Origin and production
Licor 43 Original is made in Cartagena from a closely guarded Zamora family recipe. Its name refers to the 43 natural ingredients in the blend, which draws on Mediterranean citrus fruits, botanicals and spices to create the liqueur's distinctive balance of freshness, perfume and sweetness.
The exact formula and production sequence remain confidential, with careful control of time and temperature central to bringing the separate aromatic elements together. Citrus provides lift, coriander contributes spice, and vanilla gives the finished liqueur its rounded, creamy signature.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Radiant golden amber with exceptional clarity and a warm, luminous sheen.
Nose
Sweet orange and lemon peel are layered with orange blossom, vanilla and gentle herbal notes, followed by coriander, nutmeg and a suggestion of ripe fruit.
Palate
Smooth and generously sweet, opening with bright citrus before moving into creamy vanilla and soft spice. A fine botanical bitterness and light astringency keep the texture from feeling heavy, leaving a long finish of blossom, fruit and warm vanilla.
Serving suggestions
Enjoy well chilled, over ice, or shaken with espresso for a classic Carajillo 43. It also works in an affogato, with tonic and citrus, or as a measured vanilla-spice element in rum and coffee cocktails.
Background story
Diego, Ángel and Josefina Zamora created Licor 43 in Cartagena in 1946, establishing a family business around the new recipe. Production has remained closely associated with the Mediterranean port city, where the company continues to protect the details of the blend.
The liqueur's combination of citrus, vanilla and spice has made it unusually adaptable: recognisable when served simply, yet able to integrate with coffee, cream, fruit and aged spirits. That versatility, rather than sweetness alone, explains its enduring place in Spanish bars and international cocktail culture.
