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Cuban aguardiente

Cuban aguardiente

  • Spirits
  • Alcoholic

Aguardiente de caña is a sugarcane spirit, usually unaged, made by distilling fermented cane juice, syrup or molasses. In Cuba it is the cane spirit on which the Canchánchara was originally built, a drink linked to the mambises fighters of the independence wars; today most Cuban bars use white rum instead because aguardiente is hard to find. The flavour keeps a clear sugarcane character, heavier when made from molasses or cane honey. It suits simple drinks built on honey and lime.

Strength: usually 40% ABV.

Used in 1 cocktail.

Cocktails where it is essential (1)

If you don't have it

  • Cachaça great swap

    Brings a fresh, grassy cane note very close to Cuban aguardiente.

  • White rum works

    The drink becomes slightly cleaner and less grassy, but this is what most Cuban bars use today.

  • Rhum agricole works

    The drink gets a more pronounced, slightly more herbal fresh-cane character.

Sources (6)