I think of myself as an equal opportunity imbiber, happy to sip on a wide range of beverages. It comes with the job, after all. But there are still particular flavors that never fail to pique my palate’s attention, and guava is one of those flavors. From cans of sugary guava nectar as a kid, to a bottle of guava Jarritos with my tacos, it’s a flavor that taps directly into my happy place. So imagine my delight to learn that the newest flavor from Chinola, maker of fresh fruit liqueurs, is the singular pink fruit itself. Perhaps this is a product I am pre-disposed to enjoy. Or maybe I hold a higher standard for something I like so much. But either way, the Chinola Guava Liqueur did not disappoint.
Launched in 2014, Chinola became an industry darling (and landed a heap of awards) for its flagship Passion Fruit Liqueur. They’ve since added Mango and Pineapple to their lineup. Each one is crafted with 100-percent fresh fruit from their base of operations in the Dominican Republic. Now aiming to make guava the next “It” flavor behind the bar—and offer a new interpretation of how the fresh fruit can be used—Chinola launched the liqueur last month both in bars and direct-to-consumer.
Similarly crafted using only fresh pink guavas—sans any purées, concentrates, or added flavors—Chinola builds the liqueur with a neutral cane spirit base, sweetening it with cane sugar. The resulting light pink liqueur is heady with tropical aromatics and pours with a viscous consistency. Juicy and sweet, like biting into ripe fruit, it features notes of melon, soft florals, and a hint of citrus. At an approachable 21-percent ABV, it’s an ideal cocktail component. It would be a no-brainer in a Margarita (and even better in a spicy Margarita). But I’m going to mix up a guava Daiquiri for peak vacation vibes. $32.99, shopchinola.com
