The Cook Pablo Gonzalez-Conejero, winner of two Michelin stars, has made a commitment to the Zamora Company group, owner of 43 liquor, to transform the old Chamber of Commerce of Cartagena (Murcia) into a gastronomic space. The distillate will have a prominent place in the culinary complex, presiding over a coffee interpretation center. There we will find a workshop to learn how to combine this drink. But what is Licor 43 and what are its ingredients? We tell you everything!
What role does Licor 43 play?
The multinational and the chef anticipate that the result will see the light in the second half of 2021, with a restaurant and exhibition areas. Although there are still many details to be specified, the gastronomy is based on typical products of the Region of Murcia, which customers can purchase and taste right there.
El 43 liquor it is a golden looking drink, characterized by its sweetness, which contains 31% alcohol by volume. Its history begins in the year 209 BC, when the Roman Empire invaded the Carthaginian city of qart hadash and founded Carthago nova, current Cartagena. The Romans discover the liqueur mirabilis, a drink with a golden appearance, composed of herbs and aromatic Mediterranean fruits. The drink became popular, so the Romans prohibited both its consumption and production, so that it would not affect them in their battle against the Carthaginians.
Centuries later, in 1924, Diego Zamora began to elaborate the 43 liquor in a traditional way in its distilleries in Cartagena. This distillate is inspired by liqueur mirabilis to make your recipe for 43 ingredients, hence the reason for its name. In 1946,, the Zamora family began to distribute the first units of Licor 43.
In a few years it consolidated itself as a quality brand, betting on advertising in audiovisual media, which stimulated its unstoppable growth. The next step was to launch the drink abroad, already in the 60s. Growth is unquestionable, since it is commercialized in the five continents today.
Who is behind the company?
The company that manages the merchandise and trade of Licor 43 is Zamora Company, a fully family-owned company. What began as a small family business has become a company with a turnover of more than 200 million in 2019, 6% more than the previous year. The Zamora also own other brands of spirits such as Martin Miller's Gin, Mar de Frades, Ramón Bilbao or Thunder Bitch.
45% of the company's income comes from international markets, a sign of the great growth and expansion of the brand abroad. Licor 43 has grown by 5% compared to 2018. The main objective of the company is to establish its product as one of the four best brands of spirits in the world.
As elaborated?
The recipe for Licor 43 is your best kept secret. The formula offered by the company on its website indicates the following:
The first step in producing this drink is a careful selection of botanical and citrus ingredients Mediterranean. Afterwards, the ingredients are macerated in a mixture of water and alcohol, it can be separately or in groups. The next step is to gather all the ingredients in a exact amounts (which, of course, are unknown). The mixture rests in stainless steel tanks. The time varies between 6 and 9 months, depending on what the liquor expert deems appropriate.
The next step is the cold treatment, keeping the liquor at about -5ºC, to obtain a smooth finish. By last, the liquid seeps to remove any residue and achieve the characteristic golden and shiny appearance. Nothing is known about specific ingredients or specific proportions. So trying to imitate this drink is practically impossible.
How to combine Licor 43
Licor 43 is the drink ideal for mixed drinks due to its sweet taste, combined with both coffees and soft drinks. One of the most famous recipes is the asian coffee, popular in his hometown. Some of the most famous combinations are the following:
- shaken espresso: pour 50 ml of Licor 43 into a shaker, add a very hot espresso and a little ice; Shake the mixture and strain into a glass filled with ice.
- Identation: Fill a third of a jar with cubes and fruits such as orange, apple or peach; add red wine (250 ml) and orange soda (250 ml); add 125 ml of Licor 43 and 40 ml of Brandy; Stir a little and it's ready to serve.
- Pornstar: fill a cocktail shaker with 50 ml of Licor 43, 20 ml of passion fruit liqueur, 30 ml of vodka and 20 ml of lemon juice; Shake for a few seconds and pour into a martini glass. If you want, you can whisk the mixture with an egg white for a creamier result.
Experience 43
The company offers a Guided tour of the museum and factory of Licor 43. It is a thematic space in which visitors learn about the origin of the drink and its evolution, as well as tour the production plants. The itinerary ends at tasting room, where attendees can try the different cocktails and mixed drinks of the brand.
We are very happy to share this news with you!
We open the reservations again to enjoy the # Experience43. And we have a lot of news!
Do you want more information? Go into: https://t.co/spDBlWqNoP pic.twitter.com/sBNUTRiipe
- Licor 43 Spain (@ licor43_es) June 30, 2020
So if you want to know more about 43 liquor, its history and elaboration, you cannot miss this route and other workshops that you can find in Costumer 43. But, if it is impossible for you to scroll to Cartagena, you can always try to make one of its most popular combinations.
