Licor 43

Licor 43, known in Spain as Cuarenta y Tres, is produced by the Zamora Company in Cartagena, in the Murcia region of southeastern Spain.

The liqueur takes its name from the 43 botanicals, fruits, and spices that go into its formula, a recipe the Zamora family has guarded since they commercialized it in 1946, though they trace the drink's roots to ancient Roman-era citrus and herb liqueurs made along the Spanish Mediterranean coast.

The dominant character comes from vanilla, which works alongside citrus peel, aromatic herbs, and warm spices to create a liqueur that is sweet but not cloying, with genuine complexity underneath the approachable sweetness. At 31% ABV it sits at a moderate strength, making it versatile across a wide range of uses.

Bartenders reach for it to add body and vanilla sweetness to cocktails, and it is particularly well known as the base of the Carajillo, a Spanish coffee cocktail made simply with espresso poured over the liqueur.

It also works poured over ice, added to cold brew coffee, or used as a substitute for simple syrup in sours. For a bottle at this price, it offers genuine flavour complexity and broad utility behind the bar or at home.