Licor 43
Licor 43 Original is a Spanish liqueur at 31% ABV, so 25ml is about 0.8 UK units. Its maker says it is produced in Cartagena, Spain, from a family recipe of 43 ingredients that includes Mediterranean citrus fruits and botanicals, with coriander and vanilla among the tastes it names. Our Carajillo pours 45ml over ice and floats 45ml of hot espresso on top. The maker publishes no list of the 43 and no sugar figure. It calls the drink a liqueur and so do we.
Quick Facts
Closed tightly, in a cool place out of direct sunlight.
None of the 14 listed allergens. The maker’s FAQ says Licor 43 Original contains none of the substances in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, and that it is free of nuts and eggs and gluten free. A small amount of colouring is added. Check the bottle.
About Licor 43
Flavour Profile
Primary Flavours
Tasting Notes
The maker lists four levels: citrus, the botanical touch of coriander, the sweet palate of ripe fruit with nuances of vanilla, and the floral notes of orange and lemon blossom.
The maker names Cartagena and a six-step method
The maker’s FAQ says Licor 43 Original is produced in Cartagena, Spain, from a secret family recipe of 43 ingredients that includes Mediterranean citrus fruits and botanicals. It gives a method in six steps: ingredient selection; maceration in a blend of water and alcohol; fusion of the ingredients in fixed proportions; six to nine months resting in stainless steel tanks; five days in a cooling chamber at about minus 5 degrees Celsius; and filtration through micro-filters. The name comes from the 43 ingredients.
At 31% it clears the liqueur minimum with room to spare
Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 110/2008, as retained in UK law, sets liqueur at a minimum of 15% ABV and at least 100 grams of sugar a litre in most cases. At 31% Licor 43 sits well above the strength line. The maker gives no sugar figure on the pages we read, so we state none. Our liqueurs guide explains the two lines.
Licor 43 Original on the maker’s FAQ
Strength
- The maker’s answer
- 31% ABV
Where it is made
- The maker’s answer
- Cartagena, Spain
Ingredients
- The maker’s answer
- 43, recipe not published
Allergens
- The maker’s answer
- None of the Annex II substances
Gluten free and vegan
- The maker’s answer
- Yes to both
Colouring
- The maker’s answer
- A small amount, added for colour stability
Best-before date
- The maker’s answer
- None; use within a short time of purchase for the freshest flavour
| Question | The maker’s answer |
|---|---|
| Strength | 31% ABV |
| Where it is made | Cartagena, Spain |
| Ingredients | 43, recipe not published |
| Allergens | None of the Annex II substances |
| Gluten free and vegan | Yes to both |
| Colouring | A small amount, added for colour stability |
| Best-before date | None; use within a short time of purchase for the freshest flavour |
In the Carajillo the espresso decides
The Carajillo is two ingredients: 45ml of Licor 43 over ice, with 45ml of hot espresso floated on top. The liqueur alone is 1.4 UK units at 31%, and the coffee adds none. The maker puts no rule on temperature: neat at room temperature, chilled or over ice, and it says the liqueur will not freeze in a domestic freezer.
Using Licor 43
Usage
Pour 45ml over ice in an old-fashioned glass and float 45ml of hot espresso on top for a Carajillo. The maker also serves it neat, chilled or over ice.
Pro Tip
Float the espresso over the back of a bar spoon, close to the surface, so the coffee sits on the liqueur before it mixes.
Top Tips
- Use fresh, hot espresso for the Carajillo. The coffee is half the drink.
- Keep the cap on. The maker advises drinking it within a short time of buying, for the freshest flavour.
- Count units at 31%: 25ml is about 0.8.
Possible Substitutions
- Coffee Liqueur: At 20% ABV on our page and built on coffee, so the Carajillo changes character
- Tia Maria: At 20% ABV on our page; a coffee liqueur rather than a citrus and vanilla one
Production Method
Per the maker: citrus fruits and botanicals macerated in a blend of water and alcohol, fused in fixed proportions, rested 6 to 9 months in stainless steel, held for five days at about minus 5 degrees Celsius, and micro-filtered.
History & Context
The maker says the recipe is a Spanish family secret handed down within the Zamora family, and that the name comes from its 43 ingredients.
More to explore
Common Questions
What is Licor 43?
How strong is Licor 43?
Does Licor 43 contain allergens?
Where is Licor 43 made?
How long does Licor 43 keep once opened?
Should Licor 43 go in the fridge or freezer?
What is in a Carajillo?
What can I use instead of Licor 43?
Sources.
Correct as of 1 November 2026.
- Licor 43, “FAQS: Licor 43 Original” (maker’s FAQ: 31% ABV; Cartagena, Spain; 43 ingredients, recipe secret; six-step method; allergen, nut, egg, gluten and vegan answers; small amount of colouring; no best-before date; no best temperature).
- legislation.gov.uk, “Regulation (EC) No 110/2008, Annex II (as retained in UK law)” (category 32, liqueur: minimum 15% ABV and 100g/L sugar in most cases).
- legislation.gov.uk, “Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex II (as retained in UK law)” (the fourteen allergens).
- NHS, “Calculating alcohol units” (units from ABV and volume; the 14-units-a-week guidance, spread over 3 or more days).
From the Guides
Made with Licor 43
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Often Used With
Guide by Jerry Can Spirits · Updated 1 November 2026