Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur (75cl, 40%)

A chile liqueur made in Puebla, Mexico from ancho chiles: ripe poblanos left on the plant to redden, then sun-dried for 15 to 20 days. The dried chiles are sliced by hand and macerated for six months in neutral cane spirit from Veracruz, then hand-blended, rested, and bottled and labelled by hand. Inspired by a 1927 Puebla cantina recipe, it is bottled at 40% ABV in a 750 ml bottle. The brand was launched in 2013 by Casa Lumbre. The nose shows dried chile, cinnamon, cacao and tamarind with herbal depth. The palate opens sweet, then warms, with cacao, apple, almond and plum under a slow-building chile heat. The finish is long, velvety and gently smoky.