White Orujo or pomace brandy is an alcoholic beverage obtained from the distillation of marc: the solid remains left after pressing the grapes for winemaking. Original to the Autonomous Community of Galicia, in Spain, this magnificent liqueur meets the quality standards of the Geographical Orujo designation and the traditional liquors of Galicia.
White Orujo from Galicia is a dense and transparent digestif ideal to finish any meal. Learn more about this delicious and traditional Galician drink below.
Great-tasting, exotic and magical, white orujo is used in the preparation of traditional Galician queimadas; a kind of punch passed down through generations with a semi-religious component.
“Queimada is a typical Spanish drink of Galicia, which also has a history to it, as it is thought to come from an old Celtic tradition. Part of the custom is that all the ingredients (Galician spirit, sugar, lemon peel, coffee beans and sometimes cinnamon) are put in a clay pot and are then set alight whilst everyone around it chants a traditional song. As it is served hot, it is ideal for cold evenings or winter parties.” – DonQuijote.co.uk
To make a good white orujo, it is essential to maintain control of the external energy input with exact timing during distillation. Here is a selection of our favorite orujos, an example of the ancestral Galician culture.
PRODUCER: Bodegas Pazo Señorans (Pontevedra) // GRAPES: Albariño Orujos 100%
Devanceiros Orujo de Galicia
PRODUCER: Destilería Novalicor Auria (Orense) // GRAPES: Varied Orujos
This bright and clear orujo is handcrafted without any extracts, colorants, flavorings or additives. The nose is reminiscent of ripe fruits such as pear or apple. In the mouth, it feels intense with a warm passage, nice finish and good persistence; elegant and enjoyable.
White Orujo Condes de Albarei
PRODUCER: Bodegas Condes de Albarei (Pontevedra) // GRAPES: Albariño Orujos 100%
This excellent orujo is colorless, bright and clear, aromatic and smooth. It boasts intense notes of apple and herbs with a touch of rose. On the palate, it delivers a pleasant feeling of warmth: silky, velvety, structured and voluminous.
Porta Do Miño Aguardiente de Galicia
PRODUCER: Bodegas Terras Gauda (Pontevedra) // GRAPES: Albariño Orujos 100%
Highly transparent and crystal clear, this orujo has persistent aromas of white fruits and citrus, which blend harmoniously with floral notes of rose, ending in subtle hints of Albariño grapes. Balanced in the mouth, it is fine, elegant and persistent.
Aguardiente Mosteiro de Xagoaza
PRODUCER: Bodegas Godeval (Orense) // GRAPES: Godello Orujos 100%
Colorless and crystalline, its fruity delicacy is immediately perceived as we encounter light touches of herbs in the background. In the palate, it is smooth, conveying balsamic flavors and hints of nuts; very nuanced, persistent, and fragrant.
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