Calisay Liqueur

Product of: Spain

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This quinine-based Catalan liqueur has a history that goes back to the Middle Ages and the monks of the Bohemia monastery. The calisaya is a type of cinchona tree native to the South American Andes. Its yellow bark is a source of quinine (70-80% of alkaloids in cultivated tree bark are quinine)

Cinchonas are grown in plantations, mainly in Java, and mature for ten years before being stripped of the yellow bark, roots and branches.

Calisaya is made with calisaya bark in a brandy base, sweetened with sugar syrup and matured in oak.

Calisaya is usually served neat as a digestive, but it is also synonymous with the Glamis cocktail.

Review and Tasting

Sampled on 12/11/2026

Appearance:

Clear, pale amber.

Aroma:

Pine fresh quinine.

Taste:

Syrupy pine with notes of almond, vanilla and overripe banana.

Aftertaste:

Lingering pine freshness with hints of spearmint and aniseed.

Overall:

A classic Spanish liqueur that's sadly been stripped of its original, shapely dark bottle and now comes in a clear, tall, round bottle. It was also originally 32% alc./vol.