Beverage of the Week (BOW)
Bacan 24 & 29 Guaro Gift Set
Product Story
Forget what you think you know about Aguardiente, as Bacan is flipping the script. Aguardiente, which translates to “fire water,” is a rustic spirit that originally hails from the Iberian peninsula and is popular throughout South America. In Colombia, Aguardiente is commonly called Guaro. Guaro is made from fermented sugarcane juice with the addition of anise. It’s most often consumed as a shot in social settings. Bacan, which translates to “cool” or “awesome,” is an elevated version of traditional fire water. It is made with first-press organic sugarcane juice, organic Spanish star anise, and water. Bacan Guaros is presented in two expressions that differ only by their proof strengths — just five degrees of alcohol-by-volume (abv) separates them. The Bacan 24 (bottled at 24% abv) is pleasingly, lightly sweet with bright anise and citrus notes. The Bacan 29 (bottled at 29% abv) is a bit earthy, peppery, and herbal. Examining the contrast of these two lovely spirits is as fun as it is educational. The Bacan Guaros are terrific served as a traditional shot, but they are also great in cocktails, pairing well with citrus and tropical fruits — they love a bubbly addition like soda or sparkling wine.
Brand Story
Bacan is the creation of Colombian entrepreneur and media personality Diana Espinosa March and her Italian/Spanish husband, brand architect Ricardo March. “Our aim was to elevate the Aguardiente experience and introduce Bacan to a discerning audience that may have never encountered this unique spirit. It is one of my most cherished traditions from Colombia, and I believe that it deserves to be appreciated globally,” says Diana. The couple insisted on the very best ingredients, and over a period of years, they have perfected the process to create the spirit that we see and taste today. We look forward to any future projects from the Bacan creators.
Tasting Note
Bacan 24 — Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is filled with the scents of star anise and slate with marzipan and hints of chamomile. The palate echoes the nose, delivering a dry, anise-focused core with generous flavors of black licorice, blanched almonds, and citrus zest accents. Medium-bodied and ideally balanced with dry spice and mineral notes. Bacan 29 — Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose offers layered scents of star anise and fresh fennel fronds with accents of pine, grapefruit zest, and earth. The palate fully agrees with the nose, delivering a dry, anise, and graphite-focused core with notes of black pepper, flint, and hints of galangal. Medium-bodied and ideally balanced with dry spice and earth notes.
How to Serve
Sip as a shot served at room temperature or chilled. The Bacan Guaro is also great in cocktails, pairing well with citrus and tropical fruits — they love a bubbly addition like soda or sparkling wine.
Price: $ 54.99
BevX Review: http://bevx.com/spirit-detail/?id=2007 and http://bevx.com/spirit-detail/?id=2008
