Licorera Ancho Reyes y CIA

Licorera Ancho Reyes y CIA, established in 2012, is renowned for its chile liqueurs, not whiskey. The brand's origins are deeply rooted in Puebla, Mexico, drawing inspiration from a 1927 family recipe for a traditional "menjurje" (homemade concoction). This historical recipe emerged during Mexico's post-revolutionary era, a time of artistic and intellectual ferment, where unique blends of native ingredients and local spirits were popular in cantinas and cabarets.

Licorera Ancho Reyes y CIA specializes in handcrafted chile liqueurs, including Ancho Reyes Original, Ancho Reyes Verde, and Ancho Reyes Barrica. The production process is meticulous, beginning with hand-selected ancho and poblano chiles sourced from generational Mexican farmers in Puebla's fertile volcanic soil. For Ancho Reyes Original, mature red ancho chiles are sun-dried for 15 to 20 days, while for Ancho Reyes Verde, early-harvest green poblano chiles are fire-roasted. These prepared chiles are then macerated for six months in small vats of neutral cane spirit distilled in Veracruz, Mexico, allowing their complex flavors to fully extract.

What makes Licorera Ancho Reyes y CIA distinctive is its dedication to preserving and reinterpreting the traditional Mexican chile liqueur. It is recognized as the original ancho chile liqueur, embodying a unique balance of heat, sweetness, smoke, and spice. The brand's commitment to using native chiles and time-honored techniques from 1920s Puebla ensures an authentic and complex character in its liqueurs. The resulting liqueurs are versatile, suitable for sipping neat or as a key ingredient in cocktails, adding an authentic Mexican spice to drinks like Margaritas, Old Fashioneds, and Daiquiris.

Among its notable expressions are the flagship Ancho Reyes Original, known for its rich, smoky, and sweet profile from sun-dried red ancho chiles, and Ancho Reyes Verde, which offers a fresh, bright, and herbaceous character from fire-roasted green poblano chiles. The brand also offers Ancho Reyes Barrica, an original ancho spirit aged for two years in American White Oak casks. All three variants have received critical acclaim, notably winning Double Gold with 98 points at the San Francisco Wine and Spirits Competition. Licorera Ancho Reyes y CIA is a division of Casa Lumbre Spirits and is distributed internationally by Campari Group, solidifying its role as a key player in the chile liqueur category.