Aguardiente, the national alcoholic beverage of Colombia, is lauded for its superior taste and smooth finish.
This drink has been a part of Latin American culture for many years and remains significant in Latin American cultures today.
Aguardiente, or firewater, is a Colombian liquor made from sugar cane and anise. It has a high alcohol percentage relative to other liquors and tastes like black licorice. It is most often enjoyed at celebrations and served straight, but it can also be had with mixed drinks and on any occasion.
Keep on reading to learn more about aguardiente.
This article will discuss the origins of the beverage and how it is made, and what to mix it with at home.
What Is Aguardiente?
Aguardiente, which translates to “firewater,” is a strong liquor made from anise and sugar cane.
It has a black licorice-inspired taste, crispy finish, and a creamy feel, similar to rum, but stronger and less sweet.
It pairs well with grilled meat, hard cheese, tropical fruits, and fried bread and is usually served straight, without a mixer.
Aguardiente is popular across South America and is the national alcoholic beverage of Colombia.
Interestingly, due to liquor laws in Colombia, it is sometimes illegal to transport bottles of aguardiente from one region to the next, leading to differences in the liquor available in neighboring cities.
You’ll also find different aguardiente varieties from country to country as you move across South and Central America.
In Guatemala, for example, you’ll find many different flavors of aguardiente, from hibiscus to tamarind.
But in Brazil, you’ll find that only a narrow range of related liquors can be labeled aguardiente due to national law.
Other Drinks Similar to Aguardiente
Aguardiente is quite possibly the most popular drink in Colombia, evidenced by its status as the national alcoholic beverage of the country.
However, there are close competitors. In addition to rum and beer, there are two classic South American drinks that come close to aguardiente in reputation: refajo and chicha.
Refajo is made by combining beer with Colombian soda, a drink similar to cream soda.
This drink is especially popular for an afternoon barbecue or a Sunday lunch.
Chicha is a drink native to the indigenous people of the Andes, made from fermented corn and either sugar or honey.
It is more difficult to find than aguardiente, served only in rural areas and select bars and restaurants of major cities.
History of Aguardiente
Aguardiente is believed to have been first created by the Quechua Indians, who prized an alcoholic drink called guarapo for its bittersweet taste and warming effects.
The Spanish adopted this drink when they arrived on the continent and adapted it into different forms.
What exists today differs from the original guarapo but shares an essential commonality.
Latin countries have debated the definition of aguardiente for years, each with their own take on the traditional beverage.
In 1996, Brazil passed a national law stating that aguardiente is any spirit with an ABV between 38% and 54% made with simple sugarcane fermentation and distillation.
It specifies that sugarcane must have already been used in sugar production.
Aguardiente was first brought to the United States by Moises Mendal, founder of Cumbé, a liquor company named for a popular Colombian dance of the 1940s.
Mendal partnered with Fernando Botero, a master distiller who spent most of his career with the largest alcohol manufacturer in Colombia.
Botero is known for his strong association with aguardiente, not only for his 24 years in the industry but also for hosting an aguardiente tasting so large that they earned a Guinness World Record.
How To Make Aguardiente
Aguardiente, like vodka, can be made from many different bases, from fruits to grains to root vegetables.
All of the following can be used as a base for aguardiente:
- Oranges
- Grapes
- Bananas
- Apples
- Millet
- Barley
- Rice
- Beets
- Manioc or Cassava
- Potatoes
However, the truest aguardiente uses sugarcane as its base.
There remains a debate about whether or not spirits flavored with anise should be considered aguardiente when they are not based on sugarcane.
Aguardiente is extremely difficult to make at home, but several noteworthy distilleries in Colombia produce aguardiente for an international market.
- The Liquors and Spirits Factory of Antioquia creates some of the highest quality alcoholic spirits in the world, including an authentic aguardiente, the Aguardiente Real 1493. This drink is made with pure alcohol, the essence of anise, and water, with no extra sugar. It is filtered with coconut-activated carbons for clarity and transparency, then left to rest for years in oak barrels.
- The Cundinamarca Liquor Company of Colombia creates a similarly traditional aguardiente called Nectar Premium that is soft, sweet, and spicy, also with no added sugar. A fine liquor, it is recommended that their Nectar Premium be enjoyed with a good cigar.
- Industria Colombiana de Licores creates the Puro Colombia Aguardiente, a fine liquor with a sweet aroma and characteristic flavor. Puro Colombia Aguardiente is popular worldwide, with its transparent color and hints of honey and sugarcane. This liquor is noted as ideal for pairing with dark chocolate sweets.
Many popular latin drinks use aguardiente to put a spin on their traditional ingredients.
Aguardiente Sour
One popular drink to make with the Colombian alcohol is the Aguardiente Sour, a Colombian drink that combines the liquor with orange juice, sugar, egg whites, and lime juice.
To make, combine the with the following ratio according to these instructions:
- 6 oz. aguardiente
- 2 oz. lime juice
- 4 oz. orange juice
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- 1 egg white, mixed
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake until combined and frothy. Strain into serving glass.
Canelazo
Another popular drink is Canelazo, a hot drink made with aguapanela (a sugar cane drink), cinnamon, aguardiente, and hervido (boiled fruit juice):
- 2 cups aguapanela
- 1 cup aguardiente
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- ½ teaspoon lime juice
- Sugar, for serving
To make Canelazo:
- Pour the aguapanela, aguardiente, cinnamon, and lime juice into a pot, and simmer over medium heat for about 7 minutes, without letting it boil.
- Place sugar in a shallow dish. Moisten the rim of a small mug with a damp paper towel, then dip in the sugar.
- Fill the cup with canelazo and serve.
Aguardiente Mojitos
A take on the traditional mojito, this recipe combines the aguardiente anise flavor with spearmint for a fresh concoction:
- 4 limes
- Spearmint
- 4 tbsp white sugar
- 4 shots Aguardiente
- Seltzer water
- Ice
To make Aguardiente Mojitos:
- Cut limes into wedges.
- Divide lime, spearmint, and sugar into four glasses.
- Crush ingredients together with a wooden spoon.
- Add one shot of aguardiente.
- Add ice.
- Add seltzer water.
- Decorate with spearmint.
Guarapo Mule
See this Colombian take on a Moscow Mule:
- 2 oz. Aguardiente
- ½ oz. Strega liquor
- ½ oz. lime juice
- 4 ½ oz. ginger beer
- Cinnamon (for garnish)
- Crystallized ginger (for garnish)
To make Guarapo Mule:
- Pour everything into a metal mug.
- Add crushed ice.
- Stir.
- Garnish with lime, grated cinnamon, and crystallized ginger.
Conclusion
Aguardiente is a Colombian liquor made from sugar cane, fermented and distilled, then filtered with activated carbon to create a clear look and smooth finish.
It is most often enjoyed on its own but can also make some traditional mixed drinks.
Aguardiente is now available in international markets despite remaining most popular in Colombia.
Sources
- The Unconventional Route: Colombian Aguardiente: 9 Surprising Facts About this Infamous Liquor
- Happy Hour City: What is Aguardiente?
- Crown Wine and Spirits: Antioqueno Aguardiente
- My Colombian Recipes: Aguardiente Sour
- My Colombian Recipes: Aguardiente Antioqueno
- Men’s Journal: Why You Should Be Drinking Aguardiente, Colombia’s National Liquor
- Azure Azure: Colombian Aguardiente: The Delicate Legacy of the Quechua
- My Colombian Recipes: Canelazo (Sugar Cane and Cinnamon Hot Drink)
- Culture Trip: The Story of Quetzalteca, Guatemala’s Classic Aguardiente
- Latin Post: Colombian Aguardiente, the Festive ‘Fire Water’ that Could Burn a Hole Right through Your Navidad
- Vogue: Why Colombia’s National Drink Could Be Your New Summer Go-To
- Sweet Paul Mag: Aguardiente Mojitos
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Jorge Garcia is the founder of AmigoFoods, where he has spent over 20 years helping readers discover authentic Latin American and Spanish cuisine. Raised in a Cuban-American household, Jorge learned to cook at the hands of his mother and grandmother, carrying forward generations of family recipes. That heritage, backed by his family’s four-generation history in the Latin food industry, inspired him to launch AmigoFoods in 2003. With more than 1,000 published articles on recipes, ingredients, and food culture, Jorge’s mission is simple: make authentic Latin cooking approachable for home cooks everywhere while honoring the traditions behind every dish.