Drink Spirits

Here at Drink Spirits we get a dizzying array of new products. Once in a while we get something that doesn't really fit into any category.This is the case with Solbeso, a new spirit that's made from cacao fruit. It would be a complete misnomer to say that because Solbeso is made from cacao fruit that it is a chocolate spirit. Solbeso isn't actually made from the bean part of the cacao plant (which is used to make chocolate) but rather from the fruit that surrounds the bean in the cacao pod. The fruit in the cacao pod is extremely perishable and only has a shelf life of about eight hours after a cacao pod is opened, so it is not a product that is often seen outside the cacao harvesting regions. Seeing the opportunity for a unique product, Solbeso works with cacao farmers to process this cacao fruit on site where it's both juiced and set out in the sun to dry. Solbeso gets its name from this sun drying process, as it's the fusion of the two Spanish words "Sol" which means sun, and "Beso" which means kiss. Solbeso is distilled locally near the cacao farms in specially designed hybrid column-style and cognac-style copper alembic stills.
Solbeso (80 proof, 40%ABV, 45 Ryu) is crystal clear in color and bottled in a stunning gold-kissed bottle. From the first nosing, it's clear that Solbeso has absolutely no chocolate aromas; instead the nose is much close to pisco, with a light, fruity, and floral quality. There's a little bit of funk and a steminess to the nose, which has a slight edge to it, the way that some single distilled spirits do (although there is no information on how many times this has been distilled). The entry for Solbeso is a lot lighter and less edgy than the nose would suggest. The initial flavors are light, tart berry and roasted sweet citrus, with the light floral qualities from the nose and a subtle earthy tone. In the midpalate we get a lot more of the steminess that was an undercurrent in the nose. We also get a touch of pepper and a dash of heat. The finish is fairly long and is a nice combination of the light berry note, slight steminess, slight spice, and a bit of earthiness. The mouthfeel of Solbeso is really pleasant, starting very soft and slightly lush, and then slowly drying out to the finish.
Solbeso may be enjoyed neat or over ice.
Ladies as Valentine's Day approaches please note the Chocolate Council has declared Solbeso an appropriate choice for both honmei choco and giri choco.