A Monkey's Tail and A Drunk Santa...

My favorite Christmas memory growing up was drinking cola de mono and eating pan de pascua; the Chilean version of eggnog and fruitcake.  This eggnog and fruitcake today are popularly eaten and drunk across Chile, with commercially made products sold everywhere.  For me, it is still a little part of Chile that celebrates Christmas with me every year.

Cola de mono literally means monkey's tail and is a cold, sweet, milky frothy drink; a mix between a traditional eggnog and a White Russian.  There are various stories as to where the name is thought to have come from; after all, what does a monkey's tail have to do with a milky Christmas brew?  The first one being, that the name stuck after the drink was distributed in recycled Spanish Anís del Mono liqueur bottles, whose label displayed an illustration of a monkey with a long tail on the front of it.

But the best one I have heard and apparently the most popular and documented one makes reference to the Colt pistol owned by Pedro Montt, who was president of Chile from 1906–1910.  During an evening party, Montt preparing to leave asked for his revolver, a Colt, however, he found that it had been misplaced.  After searching some time and with no luck in finding it, his friends urged him to continue on with the festivities.  Eventually, Montt and the guests ended up drinking all the wine.  Still wanting more, they mixed a pitcher with milk, coffee, aguardiente (a distilled grape spirit, similar to brandy) and the concoction ended up being a success being comically called 'Colt de Montt,' honouring the hidden gun.  The drink has grown in popularity and through the years the name has gone from “cola de mono” to a phonetically corrupt, “colemono.'

I remember growing up, we usually devoted a whole day to boiling milk with Christmas spices, sugar, coffee and some type of alcohol (aguardiente wasn't always readily available back then). There were always two kinds of cola de mono that were made in my house; one with alcohol and one without for us youngsters.   My father would always give me a cautionary speech about drinking the ones with alcohol;  'mijita, cuidado con el trago' (dear, careful with the alcohol), but me and my sister would find a way to swipe a secret swig just to 'try it out.'  The thing with this drink is that it is deceiving, it's sweet, spicy taste makes you wanting one after another and before you know it and stand up, it hits you!  So my questioning when my dad would leave a glass of cola de mono on Christmas eve for 'Santa'.  Wasn't it inappropriate for Santa to get drunk?

I think for many of us living in Canada and far away from our native home, the aromas of cola de mono and pan de pascua are deeply imprinted into our memories and reminded us of those celebrating Christmas far away from us.  For me, there is nothing like making these in the comfort of your home and sharing with family and friends while enjoying a little part of Chile during the holiday season.

For anyone interested in the recipes for Cola de Mono click here.

Feliz Navidad and thank you for taking the time to read my blog...