The charm of rose liqueur or cashiers' liqueur

Bep Al·lès / Ciutadella – Menorca, with its rich gastronomic identity, preserves in rose liqueur —or cashiers' liqueur— an aromatic treasure that recalls centuries of tradition, celebrations and rituals. A delicate and seductive liqueur that Destil·leries Xoriguer, an emblem that the Menorcan liquor craft has kept alive and elegant.

Origin and meaning

Rose liqueur is a traditional drink with roots that originate in ancient Greece but that was consolidated in Menorca due to the influences of Mediterranean trade in the 18th century and was possibly brought to the island by the Greeks who settled in Maó.

Initially, it was a popular liqueur in religious acts and baptismal ceremonies on the island due to the custom of families to distribute a small sample between the priest and the attendees who participated in the ceremony. A gesture of gratitude that, over time, associated this drink with the nobility of the occasion.

It is also known as “the cashiers' liqueur” from the moment it began to be served in the "drinks" of the Sant Joan Festival with which the cashier lord and the cashier priest presented the participants in the colcada and, also, the cashier noble to his guests. It was also part of the drinks for the Diumenge des Be party.

Artisanal preparation

Making a good rose liqueur is not just about an infusion. Destil·leries Xoriguer uses superior quality roses, probably from aromatic Mediterranean varieties, and macerates them carefully in alcohol of agricultural origin, pure and clean. The process is finally balanced with local water, in the original recipe it was well water, and a touch of sugar to respect the fragrance and persistence of the rose without altering its nature. The rose liqueur is a reflection of the line that Xoriguer follows: adapting historical and own recipes, preserving its native essence.

The result is a liqueur with a subtle pink tone, with a floral, sweet balanced scent and a fresh and elegant finish. With an alcoholic strength of around 30º —similar to gin and other liqueurs of the house— it is ideal to taste it in small glasses or for a party with depth of taste. It is recommended to serve it very chilled.

When liqueurs were the spirit drinks of the festivities of Sant Joan and the rest of the island's patron saint festivities, a role now lost to the entry of gin with lemonade and beer, the ritual of toasting with the “cashiers' liqueur” was a sign of hospitality and respect for ancestral origins that gave a touch of elegance to events that marked the lives of families. From festivals, such as those of Sant Joan, to other celebrations such as weddings, baptisms or name days.

Beyond the celebration, today rose liqueur has earned a place as a gastronomic detail: digestive aperitif, final touch to a careful lunch or dinner or special ingredient in signature cocktails. As a substitute for other floral liqueurs, it provides a soft, harmonious character and with an absolutely vindicable Mediterranean air.

Xoriguer rose liqueur is more than a drink, it is a journey in a glass: a tribute to traditions, a festive gesture, a memory of Mediterranean souls and flavors that spread, even, beyond Menorca. In each sip, the fragrance of the rose mixes with the history of the island and family entrepreneurship, confirming that the liquor of the cashiers not only embodies the essence of our most ancestral celebrations, but is, today, a sensory jewel to discover and reclaim.