🥃 Aguardiente de sidra de Asturias
Spanish distillate of natural Asturian cider: EU GI since 1989, distilled to at most 72 % vol. and bottled from 37.5 % vol.; young fresco and aged envejecido styles.
Aguardiente de sidra de Asturias (Asturian cider spirit) is an EU geographical indication for a distillate of natural Asturian cider. It is distilled to no more than 72 % vol. to keep the aroma of apple and cider, and in the bottle it has at least 37.5 % vol. There are two styles: young 'fresco' and aged 'envejecido'.
Protected name. The name has been protected in the EU since 12 June 1989 and belongs to category 10 of Regulation (EU) 2019/787, cider spirit and perry spirit. The technical file of 2017 was submitted by the Asturian Ministry of Livestock, which also supervises producers. Cider, distillation, ageing and bottling take place only in Asturias, in glass bottles of up to 1 l.
Raw material and production. The base is natural Asturian cider of at least 5 % vol. It is distilled in copper stills: the traditional alquitara or Charentais alembic with double distillation, or a column still. Added alcohol is forbidden. 'Fresco' rests for at least one year in stainless steel or glass, 'envejecido' for at least three years in contact with oak or chestnut; caramel is allowed only for the aged style.
History. According to the technical file, the first mentions of distillation are linked to monks of the Collera monastery in Ribadesella in 1052, and in 1760 a parish priest from San Juan de Amandi in Villaviciosa taught his parishioners to make cider and spirit. Around 1870 Asturian distillate was shipped from Ribadesella to Cuba and Liverpool. Its best-known relative is Norman calvados.
Why it matters to you. The label 'fresco' or 'envejecido' shows whether the spirit has seen wood; if an age is given, it refers to the youngest distillate in the blend. Cider is only the raw material here: the bottle holds at least 37.5 % vol. of spirit, several times stronger than cider. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| EU category | cider spirit and perry spirit (EU category 10, Regulation (EU) 2019/787); geographical indication since 1989 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Regulation (EU) 2019/787; technical file PGI-ES-02058 (2017) |
| Raw material | natural Asturian cider of at least 5 % vol. |
| Distillation method | copper alquitara or alembic (double distillation) or column still; up to 72 % vol. |
| Minimum maturation | fresco: at least 1 year resting in steel or glass; envejecido: at least 3 years in contact with wood |
| Cask type | oak or chestnut (barrels or staves in stainless steel vessels) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | from 37.5 % vol. |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Aguardiente de sidra de Asturias → similar → 🍎 Fruit brandies → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Spaniards
- Part of
- 🍏 Cider spirit and perry spirit
- Related to
- 🌍 Southern Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Calvados, 🍎 Fruit brandies, 🥃 Calvados Domfrontais, 🥃 Calvados Pays d'Auge, 🥃 Breton cider brandy (Eau-de-vie de cidre de Bretagne), 🥃 Normandy cider brandy (Eau-de-vie de cidre de Normandie)
Frequently asked questions
Is Aguardiente de sidra de Asturias the same as calvados?
No. Both are cider distillates of EU category 10, but calvados is a Norman name, while Aguardiente de sidra de Asturias is a separate Spanish GI with its own rules.
How does fresco differ from envejecido?
Fresco rests for at least one year in stainless steel or glass and stays colourless; envejecido is aged for at least three years in contact with oak or chestnut and is amber.
What is the strength of Aguardiente de sidra de Asturias?
In the bottle it is at least 37.5 % vol.; off the still the distillate is no stronger than 72 % vol.
What is Asturian cider spirit made from?
Only from natural Asturian cider of at least 5 % vol.; added alcohol is forbidden.
Since when has the name Aguardiente de sidra de Asturias been protected?
In the EU since 12 June 1989; the technical file was submitted in 2017.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🌍 Southern Europe — The Mediterranean south of Europe — Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal: sheep's and goat's milk cheeses and most of the world's olive oil.
- 🍎 Fruit brandies — Fruit, berry and cider spirits: from 37.5% vol., no flavourings; calvados, kirsch, slivovitz.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Spaniards — The people of Spain; flamenco, human towers, Fallas, the world's largest vineyards and over a third of the world's olive oil.
Similar
🥃 Normandy cider brandy (Eau-de-vie de cidre de Normandie) · 🥃 Maine cider brandy (Eau-de-vie de cidre du Maine) · 🥃 Breton cider brandy (Eau-de-vie de cidre de Bretagne) · 🥃 Normandy perry spirit (Eau-de-vie de poiré de Normandie) · 🥃 Chinchón · 🥃 Calvados Pays d'Auge
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- eAmbrosia — EU geographical indications register: Aguardiente de sidra de Asturias (EUGI00000014244), spirit drink, Spain; GI, category 10 cider spirit and perry spirit, EU protection 12.06.1989, file PGI-ES-02058
- eAmbrosia: technical file 'Aguardiente de sidra de Asturias' (PGI-ES-02058, Ref. Ares(2017)2589547): natural Asturian cider min. 5 %, distilled to max. 72 % in copper alquitar, alembic (double distillation) or column still; fresco — min. 1 year rest in steel/glass; envejecido — min. 3 years in oak or chestnut; glass bottles up to 1 l
- Principado de Asturias: Expediente técnico 'Aguardiente de sidra de Asturias' (mayo de 2017) — Collera monastery (Ribadesella) 1052, San Juan de Amandi (Villaviciosa) 1760, exports to Cuba and Liverpool c. 1870
- Regulation (EC) No 110/2008, Annex III as at 31.01.2020 (legislation.gov.uk): Spain — Aguardiente de sidra de Asturias (10. Cider spirit and perry spirit), Licor de hierbas de Galicia (32. Liqueur), Aguardiente de hierbas de Galicia (Other spirit drinks)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks, Annex I: cat. 6 grape marc spirit (not flavoured), cat. 10 cider spirit and perry spirit (distilled < 86 %, min. 37.5 %, not flavoured, caramel only for colour), cat. 33 liqueur (sugar from 100 g/l)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)