Cola de Mono

It is not Christmas in Chile without a glass of Cola de Mono (lit. Monkey’s Tail). There are numerous versions of this beverage, but it typically consists of milk, sugar, coffee, cloves, cinnamon, and aguardiente – distilled spirits containing between 29% and 60% alcohol by volume.

Brandy or rum are among the most common types of alcohol used in Cola de Mono. All ingredients are first boiled, cooled, then combined with aguardiente. The drink can be served hot or cold, and it is traditionally paired with a slice of pan de pascua, a traditional Christmas bread.