Aguardiente is Colombia's national spirit: a clear, anise-flavored spirit distilled from sugarcane, usually bottled between 24% and 29% alcohol, and drunk neat in small glasses at celebrations across the country. At Del Mesa Liquor, our family-owned San Diego, California store, the aguardiente shelf runs from the sugar-free Antioqueno that leads Colombian sales to a modern organic Bacan — and every bottle below is in stock and available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
The Three Classic Names, Side by Side
Three regional houses define the category. Antioqueno Aguardiente Sin Azucar ($26.99) comes from the Fabrica de Licores de Antioquia in Itagui — Colombia's best-selling aguardiente in its sugar-free expression, extra-neutral sugarcane alcohol with natural anise essences at 29% ABV (58 proof). From the Valle del Cauca, the state-owned Industria de Licores del Valle (founded 1921) bottles two contrasting styles: the traditional Blanco del Valle Aguardiente ($23.99), whose current sin azucar formulation carries 85% less sugar at the same 29% ABV, and the party-format Blanco del Valle Fiesta 1L ($24.99), a softer 24% ABV (48 proof) liter that took Gold at the International Spirits Challenge 2022. Cristal Aguardiente Tradicional ($24.99), from the Industria Licorera de Caldas in Manizales, is the classic full-strength style at 29% ABV, blended with purified water from the Nevado del Ruiz volcano and European anise essence.
The Bottles in Stock
- Blanco del Valle Aguardiente — $23.99. 750mL, 29% ABV (58 proof). The Valle's dry, smooth sugar-reduced flagship — anise-forward and clean.
- Blanco del Valle Aguardiente Fiesta 1L — $24.99. 1 liter, 24% ABV (48 proof), no added sugar. The lower-strength, larger-format bottle built for long celebrations.
- Cristal Aguardiente Tradicional — $24.99. 750mL, 29% ABV (58 proof). The traditional Caldas recipe — sweet-edged, unmistakably anise, a Superior Taste Award winner in Brussels.
- Antioqueno Aguardiente Sin Azucar (No Sugar) 58 Proof — $26.99. 750mL, 29% ABV. Colombia's best seller, sugar-free: dry, colorless and crisp.
- Bacan Aguardiente — $59.99. The premium modern take: organic first-press sugarcane and organic star anise, no added sugar, vegan and kosher, made to sip neat, over ice or in cocktails like an Anise Mule.
Sugar-Free vs Traditional — and How It Is Drunk
Traditional aguardiente carries a little sugar alongside the anise, which rounds the edges; sin azucar (sugar-free) versions like the Antioqueno and the current Blanco del Valle run drier and leaner, with the anise standing more clearly. In Colombia it is drunk neat, well chilled, in small shot-sized glasses passed around a table — never rushed, always social — and increasingly in highballs with soda or in cocktails. New to cane spirits generally? Our estate rum guide covers aguardiente's sugarcane cousins, and the full range sits on the Del Mesa blog index alongside our other category guides. Shipping details are on our shipping and returns page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is aguardiente?
Aguardiente is a clear, anise-flavored spirit distilled from sugarcane — Colombia's national drink. The name means "firewater." It is made from extra-neutral sugarcane alcohol blended with natural anise essences and water, and it is not aged in oak, so it pours completely clear.
What is the alcohol percentage of aguardiente?
Most Colombian aguardiente is bottled between 24% and 29% ABV (48 to 58 proof). The full-strength classics — Antioqueno Sin Azucar, Blanco del Valle and Cristal Tradicional — are 29% ABV, while the Blanco del Valle Fiesta 1L is a softer 24% ABV.
What is the difference between sugar-free and traditional aguardiente?
Traditional aguardiente includes sugar in the recipe, giving a slightly sweeter, rounder sip. Sugar-free (sin azucar) versions — such as Antioqueno Sin Azucar and the current Blanco del Valle, which has 85% less sugar — taste drier and cleaner, with the anise flavor more pronounced. Both are the same strength; only the sweetness changes.
How do you drink aguardiente?
In Colombia, aguardiente is served neat and well chilled in small glasses, shared socially at parties and celebrations. It is also excellent over ice, lengthened with soda water, or in cocktails — the modern Bacan expression was designed for serves like an Anise Mule or a simple soda highball.
Where can I buy aguardiente online?
Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, California stocks Antioqueno, Blanco del Valle, Cristal and Bacan aguardiente, all available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor with nationwide shipping where permitted.