Drink and be merry

Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant drank the big time June 1.

The biggest Sangria drink in the world, that is.

The Tampa-based chain, with six locations statewide, set a Guinness World Record when it mixed the world's largest Sangria during a daylong event. Bartenders used more than 750 bottles of wine, the company says, and more than 500 pounds of fruit. After some brandy, triple sec and simple syrup, the concoction weighed more than a ton.

Sangria comes in red, white or sparkling varieties. It's made up mostly of wine, brandy and chopped fruit like oranges, apples and peaches. It's especially popular in Spain, Portugal and Argentina, the company says in a statement, and Ceviche served more than 500,000 glasses of house-made Sangria last year. “Our secret Sangria recipe is a legendary guest favorite at Ceviche, so setting the official title not only seemed appropriate, but a great way to kick off the summer,” Ceviche CEO Joe Orsino says in the release.

The event, called Sangria Fest, was held at Ceviche Tampa. More than 700 people attended the party, the company says, and $1,500 from the proceeds were donated to American Red Cross relief efforts in tornado-wrecked Oklahoma. Ceviche has locations in Clearwater, Delray Beach, Orlando, Sarasota, St. Petersburg and Tampa.