Licor 43 Original, also known as Cuarenta y Tres, is a Spanish liqueur produced exclusively in Cartagena by the Zamora family company. Its name points to the heart of the bottle: a closely guarded family recipe comprising 43 ingredients. While the complete formula remains secret, the known components include lemon, orange, vanilla, coriander, and tea, alongside other Mediterranean citrus fruits and selected botanicals.

The production process gives those ingredients time to come together. Their flavors are extracted through maceration, after which the infusion rests in stainless steel tanks for six to nine months. Rather than undergoing cask maturation, the liqueur is then held at approximately -5°C for five days and micro-filtered, steps designed to create its smooth texture and recognizable golden appearance. Licor 43 Original is bottled at 31% ABV.

The Zamora family began commercial production in 1946, when the liqueur was still bottled by hand. Founded by Diego Zamora with his siblings Angel and Josefina, together with Josefina’s husband Emilio Restoy, the company has preserved the recipe across generations. Production remains rooted in Cartagena, keeping this internationally distributed liqueur closely connected to the Spanish city where it began.

It is worth noting that “43” is neither an age statement nor an edition number; it refers specifically to the number of ingredients in the recipe. This is the standard Original bottling, distinct from the brand’s other flavored expressions. Gluten-free, nut-free, free from listed allergens, and suitable for vegans, Licor 43 Original offers an intriguing look at a modern Spanish liqueur shaped by a secret recipe, patient stainless-steel resting, and more than seven decades of family stewardship.