Patrick
Colombian Viche del Pacifico. We could talk about 400 years of resistance, tracing its roots to West Africa, of how this ancestral tradition of distilling sugar cane spirit has been handed down through generations, primarily by women, in rural Afro-Colombian communities accessible only by outboard motor boats in often politically unstable zones of the world’s rainiest and most biodiverse territory.
Or we could tell you how the world’s leading mixologists and craft spirits companies like lamaisonandvelier.com and thecalabash.group are making pilgrimages to Colombia’s Pacific coast to discover Viche. How they’re developing innovative Viche cocktails to introduce this spirit to global audiences. How the BBC described it as “A spirit so good people are smuggling it in suitcases” and how Viche now appears, albeit semi-clandestinely in its pre-legal form, at Colombia’s most celebrated restaurants and bars ranked among the world’s top 10.
Or we could invite you to visit the coastal and river villages of Colombia’s Pacific coast, to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture, music, and dance. A good place to start is to listen to legendary musicians like Nidia Góngora who embody the region’s rich cultural heritage, and to visit the unmissable Petronio Alvarez festival in August.
At the heart of Viche are the Master ‘Vicheras’ and ‘Vicheros’ who are guardians of the tradition, and who will benefit from the recent legalization of Viche. Not only does this law ensure that Viche can be enjoyed nationally and internationally, it also protects these communities and their traditions from exploitation and dilution by formally making Viche a part of the national heritage. What this means is that Viche can only be produced by Afro-Colombian communities, in specific areas of Colombia, in the same way that France protects Champagne and Mexico protects Mezcal.
Or we could tell you about the functional and medicinal benefits of Viche and its many derivatives that are used for healing and spirituality in these communities.
Or the little known fact that the best Viche does not produce a hangover (no methanol).
Or you could just order a bottle of Viche at La Vichería, or visit Cali and discover it for yourself.
Drink responsibly!
Disclaimer: Please note that the people behind La Vicheria are my friends and I have no commercial affiliation with them. I earn no commission for any sale generated and this is not a sponsored post. If you buy their products, you get the highest quality product on the market and support a great cause. I want to see them and all the local producers behind them succeed. No spirit is more Colombian than viche, so make sure you give it try before ordering your next vodka tonic at the bar. Also makes for a great souvenir. Salud!)
