Agwa Diablo Botanical Coca Leaf Liquor

Agwa Diablo is the ginger led expression of Agwa de Bolivia, a herbal liqueur made in the Netherlands from Bolivian coca leaf blended with a mix of 37 natural herbs and botanicals including green tea, ginseng and guarana. As with the original, the coca leaves are shipped from Bolivia under strict supervision and the cocaine is extracted before use, leaving the leaf character intact. This Diablo version turns the recipe toward ginger heat and is bottled at 20%.

The nose is fruity, spicy and herbal, the palate spicy and hot with ginger and fruit, finishing long. Behind the bar its warm ginger bite and herbal backbone make it a spice forward modifier, adding heat, fruit and a green tea edge to a drink. The producer points it straight at a spritz, built with Prosecco, soda and a slice of orange, and it works just as well long with tonic over ice. Serve it well chilled, lengthen it for a refreshing spiced highball, or use a measure to bring ginger heat to a fruity cocktail.