Licor 43 Horchata is a fusion of Licor 43 Original and traditional Horchata from Valencia. A vegan, dairy-free, light and creamy Spanish liqueur with delicate, sweet Mediterranean flavours of tiger nut, spice and citrus.
Licor 43 Horchata is not a cream liqueur; it contains no cream. Yet in spite of this, it is wonderfully creamy in texture, just like the iconic Spanish drink horchata. Conventional cream liqueurs are heavy and filling, but with the absence of cream, Licor 43 Horchata is light, refreshing and easy to drink.
A nut that is not a nut
Traditionally, Horchata is an iconic Spanish drink made from the tiger nuts, blended with sugar and sometimes flavoured with cinnamon and citrus. Its main ingredient, tiger nut is not a nut at all, rather it is the root of the Cyperus Esculentus plant. The tiger nut is one of the earliest cultivated foods and it has been a highly prized ingredient since ancient Egypt.
The Arabs brought the plant to Spain across the North of Africa in the eighth century A.D. where it found its heartland in Valencia with the perfect sun and soil combination for its cultivation.
Harvested twice a year, the tiger nut is dug out, washed and air-dried for up to three months. When dry, the tubers look like a “nut” and have a sweet nutty flavour. With a flavour reminiscent of both coconut and almond, they earn their name from a tiger-striped exterior. They can be eaten freshly dug out of the ground, or roasted, boiled, or juiced. The tiger nut is considered a “superfood” with multiple beneficial properties.
Today, the highest quality tiger nuts are still grown in Valencia. That’s why the classic, traditional horchata from Valencia is the inspiration behind Licor 43 Horchata.
According to legend, the name horchata was born when a young woman offered a sweet white beverage to King James I. He delightedly asked: “What is this?” When she answered it was tiger nut milk, the king exclaimed: “This isn’t milk; it’s gold, sweetheart!” – “Gold, sweetheart” translating to “or, xata” in Valencian.
Licor 43 Horchata is a creamy, light and surprisingly refreshing liqueur with a complex aroma. One can appreciate the characteristic taste of the tiger nut in harmony with rich spice and citrus aromas and a subtle floral finish.
Unique production method
First, they select the ingredients. The botanical and Mediterranean citrus characteristics of Licor 43 Original are fused with Valencian horchata of the highest quality. Together with the rest of the ingredients, they result in this delicious liqueur. Selection is followed by maceration. To extract all the flavour and aromas, they let some of their ingredients macerate in a blend of water and alcohol. These ingredients are macerated either separately or in groups of ingredients. The following step is fusion. In this step, they assemble all the ingredients in the exact proportion to achieve the perfect fusion among them. Finally, they apply a homogenization process to the fusion to achieve a light, silky texture.
Dairy-Free and Vegan products are increasingly valued and in more demand from consumers of spirits in general, and creams in particular, possessing a perceived higher quality and a higher expected price. Licor 43 Horchata is a new, light, creamy, delicious and unique liquid which is completely lactose-free (contains no milk or animal milk by-products) and suitable for vegans, maintaining an organoleptic profile.
Licor 43 Horchata is 16% ABV and we recommend serving it chilled (between approximately 0ºC and 5ºC), and poured over ice. Simple and delicious!
For Licor 43 Horchata recipes click here.
