Mistela
Originally a Spanish drink, mistela is a cocktail that’s traditionally infused with coffee, cinnamon, orange peel and clove, and added with aguardiente, which is considered the domestic alcohol of Ecuador.
Although you can find mistela anywhere in the country, the best concoctions can be found in Quito at Quesadillas de San Juan or La Cruz Verde.
Ecuadorians usually drink Mistela after lunch to finish a good meal.
Canelazo
The drink got its name from the Spanish word canela, which means cinnamon. You will instantly taste that strong hint of cinnamon on your first sip.
Also called cinnamon spiced rum, canelazo is a must-try cocktail drink when you’re in Ecuador.
This warm alcoholic beverage is traditionally served in family gatherings or parties, especially on cold nights.
Canelazo’s primary ingredient is the locally made aguardiente and it is mixed with water, panela, cloves, cinnamon, orange juice, lime juice, and anise.
The alcohol content of canelazo depends on how much aguardiente is put into the mix.
You have to be careful not to get drunk when you just want to enjoy a nice cinnamon drink. People often make this mistake during Ecuadorian festivals in the Andes when it gets cool at night.
Some locals also make non-alcoholic versions of canelazo for the children to enjoy.
Aguardiente
Aguardiente is the national drink of Colombia. However, it is also enjoyed a lot in Ecuador and other South American countries like Brazil, Chile, and Mexico.
You’ll also find it in Central America, where it is in many Costa Rican drinks and known as Guaro.
What makes the aguardiente in Ecuador different from that of Colombia is that it is usually left unflavored.
The Ecuadorian liquor is also made from local cane sugar and contains 29-60% of alcohol by volume.
Aguardiente is similar to Tequila, which is taken as shots or mixed with fruit juices and cinnamon to make canelazo, which is a favorite Ecuadorian cocktail.
Since it is not aged, aguardiente cannot be considered rum.
But if it is placed inside a wooden barrel for a couple of years, then it becomes proper rum.
Zhumir is Ecuador’s most popular commercial brand of aguardiente.
You can get it straight or also in flavors like lime, maracuya and other Ecuadorian fruit.
Rompope
If you love a good eggnog drink during Christmas, then you’ll surely love its South America version called Rompope.
This Ecuadorian Christmas drink is a take on the classic eggnog drink or Cuban crema de vie. It is made with milk, egg yolks, condensed milk, sugar, vanilla, orange peel, cream and aguardiente.
Rompope is also called Ponche de Leche in some regions of the country.
Just be careful when drinking this seemingly innocent cocktail because it can easily make you drunk with its aguardiente content.
Source: www.baconismagic.ca