It is one of Chile's most emblematic products, an essential part of our culture and identity and an ambassador of the country in international markets. Chilean pisco is recognized for its quality, tradition and unique origin in the regions of Atacama and Coquimbo, and this May 15 it is honored on Pisco Day.
There are more than 45 distilleries in 5 valleys (Copiapó, Huasco, Elqui, Limarí, Choapa), and in this new commemoration of Pisco Day, we highlight four brands that are part of the Made By Chileans network and proudly carry the Chile Brand: Hanaq Pacha, Waqar, Black Heron and Pisquera ABA.
Hanaq Pacha
It is a premium Chilean pisco made in Vallenar, in the Atacama Region, by a family business that rescues the Diaguita heritage and the pisque tradition of the Norte Chico. Its name in Quechua means "superior world" or "celestial world", reflecting its inspiration in the Andean cosmovision.
Hanaq Pacha pays homage to ancestral cultures and Andean spirituality, integrating symbols such as the chacana, which represents the bridge between the physical world and the Andean cosmos.
"Carrying the Chile Brand represents for us the commitment to show the world the best of our country and especially to make known the best pisco possible. As pisco producers in the heart of the Atacama Desert, we feel that Hanaq Pacha embodies that unique identity: an extreme land, an ancient history, the sky of our ancestors and a living culture that we want to share with pride," says Marcelo Layana, son of owner Nancy del Carmen Muñoz.
In 2024, Hanaq Pacha received the Gold Medal in the Catad'Or competition. Currently, they export to Japan and Taiwan.
Waqar
The brand was born in 2010, but its creators come from families with a long history of five generations of pisco production. "Waqar was born with the idea of producing a superior quality pisco or premium pisco. We said 'we are going to produce the first premium pisco in Chile'," says Jaime Camposano, winemaker and founder of the brand.
Waqar gathers through the grape, all the essence of the terroir at the top of the Limarí Valley, an area of millenary tradition in the production of grapes. "I would say that what makes this pisco unique is a matter of quality. Pisco is a traditional product, so being unique is not easy. But in our case, we made efforts to position ourselves in a premium segment," says Camposano.
It currently exports to around 40 countries. "The pisco category is not very well known abroad. So, having the support of Chile's image, of the Chile Brand, helps us, communicates confidence to the consumer, communicates concepts, for example, of purity, of exoticism, which are associated with Chile", says Camposano. In 2024, Waqar became the first pisco to win the Best Unaged award at the World Spirit Competition in the United States.
Black Heron
The history of this pisquera located in Tulahuén, Coquimbo Region, dates back to 1924 when a fire affected the distillery, where much of the recovered alcohol production showed clear smoky notes. In honor of those who overcame this incident and managed to keep the distillery afloat, Black Heron was born.
Black Heron is the only smoked grape pisco in the world, with 43.5 degrees of alcohol. "It is a triple distilled wine obtained from selected grapes, matured in French oak barrels, with a smoky, rested, dry and amber-colored character. Its label, with an Art Deco design, evokes the glamorous era of the 1920s and relates to the significant event that took place in the distillery. You don't find any other pisco with these characteristics in the world", says Juan Carlos Ortúzar, partner and owner of the brand.
"We are proud to be Chilean. Our origins and experiences are intrinsically related to Chile. Carrying the Chile Brand around the world fills us with pride and opens doors in foreign markets," says Ortúzar.
Pisquera ABA
Founded in 1995 in the Elqui Valley, Pisquera ABA keeps its production method intact: double distillation, triple filtration and a careful process that seeks to capture the best in each bottle. "All our piscos are carefully made so that only the best remains in the bottle," says Gustavo Arancibia, commercial manager of Pisquera ABA.
They are currently exporting to the United Kingdom, Canada, China and soon to Australia. They also seek to reach the U.S. and the European Union. "The potential of pisco is gigantic. People outside Chile who try a pisco cocktail (a sour, for example) are amazed," says Gustavo Arancibia. "The fact that our products can be found in several continents and that they carry the Chilean flag makes us happy. We feel that we are contributing to the country and improving its international image with quality products", he adds.
ABA pisco has more than 15 medals in international competitions. The most recent was last year, where CMB Bruxelles awarded them the gold medal in its 2024 version. "This reaffirms to us that we have a world-class pisco," says Arancibia.
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