Welcome to 2021 people of the internet!  What will this year bring I wonder?  I’m tempted to say that it can only be better than 2020,  However, that seems a bit too much like waving a red flag in front of a particularly vindictive bull that tells me to hold it’s beer even as it is pawing the ground and getting ready to charge. So, let’s swiftly change the subject….hmmm…speaking of alcohol….this is the Evita!

The Evita was my cocktail of choice for NYE and a very good choice it was.  It has the fruity sweet-sour flavour that I love.  And the colours  –  acid lime green with a flash of orange from the garnish are like a neon version of the more traditional deep green and red of Christmas.  Kind of festive edgy if you will. Or 1970’s chic if you won’t.

Evita – The Cocktail

The Evita cocktail contains vodka, melon liqueur, lime and orange juice.  You can find the recipe here.  There is another cocktail called the Eva Peron which has very different ingredients so make sure you get the right one if you want to make it.  Which you should because it is a delightful little tipple!

Evita  – The Woman

Truth be told until I started researching for this cocktail did not know all that much about Eva Peron aka Evita.  This is what I knew:

• She was the wife of the Argentinian president
• There was a musical written about her which includes the song Don’t Cry for me Argentina
• Madonna played her in the film version of the musical
• She was very glamourous and wore gorgeous clothes
• I cannot write the name Eva Peron without first writing the name Eva Person and having to correct it.

What I did not know:

• María Eva Duarte met Colonel Juan Peron in 1944 and married him in 1945. He became President of Argentina in 1946
• During his presidency, Eva, who became known commonly as Evita worked tirelessly to help the poor people of Argentina and to give women full suffrage.
• She spoke publicly on labour rights and ran the Ministries for health and labour.
• She set up a charitable foundation dedicated to social justice and helping sick and poor Argentinians
• And set up an all-female political party.
• In 1951 she announced her candidacy for the nomination of Vice President of Argentina, an act that was hugely popular with poor and working-class people.
• She was forced to withdraw her nomination because of failing health.
• Eva Peron died of cancer in 1952.  She was 33 years old.

The Inspiration

What an amazing woman and what an absolute inspiration!  Also, what great timing because this is the time of year when I, (and many other people around the world) are setting goals and making resolutions for the New Year.

Learning about this wonderful woman’s life really made me rethink the goals I had started to set – instead of the usual save more, spend less, drink less, exercise more goals maybe this year I will try to live with some of Eva’s grace and devotion to her cause and conviction.  Why not make this the year of being strong, vocal and politically active for the causes I care about.  And if I can also have all the glamour and wear some pretty dresses that is a bonus!

So, my friends, let’s all raise a toast to Eva Peron.  May she inspire us to live our best lives in 2021!

Have a wonderful week and year ahead!