At La Makha, Colombian spirits show up in two places. The first is the spirits list, which includes Antioqueño aguardiente (Azul, Rojo and Real) and Mil Demonios, plus La Hechicera aged rum. The second is the cocktail program of the tasting menu, where viche, the ancestral spirit of Colombia’s Pacific coast, goes into the Basil Smash and the Carajillo that accompany two of the courses.
For a restaurant that describes itself as a local bistro built on Colombian ingredients, it makes sense for what’s in the glass to speak of the country too. Here’s what’s available, how to order it and where each one fits into the meal.
Aguardiente: from the Antioquian classic to premium
Ordering aguardiente at a chef-driven restaurant still surprises some people. It shouldn’t. It’s the spirit most tied to Colombian social life, and at La Makha it’s on the list in four versions, from the most familiar to a premium option.
- Antioqueño Azul, by the shot or in 375 ml and 750 ml bottles.
- Antioqueño Rojo, also by the shot or in 375 ml and 750 ml bottles.
- Antioqueño Real, by the shot or in a 750 ml bottle.
- Mil Demonios, by the shot or in a 750 ml bottle, the premium pick of the section.
The three Antioqueño versions are the house reference for anyone who grew up in Medellín. Mil Demonios plays in a different league: it’s a premium Colombian aguardiente produced in Santa Marta, meant to be sipped more slowly, with a presentation that looks right at home on a fine dining table. If you’ve never tried it, ordering it after a classic Antioqueño is the best way to notice the difference between the two.
If you’re more interested in a mixed drink than a straight shot, La Makha’s cocktail bar is the place to ask what can be made with what’s on the list that night.
Colombian rum: La Hechicera
The rum section has bottles from several countries, but only one is Colombian: Añejo La Hechicera, available by the glass or in a 700 ml bottle.
La Hechicera is a rum from Colombia’s Caribbean coast, aged in Barranquilla, and it’s one of the country’s rums that has earned the most recognition abroad. At the table it works well at the end of dinner, neat or with a single ice cube, once the main courses are done and the conversation is still going.
For anyone who likes to compare, the list sets it next to rums like Zacapa, Havana, Plantation and Sailor Jerry. Ordering La Hechicera alongside one of them is a simple way to see what sets a Colombian-made rum apart, no formal tasting required. Two glasses, some water on the side and a little patience between sips is all it takes.
Viche: the Pacific spirit in the cocktail program
Viche is the most interesting case, because it doesn’t arrive at the table as just another drink. It’s an ancestral spirit from Colombia’s Pacific coast, with Denomination of Origin status, and at La Makha it’s woven into the cocktails and pairings of the tasting menu.
These are the three places you’ll find it.
- Basil Smash. Made with Viche Canao, pennyroyal, basil, lime and simple syrup, it’s the pairing for the corn crisp, one of the first courses of the menu. Fresh and herbal, it’s a good way to open the evening.
- Carajillo. Made with Antioquian coffee, cured viche canao and Licor 43, it accompanies the coconut and coffee flan that closes the menu. Colombian coffee and Colombian spirit in the same glass, at the end of the meal.
- Technical pairings with Viche DO. La Makha’s wine list brings Viche DO into pairings designed for lamb and chontaduro.
What they have in common is that viche is never there for decoration. It goes where an ingredient on the plate calls for it, which is why it makes more sense to try it within the tasting menu than to look for it on its own.
How to order Colombian spirits at the table
A long spirits list can feel overwhelming, especially when the goal is to try something local. These steps help organize the evening.
- Decide between a shot or a bottle. For one or two people, ordering by the shot lets you try several things; for a larger table, a 750 ml bottle usually goes further.
- Start with something fresh. If you’re having the tasting menu with pairing, the Basil Smash with viche is already your first step into Colombian spirits.
- Save the aged spirits for last. La Hechicera rum or a pour of Mil Demonios makes more sense after the main course than at the start.
- Ask at the bar. If you’d like a cocktail with aguardiente or Colombian rum, the team will tell you what can be made that day.
Colombian flavors in the signature cocktails too
Even when the base spirit of a signature cocktail isn’t Colombian, several of them carry very local ingredients. The Oculto mixes blanco tequila with gulupa and chardonnay, clarified lime, orange notes and gulupa foam. The Niebla combines Ojo de Tigre mezcal made from 8-year espadín agave with pennyroyal syrup and mandarin lime.
That approach, local ingredients worked with technique, is the same one the kitchen follows. If you want to see how it plays out on the plate, the chef’s recommendations are a good example.
The full pairing, on the tasting menu
To experience all of this in a single evening, the most direct option is the tasting menu. It has seven courses, with optional pairing. If you go for the pairing, ask about the current rate when you book; the 10% tip is voluntary and not included.
Along the way, viche appears twice, in the Basil Smash and in the Carajillo, while the rest of the pairings alternate between wines and cocktails. And if you want to keep going after dessert with a Colombian rum or a premium aguardiente, the spirits list is right there.
Frequently asked questions
Which aguardientes are available at La Makha?
Antioqueño Azul, Antioqueño Rojo, Antioqueño Real and Mil Demonios, by the shot or by the bottle.
Which is the premium aguardiente on the list?
Mil Demonios, a premium Colombian aguardiente produced in Santa Marta. It’s available by the shot or in a 750 ml bottle.
Does La Makha serve Colombian rum?
Yes. Añejo La Hechicera, a rum from Colombia’s Caribbean coast aged in Barranquilla, by the glass or in a 700 ml bottle.
Where can I try viche at La Makha?
In the Basil Smash, which is paired with the corn crisp, and in the Carajillo, which accompanies the coconut and coffee flan, both part of the tasting menu. Viche DO also appears in technical pairings with lamb and chontaduro.
Can I order aguardiente by the bottle?
Yes. Antioqueño Azul and Rojo come in 375 ml and 750 ml bottles, while Antioqueño Real and Mil Demonios come in 750 ml bottles. For a table of several people it’s usually the most practical choice.
Is the tip included in the bill?
No. The tip is voluntary and not included; the menu suggests 10% of the total, and prices already include taxes.
