Canazo — LIZ DEVINE

Cañazo is a specific type of rum made throughout Peru. It is made by fermenting and distilling the juice that is extracted from fresh sugar cane. Making Cañazo is primarily a rural activity and has historically been sold cheaply, but producers around the country have worked diligently to improve its perception. In 2022, the Peruvian government designated it as a national spirit alongside pisco.

Located in the Incan town of Ollantaytambo in Peru’s Sacred Valley, I had the ultimate pleasure of working with Destileria Andina, a family operated distillery on an organic farm, steps away from the train to Machu Picchu. Their distillery has had a huge part in elevating Cañazo as a respected spirit in Peru with their own version of Cañazo and Matacuy, the Andean elixir made from more than 50 herbs.