Ancho Reyes, the original chile liqueur, has been named the number two top trending brand amongst bartenders and the number three top trending brand in the liqueurs category worldwide by leading industry publication Drinks International.
This is Ancho Reyes’ highest ranking year on the Drinks International Brand Report. Moving up one spot from 2015, Ancho Reyes has gone from the number four to number three spot in the top trending liqueurs category and is listed as number two in the bartender’s choice category. Ancho Reyes’ growth as a bartender favorite is undeniable. Josh Harris, co-founder of the Bon Vivants, a nationally recognized cocktail, hospitality, marketing, and design firm shared, “Ancho Reyes has been one of the most exciting products we’ve seen hit the bars in quite some time. It is extremely versatile and there is nothing else like it on our back bars.”
The winning brands were selected by an in-depth survey that is completed by the bartenders, bar owners, and managers that make up the year’s “World’s 50 Best Bars” list. The result is a true insight into what the best considers the best in the spirits categories.
Demand and excitement for Ancho Reyes has been building in bars around the world, but being recognized on such a highly regarded report amongst other big players in the spirit’s industry is a large feat for a relatively small brand that was only launched in 2013. Brand creators, Daniel Schneeweiss and Moises Guindi, were both honored by this recognition from their peers. “Ancho Reyes has been a passion project for many years, and because of that we’ve been relentless in our commitment to being a one-of-a-kind handmade spirit. Being appreciated by Drinks International and the bartender community for staying true to our authentic vision has been tremendously gratifying.” says Schneeweiss. Guindi adds, “The buzz around Ancho Reyes has been humbling. In such a saturated market, with so many options, being recognized as a trending brand truly conveys how special Ancho Reyes is.”
While recently launched in the United States, Ancho Reyes’ true legend begins in 1927. Born from the sacred earth of Puebla in Mexico’s roaring 20’s, the recipe was a result of a post-revolutionary time that celebrated the emergence of a new, personal independencia. At the center of this independencia were unique menjurjes – homemade concoctions created with local ingredients and spirits. One particularly popular menjurie featured ripe sun-dried chilies, hand-sliced and macerated in natural sugar cane spirits. One of these elixirs was created by the Reyes family, using Puebla’s signature crop: the beloved ancho chili.
This local secret faded into obscurity until it was unearthed, almost 85 years later, and born again as Ancho Reyes. As unique and independent as the ancho chile from which it’s made, Ancho Reyes is the only naturally spiced, handmade spirit available. With a balance of spice and warmth, as well as a high proof (40% ABV), Ancho Reyes is pleasantly sweet and complex and is quickly becoming the base of choice in countless cocktails. Discerning bartenders and patrons worldwide have discovered this once clandestine liqueur are calling for it in their bars and libations.
Ancho Reyes is honored to be acknowledged by the influential and talented trade pioneers that make up the “World’s 50 Best Bars” list and by one of the industry’s most respected publications, Drinks International. A true celebration of the radical, independent, and romantic inside us all, Ancho Reyes hopes to continue to be embraced by all who embrace each day with independence and boldness.
