NUNA is the latest rave for beverages in Peru. Last week, we introduced this new category of distillate in Peru. Now, Daniel Quintero brings you taste of this sugar cane alcohol and what you can expect when you experience it for yourself.
How it started
Let’s go partying like it’s 2018! Somewhere in Lima, two friends were chatting in the middle of a party, the pisco was flowing and DJ Kass was playing Scooby Doo Papá. What a summer! Between drinks, they imagined how to make a good spirit that carries the name of Perú.
Jorge Cantuarias and his partner Edwin Eslava decided at that moment that they will carry the flag of another Peruvian Spirit high and they started to work on this project.
Pause
Before we keep on this journey let’s get to know Cañazo, also known as Llonque or Cogollo, is a distilled alcoholic drink made out of sugar cane, it can reach up to 60 % ABV depending on the producer. In Peru, it’s the second most drunk alcoholic beverage after beer. So it makes sense as a business point to create a high-end version of it.
Back to the action!
Jorge and Edwin embarked on the quest for a great “Cañazo” to begin with, and they landed (after many trials) in a community of six producers at Cutervo, a small town in Cajamarca, with an elevation over 2500 meters. They made a great sugar cane juice which ferments perfectly, gets distilled and creates the perfect alcoholic base; this is just a part of the process.
NUNA at birth
They wanted something extra for their drink, as this first distillation is a congeneric spirit, which means it keeps the sugar cane flavors. At this point, they macerate different citrus on the alcohol and that they source all over the country for oranges (from the Chachapollas Jungle), lemons from the northern shore of Piura) and tangerines (from Ica, the central dessert) with an addition of ginger to round up the flavor. This rests for a while and then gets distilled again, which produces a great spirit that is diluted with neutral water to get a 42 % alcoholic botanized beverage. Then it is filtered and stored for at least three months until it gets bottled.
All of this process was done during 2020 and, as we were in full lockdown, Jorge, Edwin, and a new friend and partner, Guillermo Joo, were distilling at their home lab with several results- which I’m sure eased the lockdown.
NUNA, was the name selected for this beverage, it means soul or spirit, and their decision to use that name was because it represents the soul of the land, to anyone who tastes this product.
Tasting NUNA for this first time
As any distilled drink, the color, or lack of it, is very important. In this case, it is clear and bright with no traces of particles and, when you move the glass, you can see its full-bodiement. When you bring it to your nose, it has an intense citrusy aroma with sweet nodes, you may imagine that it’s liquor. The mouthfeel is quite interesting because it comes easy in the mouth, it’s dry, the heat is not invasive, and comes down smoothly.
It’s a great drink to taste pure in a small glass as a digestive, or as part of a cocktail, maybe as a cosmo for a happy hour.
The price of NUNA
The price point of their bottle rounds the S/ 100 and you can get it on their website: http://destileriadelperu.com.
Nuna is a nice Peruvian spirit to have as part of your bar.
Now, go out and drink well!
Cover photo sourced from Destilería Perú