Origin and production
Mar de Frades Original begins with aguardiente distilled from Galician grape pomace. The spirit is then macerated according to an old artisan formula with a selection of herbs and fruits, most notably the Mirabelle plum, a variety with deep roots in Galicia.
Fruit, balsamic herbs and a touch of caramelised sugar soften the distillate and give the liqueur its distinctive copper-amber colour. The aim is not to disguise the orujo base, but to integrate its warmth with ripe fruit, cinnamon and a rounded, gently sweet texture.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Coppery amber with bright orange reflections at the rim and a glossy clarity.
Nose
Mirabelle plum and fruit in syrup are layered with cinnamon leaf, dried orange and balsamic herbs, creating a rich but lifted aromatic profile.
Palate
Unctuous and sweet at first, with ripe stone fruit and caramelised notes absorbing the spirit's warmth. Herbs and cinnamon build towards the finish, leaving a persistent balance of fruit, spice and gentle bitterness.
Serving suggestions
Pour at cool room temperature or lightly chilled after dinner. It works well with plum tart, baked apples, cinnamon biscuits or a small piece of nutty hard cheese, and can also replace a sweeter brandy in autumnal cocktails.
Background story
Mar de Frades was founded in the Val do Salnés in 1987 and became known for a modern, maritime interpretation of Albariño. Its spirits range extends that connection to the grape by distilling the pomace and drawing on Galicia's established culture of after-dinner aguardientes and liqueurs.
Original is the most individual recipe in the collection. Mirabelle plum separates it from the clear Orujo Blanco and the more overtly herbal Hierbas, giving the bottle a mellow fruit-and-spice identity that is designed as a generous final note to a meal.
