Vaina is a traditional cocktail in Chile, very popular and so ancient that its origins are not clearly defined, with a history that has multiple variations.
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How to prepare a Chilean Vaina?
Formerly at Confitería Torres, the vaina was made with aged wine from the region, Chilean pisco, cream liqueur, cocoa, and cinnamon, but gradually it evolved to the recipe we share today.
Nutritional Information
Category: Cocktails
Cuisine: Chilean
Calories: 300
Preparation: 10 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Original Vaina Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 200 ml of sweet wine or sherry
- 120 ml of cognac
- 4 egg yolks
- 4 teaspoons of sugar
- Ground cinnamon
- Crushed ice
Preparation
- Add the sherry, cognac, egg yolks, sugar, and optionally a handful of crushed ice into a large cocktail shaker, cover, and shake vigorously for about 20 seconds to mix everything.
- Serve the vaina in champagne or flute cocktail glasses, strain the ice, and sprinkle ground cinnamon on the surface to taste.
Origin of the name “Vaina”
One of the most accepted stories tells that the name by which it is known today was established thanks to the preference that the Venezuelan intellectual Andrés Bello used to express for this cocktail, in his frequent visits to Confitería Torres in the center of Santiago.
The result of the preparation was so pleasing to Andrés Bello that it quickly became his favorite, and whenever he wanted a repeat, he used to resort to the following phrase:
Waiter, bring me another one of those “vainas”!
Did you know?
Andrés Bello was a Venezuelan humanist, poet, lawmaker, philosopher, and educator, influential in the cultural and political development of several Latin American countries in the 19th century. He is renowned for his work in education and as the principal author of the Chilean Civil Code.
