Ancho Reyes Barrica Mexican Chile Liqueur

Ancho Reyes Barrica emerges from Puebla, Mexico, building upon a historic 1920s local "menjurje" or homemade liqueur recipe. While the Ancho Reyes brand itself was launched more recently (Original in 2012/2013 and Verde in 2017), Barrica is its first barrel-aged expression, introduced around late 2023. The brand is celebrated for its authentic chile liqueurs, and Barrica distinguishes itself by aging the original ancho chile spirit for two years in ex-bourbon American white oak casks. This process involves sun-drying hand-picked poblano chiles, macerating them in neutral cane spirit, and then barrel-aging, resulting in a spirit with notes of dulce de leche, spiced vanilla, and cinnamon alongside the characteristic chile warmth.

Ancho Reyes Barrica brings a warm, smoky sweetness with hints of dried chile, vanilla, and cinnamon, thanks to its time in ex-bourbon barrels. It adds a unique depth and gentle, spiced heat, shining in twists on classics like an Old Fashioned or Manhattan, and is also quite enjoyable sipped neat.

Ancho Reyes Barrica presents smoky, sweet dried chile aromas with vanilla and cinnamon. The palate is rich and warming, offering spicy ancho, dark chocolate, and honey, brightened by a touch of citrus. A long, satisfying finish delivers gradually building chile heat balanced by cocoa and woody spice.