Mel Amargo

Jorge Lima and his wife Esmeralda wake up everyday to the sun-dappled hills of São Marcos da Serra, where they tend 100 hillside hectares of wild medronho (arbutus) with a beautiful view over the river Odelouca. Soon, all that fruit will become the regional staple aguardente de medronho (arbutus liqueur). They like to age it in old oak barrels to infuse it with a woody warmth that’s an homage to Jorge’s mother Dona Inácia. You see, Jorge is carrying the torch of the fourth generation in a family of distillers.

But, since 1999, arbutus is just one part of the story. That’s when Jorge decided to turn the local tradition of distilling arbutus into a full-flavoured portfolio of premium liqueurs, from fig to almond, from lemon to saffron. What they all have in common: past and present bridged in fragrant harmony.

The fifth generation is already stepping in, as Jorge and Esmeralda’s eldest daughter Rute Lima manages the brand at fairs and takes care of PR.

What pours from their family is more than bottles. It’s a lineage crafted with care, rooted in memory, and shared one spirited sip at a time.