Aguardiente (pronounced ah-gwar-dee-EN-tay) is a broad category of distilled spirits whose name means “fiery water” or “burning water” in Spanish and Portuguese. It refers to alcoholic drinks made from local ingredients-most often sugarcane-and is enjoyed in various forms throughout Latin America and parts of Europe.

Once considered a rustic or regional spirit, aguardiente is now experiencing a renaissance— with producers like Bacan embracing innovation, quality, and cultural pride to bring this storied category into a new era.