by Mónica Serrano and Silvana Tabares

Bartending comes naturally for Moisés González. With no former training and more than seven years of experience, his expertise is incomparable. He knows exactly how to serve up the finest drinks at Zócalo Restaurant and Tequila Bar, 358 W. Ontario. The Mexican restaurant not only serves authentic cuisine, but also a wide variety of alcoholic beverages from México, Spain and Latin America.

González, 30, keeps current with the latest trends in cocktails and has even invented his own mixed drinks, including one with ginger infused tequila mixed in with basil, brown sugar and club soda, which he calls fresca. His mixed drink of choice, a prickly pear margarita.

In commemoration of Hispanic Heritage Month, González shared his knowledge on some of the classic mixed drinks found within our culture.

Country of orgin: Chile

Mixed Drink: Pisco Sour

Description/Ingredients: The deviationof a Pisco Sour is often debated between Chile and Perú. Pisco (a type of brandy) is made out of grapes and is a bit stronger than the brandy from Spain or México. A Pisco Sour contains Pisco, lime/lemon juice, egg whites, sugar and crushed ice.
Country of orgin: Spain

Mixed Drink: Sangría

Description/Ingredients: Sangría is a wine punch from Spain. It consists of a small amount of brandy, orange juice/mango puree, orange liquor and sliced fruit such as cantaloupe, apples and oranges. The fruit is typically marinated in white or red wine and refrigerated for 24 hours before serving.

Country of orgin: México

Mixed Drink: Margarita

Description/Ingredients: The Margarita is the most common tequila based cocktail. It can be made with tequila blanco, reposado or añejo. The classic drink is made with tequila blanco, orange liquor and limejuice although there are a wide range of variations including raspberry, strawberry and mango.

Country of orgin: Brazil

Mixed Drink: Caipirinha

Description/Ingredients: Cachaça (a type of rum) is made from …

To find out how to make a Caipirinha and other popular drinks, read more of Tragitos Con Sabor Hispano