Oliver Rodríguez from Lanzarote went from making homemade liqueur for the island's pilgrimages to having his own distillery and selling throughout Lanzarote, but also in Seville, Madrid and Barcelona.
Destilerías Einar is located in his town, Yaiza, and produces passion fruit liqueur, gofio liqueur, and will soon launch its new prickly pear liqueur. It also produces liqueurs and vermouths on demand throughout the country.
In an interview with the radio program of Radio Lanzarote Más de Uno Gourmet Rodríguez tells how he has been opening markets for his products.
- How did the idea of distilling liqueurs in Lanzarote come about?
I started making homemade blackberry liqueur for the island's pilgrimages. One day I went to a restaurant and the owner offered me "homemade" blackberry liqueur, which tasted like everything but blackberry, so I asked him: Do you want to try my homemade blackberry liqueur? He liked it and bought the 20 liters I had made.
Then the idea arose of making a passion fruit liqueur and a gofio liqueur so that they would not be the same as those on the street, where blackberry or fig liqueur was always requested.
- What are the implications of having your own distillery?
We registered and took a further step to be up to date with the tax and health regime.
On the one hand, there are the inspections of the Canarian Institute of Agri-food Quality (ICCA), which is responsible for controlling the information on the label, from the font size to the inclusion of possible allergens. On the other hand, there are the inspections of the Treasury to control the quality of the alcohol.
- Is it difficult to make a gofio liqueur?
It is a process that cost me, because in order for the milk not to curdle in contact with the rum, the milk must be treated first.
- Have you thought about identifying passion fruit liqueur as a vegan product?
I am waiting for the passion fruit producer to get the insecticide-free label, which he no longer uses, but used to use in the past. Once he has it, the bottles will come out with the two identifications, of ecological and vegan product.
- Where can Einar's liqueurs be found?
They can be found in gourmet shops in Arrecife, Playa Blanca, Tías, Yaiza and in the Roper in Playa Honda. They can also be purchased in the peninsula, in shops in Seville, Madrid and Barcelona.
- What does Saborea Lanzarote mean for producers who are starting out?
It makes you known, it opens many doors for you, it is a showcase for all of Lanzarote and for people from outside. From there we have been called for events in Gran Canaria and in Madrid such as Madrid Fusión and Madrid Gourmet.
- Are you preparing any new liqueur? Is it true that you also make custom-made liqueurs?
The next one we are going to release and that is almost ready, the prickly pear one. Yes, we make liqueurs and vermouths to order. Now we are preparing vermouth for a client from Barcelona and recently we had a meeting with a client from Gran Canaria who wants to make banana liqueur.
