Drive-thru stores now serve cocktails to go

Oscar Sanchez is in line for a cool drink at Kans and Kegs drive-thru in Pharr.

It’s about 5 p.m. on a hot Friday, and that’s an important time to stay hydrated. For Sanchez, it’s equally important to make that drink just as hot.

Cervesas preparadas, a type of beer cocktail, are a well-known Valley staple. For years, local drive-thru convenience stores have served their own versions of the popular drink. Those have included the hangover cure, the Michelada, a drink that migrated from Mexico and contains beer, tomato juice, hot sauce, celery salt and lime. There have also been less devilish adaptations of the drink, like agua mineral preparada, which contains chili powder and lime.

On a less forgiving day, Sanchez would have grabbed the spicy and strong Michelada, but this afternoon the Pharr native has opted for something new, something lighter, and something just a bit girlier. It’s the newest drink that has migrated its way north of the border to the quaint establishment, a sample drink called Smirnoff preparada.

“I think it’s got less calories than beer,” Sanchez said as he waits for Kans and Keg’s newest drink.

Though many think of Smirnoff as a woman’s cocktail, the Smirnoff preparada kicks it up with its add-ons of chopped fruit, chili powder, lime, a handful of gummy bears and chamoy, which is a salty and spicy paste made from chile. It comes in four flavors: strawberry, grape, green apple and mango.

It is served in a Styrofoam cup with all the ingredients, minus the chamoy – that’s added later. The Smirnoff is given on the side in its bottle; the law forbids the drinks being served in an open container.

Nora Rodriguez and her husband Eduardo started Kans and Kegs, located at 208 S. I. Road, nine years ago, and have prided themselves on having the “coldest beer in town.” The drive-thru started offering the new drink in August. Nora Rodriguez first tasted the concoction at a club in Monterrey last July and instantly liked its familiar flavor.

“I liked it because it can taste like a raspa, and it can be sour and sweet,” she said.

However, Rodriguez explained that flavor isn’t the only division this drink creates.

“The Micheladas are more for guys— they’re hot and spicy—but the Smirnaoffs (preparadas) are more for the women,” explained Rodriguez. “It doesn’t taste too strong while you’re drinking them.”

But Sanchez is too thirsty to adhere to the stereotypes. He also tries to forget the acidic cruelty the chamoy and chili pepper may inflict on his insides.

“I know it’s bad for the stomach,” said Sanchez as patiently waits for the drink, which takes a few minutes to prepare. “But it looks interesting.”

IS IT LEGAL?

Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño says law enforcement views the drinks the same way it does beer. They expect the customers to act responsibly.

“It is no more of a problem than driving up to a convienence store that has a drive through and buying an 18 pack of beer,” he says.

The vendor sells the wine cooler sealed, and the customers must follow the law and not drink and drive.

Ana Villaurrutia is an intern writer for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4425.