The Chilean chuflay is a simple highball of aguardiente topped with a sweet soda, traditionally Bilz, or with grenadine, served over ice in a tall glass. It takes 5 minutes to prepare and makes 1 drink.
It was born from an old infusion of fruit such as watermelon in aguardiente or pisco, and today it is mixed with all kinds of sodas.
How to Make a Chilean Chuflay?
According to the Chilean folklorist Oreste Plath, the name chuflay was also once given to an equal mix of beer and lemon juice, and to cognac with lemonade. The modern version is just aguardiente or pisco lengthened with a sweet soda over ice.
Nutritional Information
Each chuflay contains approximately 150 kcal, 20 g of carbohydrates, 0 g of fat, 0 g of protein, 0 g of fiber, 20 g of sugars, and 10 mg of sodium. These values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.
Homemade Chilean Chuflay Recipe
Preparation: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 drink
Ingredients
- 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) of aguardiente
- 150 ml (5 fl oz) of grenadine juice or Bilz soda
- Ice, to taste
Instructions
- In a tall glass, add two ice cubes, pour in the aguardiente, and top up with the juice or soda. Serve the chuflay right away, well chilled.
Additional Tips
Pour the soda last
Add the soda at the end and pour it gently over the ice to keep the bubbles longer.
Use a tall glass
A highball glass holds the ice and the right balance of soda and aguardiente.
Try pisco
A young Chilean pisco works perfectly in place of aguardiente, with a slightly more aromatic profile.
| Original ingredient | Substitute | Ratio | Flavor note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aguardiente | Young pisco | 1:1 | More aromatic |
| Bilz | Ginger ale | 1:1 | Spicier, Bolivian style |
| Bilz | Grenadine and soda water | 30 ml + 120 ml | Less sweet |
| Aguardiente | No alcohol | Omit | Kid friendly |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I make a chuflay without alcohol?
Yes. Leave out the aguardiente and use a fruit syrup or grenadine; it will still be sweet and refreshing.
2. Which glass is best?
A tall highball glass, which holds the ice and the right proportion of soda to aguardiente.
3. Can I use pisco instead of aguardiente?
Yes. A young Chilean pisco or a good aguardiente both work perfectly, although the aroma changes slightly.
4. How do I keep it from going flat?
Add the soda at the end and pour it gently over the ice to keep the fizz longer.
What Is Bilz?
Bilz is a classic Chilean soft drink, bright red and very sweet, with a flavor often compared to bubblegum. It is the traditional mixer for the modern chuflay.
History and Origin of the Chuflay
Bolivia has its own chuflay made with singani and ginger ale, but the Chilean name is said to come from an English sea shanty that British sailors sang in Chilean ports while toasting, with a chorus that went shoo, fly.
Did You Know?
The expression shoo fly is said to have given rise to Chilean slang such as estar chuflay, being a little drunk, and eventually to chupar, the colloquial Chilean verb for drinking alcohol.
How to adapt this recipe to a vegan or vegetarian version?
How to adapt this recipe to a gluten-free version?
How to adapt this recipe to a keto (ketogenic) version?
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