Cacique Guaro
| Type | Guaro |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Fábrica Nacional de Licores |
| Distributor | FANAL |
| Country of origin | Costa Rica |
| Introduced | 1853 |
| Alcohol by volume | 30% |
| Proof (US) | 60 |
| Colour | Clear |
| Website | www.fanal.co.cr |
Cacique Guaro is a brand of guaro produced by Fábrica Nacional de Licores or "FANAL". The Cacique Guaro is a sugar cane liquor of high purity and is the best selling distilled spirit in Costa Rica.[1] It is known as "Costa Rica liqueur". As it has a neutral taste, guaro can be consumed pure or combined with any natural or artificial mixing.
History
Since its inception in 1853 the National Liquor Factory sold the liquor, a product of sugar cane. However, starting in 1980 "Cacique" is used to refer to the liquors of the Ticos. Since 1853 FANAL produces guaro that sold in barrels by then called Liquor Agencies. In turn, they placed it in bars and other outlets in the same containers that clients provide. The alcohol content of liquor was 35°.
Since August 1980, FANAL has marketed the liquor in a one-liter glass bottle with a low ABV of 30° and since then is sold under the name of Guaro Cacique. Cacique is also available in 750 ml (glass) and 365 ml (plastic) bottles often called "Pacha".
FANAL produces and uses in its beverages a licensed ethyl alcohol that is intended for drinking.
Fanal produces two guaro products known as Guaro Cacique (with a red label) and Cacique Superior (with black label); the latter of which is 35 abv/70 proof. Its design is based on high purity rubbing alcohol and subjected to further purification, in which the liquor is filtered through activated carbon to increase its purity and perfect its aroma.
Origin of the name
The name Cacique reflects the combination of several situations:
- An alcoholic beverage rooted in the idiosyncrasies of the Ticos that main raw material is sugar cane,
- An excavation made by the National Museum discovered the largest known indigenous settlement to date in the canton of Grecia, that was between 1977 and 1980 on land currently occupied by FANAL.
- The liquor was and remains the leading product in FANAL bill and as such, was associated with the name Cacique, that the indigenous society refers to the leader of the tribe.
- Sometimes it called "Cuatro Plumas", the four feathered Indian Cacique on the label.[2]
- Even though the real name is "Guaro Cacique", people in Costa Rica just call it "Guaro" or " Cacicón".
Production process
The process of making the product begins with the raw material called pre-processed alcohol, which FANAL receives mainly from mills in the area of Guanacaste. The alcohol passes into the distillate area where it begins preparation, through columns whose primary function is to purify vinasse. Once purified, the alcohol is passed to the storage area.[3]
Bottling
- The end product is received in the machines that handle fillers to complete the filling.
- A capping machine places caps on the containers.
- A machine adheres the label.
- A machine deposits the glass or plastic bottles in plastic crates or cardboard for referral to the storage and shipping area.
Storage and Shipping
The final product is stored in two warehouses called "Liquor Fine Winery" and "Common Spirits Cellar", before being released for customer trucks or FANAL's own, which will transport the finished product to customer proprietary or vendors.
Types
- Cacique Guaro (bottled with a red label, 365 ml (popularly called "Pacha"), 750 ml and 1000)
- Superior Cacique Guaro (bottled with a black label, 365 ml and 750 ml only)
- Roncolorado (bottled with a yellow label, 365 ml and 1000)
