43 reasons to get good and liquored up tonight
Written: Nov 09 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Smooth, rich, delicious
Cons: Too sweet for it's own good sometimes
The Bottom Line: -
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| carnut2k4's Full Review: Licor 43 |
Now here’s a spirit with some history…..
Some Background
Way back in the ninth century B.C.(E.) some Phoenician traders founded the city and state of Carthage in the southwestern corner of the Mediterranean. A thriving culture emerged and of all their contributions to the world, today we’ll focus solely on their propensity for making fine liqueurs. The Carthaginians were overrun by the usual smattering of Greeks and Romans and Goths and Moors and Muslims and Christians. Through the millennia the people of the Iberian Peninsula were overrun and saved and slaughtered and expelled, but always clung to their unique liqueurs no matter what else was going on – even through the Inquisition. One of these ancient recipes survived and ingratiated itself into the Spanish culture and was even present on those trans-Atlantic voyages of Columbus et al right along side the old yo-ho-ho and a bottle of Rum. This was a special recipe strictly guarded by the producers of the elixir. It contained forty three different citrus fruits, aromatic plants and other ingredients. It came to be known simply as ‘Cuarenta Y Tres’. Today it is made by Diego Zamora S.A. in Spain. This age old liqueur goes by the name ’Licor 43’ and is available in over sixty countries throughout the world and just about every decent liquor store here in the good ol US of A.
Packaging
A clear glass bottle cradles 750 ml of this sweet, sweet liqueur. The marbleized red label offers very little information. The name, maker, mandatory advice about not getting liquored up if yer knocked up and the ABV, which comes in at a warming 31%.
The Little Book Thing
A little mini menu book is dangling from the neck of the bottle. No less than twenty-two drink recipes are in this tiny pamphlet – all broken down into categories. You’ll get enough; Tall Drink, Frozen Drink, Hot Drink, Cocktail and Shooter recipes to kick off any party. I drink mine straight up, thank you very much.
The Pour
I think of this only as an after dinner liqueur and use an appropriate liqueur glass to drink it. It pours a medium honey amber color. Perfectly clear, no haze to it. Viscosity is high enough so that it leaves a generous coating on the side of the glass as you swirl it around.
The Nose
Very sweet vanilla is the dominant smell, notes of coconut (as in coconut flavored rum) are next in line. Some vague citrus notes and finally, alcohol. Not a strong alcohol smell – a sweet and musty alcohol aroma which reminds me of whiskey a little bit. The nose tells you this will warm you up when you drink it. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
The Taste
Sweet, thick vanilla mostly. Just like your nose promised you. A tinge of butterscotch. I pick up a little of that Jack Danielsish alcohol taste. It’s incredibly smooth and warming as you drink it. The alcohol burns through in the end notes somewhat, but not offensively. The sweetness remains on the lips long after the glass is empty. A second glass is a rarity. It’s just too sweet.
Advice
I appreciate this straight up as an after dinner cordial. It’s great in coffee too. This is the perfect sipping liqueur to curl up with on a nippy evening – it will chase the chill right out of you. Tonight in Florida it’s a brisk seventy one degrees. For me that’s cold enough to warm up with some 43.
www.licor43.com
Recommended:
Yes
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carnut2k4
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Member: Jason
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Muscle Shoals has got The Swampers
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