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Casa D'Aristi Narano Bitter Orange Liqueur
About Casa D'Aristi Narano Bitter Orange Liqueur
Casa D’Aristi Narano Bitter Orange Liqueur is produced by Casa D’Aristi – a craft distillery and producer of artisan liqueurs in Mérida, Yucatan. Founded in 1935, Casa D’Aristi is most known for their flagship anise and honey liqueur called Xtabentún, which is based on Mayan Blaché.
They carry a range of liqueur products also including guanababa, coconut, and bitter orange. All Casa D’Aristi products are advertised as additive-free and contain no artificial flavorings.
This particular bottle of Narano Bitter Orange Liqueur is made using both sweet oranges and bitter Seville oranges (also called Narano Agria). The sweet oranges are fermented separately in stainless steel tanks, before being combined with the juices from the bitter orange skins, a neutral grain spirit, sugar, and water. It is bottled at 80 proof.
Bottle Specs
❖ ABV: 40%
❖ Distillery: Casa D’Aristi Hacienda
❖ Aging: none
❖ Price Point: upper moderate price
Tasting Notes
Palate:
❖ zesty citrus
❖ green tea
❖ ginger
❖ orange marmalade
❖ caramel
My Tasting notes
My first whiff of this liqueur had strong notes of sweet, bitter orange. There was also a slight earthiness to the aroma that was faint yet present.
I took my first sip, and found the flavor to be very similar to Cointreau. The orange note was almost identical, and there was a similar tingling quality to the mouthfeel. There was both a sweetness and a bitterness to the citrus. As I sipped, I could really picture the orange peel in my mind’s eye. The flavors tasted very natural. Overall, there was a nice amount of heat without the alcohol being too biting.
Cocktail
Although I’ve featured the classic margarita cocktail on the blog before, there was really only one choice to put this orange liqueur to the test! Instead of the usual lime wheel garnish, I choose a juicy sweet orange slice instead to help celebrate the mixer.
Margarita
❖ 2oz tequila
❖ 1oz orange liqueur
❖ 1oz lime juice
❖ 1/4oz simple syrup
- Add the ingredients to a shaker with ice, and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a cocktail glass with ice.
I found that Casa D’Aristi Narano performs pretty well in a margarita. It strikes a nice balance between bringing something unique and interesting to the drink, while not overpowering the main spirit. The citrus notes from the liqueur tasted fresh and complex. In addition to the sweet and bitter orange, I also detected a warmer note that tasted like honey or caramel. There is also a vague earthy flavor that brings a real sense of place. Compared to Cointreau, this orange liqueur has slightly more character to its flavor.
Bottom Line
RATING: 5/5
Overall, I’m very impressed with Casa D’Aristi Narano Bitter Orange Liqueur. Because of the flavor and mouthfeel, I can’t help but keep comparing this liqueur to Cointreau, which I gave 5 stars back in 2021. Though both liqueurs have their own character, I feel that Casa D’Aristi is really on par quality-wise.
Not only that, but they are a relatively small, family-owned craft distillery. Personally, I like the idea of supporting a small, Mexican-owned brand when I’m preparing mixers for a tequila-based cocktail. I’m excited to have found an excellent option for that in this bottle of Casa D’Aristi Narano. I definitely recommend this bottle to anyone, and I’m excited to try out the other liqueurs this company has available.
As always, drink responsibly.
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Nothing like Cointreau. Faintly artificial-tasting like sports gels.