava Cocktail

Valencian Cava Cocktail

  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Persons: 4
  • Difficulty: Easy

  • Ingredients
  • 1 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice (I used 4 oranges)
  • 1 bottle of well chilled Cava (or Champagne)
  • 1/4 cup of vodka
  • 1/4 cup of gin
  • 1/4 cup of sugar
  • 2 handfuls of ice
  1. Instructions
  2. Squeeze the juice from the oranges into a jug. Enough to fill up one cup.
  3. Add 1/4 cup of vodka, 1/4 cup of gin and sugar. Stir well to help dissolve the sugar.
  4. Add the bottle of Cava and 2 handfuls of ice. Stir very gently so as not to disturb the bubbles!
  5. Pour into Martini glasses and serve immediately.

Top Tips

  • Adjust the sugar level to your taste. The level of sweetness pre-sugar depends greatly on the ripeness and sweetness of the fresh oranges used.
  • I like to use Cava as the main ingredient. But you can use Champagne or even Prosecco at a push. If you are using Prosecco then cut down the amount of sugar. 

Valencian Cava Cocktail – Agua de Valencia

What could be better than a chilled cup of Cava to get your party started? I will tell you: ‘Agua de Valencia’ Valencian Cava Cocktail. A perfect bubbly summer cocktail of vodka and gin with sweet, bright fresh orange finished off with zesty acid Cava.