Sun-dried ancho chillies — poblanos, ripened red and dried in the Puebla sun — macerated in cane spirit for six months, then blended with cinnamon, cacao and spice. It is sweet, smoky and warm rather than aggressively hot, and it is the bottle that turns a Margarita, a Mule or an Old Fashioned into something people ask about.
In Puebla, a family makes a chilli liqueur to mark a birthday — cane spirit steeped with the ancho chillies drying on the roof.
The Chilli
Poblanos are left on the plant to ripen deep red, then sun-dried into anchos. Drying is what turns green heat into raisin, tobacco and smoke.
Six Months
The chillies macerate in neutral cane spirit for around half a year before blending with cinnamon, cacao and spice.
2014
The recipe is revived and bottled for the first time — and bartenders worldwide find the thing they had been improvising with infusions.
What Sets It Apart
Sun-Dried Anchos
Dried, not fresh — smoke and raisin, not raw heat
Half A Year Steeping
Long maceration, so the fruit comes through before the fire
Cinnamon & Cacao
Blended in, so it reads as a liqueur rather than a hot sauce
Full Strength
40%, so it holds its shape in a shaken drink
Tasting Profile
Dried Chilli
Smoke
Warm Spice
Sweetness
Ancho ChilliRaisinCinnamonCacaoLingering Warmth
How to Serve It
Ancho & Ginger
Over ice with ginger beer and a wedge of lime
Spicy Margarita
Swap a measure into the tequila, lime and agave
Ancho Old Fashioned
A bar spoon stirred into bourbon, over one big cube
Pairs Well With
Dark Chocolate
Cocoa and chilli, the oldest Mexican pairing there is
Grilled Meat
Char and smoke on both sides of the plate
Mango & Lime
Sweet tropical fruit against the dried-chilli warmth
Salted Nuts
Salt is what makes the warmth read as flavour
The Finishing Touches
Green Velvet Gift Box
Our signature presentation box, added at checkout.
Hand-Tied Ribbon
Wide cream satin, tied by hand into a full bow.
Signature Gift Bag
Our matching gift bag, so it's ready to hand over on arrival.
Your Message
Add a personal note at checkout — we'll include it with the delivery.
Sending it as a surprise? Enter the recipient's address at checkout and we'll deliver straight to their door, boxed, ribboned and carrying your message — in as little as 30–45 minutes anywhere in London.
How We Deliver
London · 30–45 Minutes
Delivered to your door 24/7, 365 days a year, across Greater London.
UK-Wide Delivery
Express in 1–2 business days, standard in 3–5. Rates shown at checkout.
Tracked & Confirmed
Shipment confirmation with live tracking sent to your email.
Challenge 21
Age verified on delivery — 18+ ID required. Responsible retailing, always.
At a Glance
Origin
Puebla, Mexico
Style
Chilli liqueur
Base
Sun-dried ancho chillies
Signature Serve
Ancho & ginger beer
ABV
40%
Bottle Size
70cl
Questions
Is it actually hot?
Warm rather than hot. Ancho chillies are poblanos that have been ripened and dried, which trades sharp capsaicin heat for raisin, tobacco and smoke. You get a gentle glow at the back of the throat, well behind the fruit and spice.
What does it taste like?
Dried chilli and raisin first, then cinnamon, cacao and a faint smokiness, finishing with lingering warmth rather than burn. It is closer to a spiced fruit liqueur than to anything you would call spicy.
What is the easiest thing to make with it?
Ancho Reyes and ginger beer over ice with a lime wedge — two ingredients, thirty seconds, and it tastes like something a bar made. After that, put a measure into a Margarita and you have the spicy Margarita everyone orders out.
Who is this a good gift for?
The person who has the tequila and the mezcal and is looking for the next thing, and anyone who cooks with chillies. It is a genuinely unusual bottle to receive — most people have never been given a chilli liqueur, and almost everyone likes it.
Can you deliver it directly to the person I'm gifting?
Yes — enter their address at checkout and add your message. In London it can be at their door within 30–45 minutes, any hour of the day. The recipient must be 18+ with ID for our Challenge 21 check.
Why Buy From Drinks House 247
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18+ Please enjoy Ancho Reyes responsibly. For guidance and support, visit drinkaware.co.uk.
