In 1994 I stood in a local bar in the countryside near Grecia. A weathered old man walked in from a day in the cane fields. A machete hung at his waist and he was barefoot. He stepped to the bar and put up one finger. The bartender poured him a shot that nearly dribbled over the edge of the glass. The old man looked at his drink and smiled at me before kicking it back. He wiped his mouth and thanked the bartender, then paid and left. I asked the bartender what he’d had and he showed me the bottle of Cacique Guaro. I asked for a shot and have longed for another ever since.
Guaro is a 60-proof hard liquor made from sugar cane, and it’s sweet and surprisingly smooth going down. It’s like the aguardiente you’ll find in Columbia and many other Latin American countries. Ticos take pride in their local products. Almost everybody drinks Imperial Beer, and many still smoke Ticos over Marlboros. Everybody sips Cacique Guaro once in a while.
Today a South Carolina company, Rockland Enterprise, is importing Guaro straight from la Fabrica Nacional de Licores-Fanal in Costa Rica where it’s been produced for sale since 1853. The last time I went to Costa Rica I tried to bring home two bottles, both of which I managed to break in a fit of very bad luck before I even got one sip. I’m eager to find out where I can find a bottle here in the states, and you can bet this time I’ll exercise a little more care in the handling.
If you can hook me up with a bottle, please comment below. I’ll be forever grateful.
June 18th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Try’s Spec’s Liquor out of Houston, TX
June 26th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
I purchased 3 bottles of Guaro at the ‘duty free’ store at San Jose airport… upon my departure, and JUST before getting on the plane, they handed me my bottles… I thought I had it made ! I had to change planes in Miami upon my return to the States… had to pick up my baggage to go thru immigration, customs etc… no problem… UNTIL…
I had to go thu security (as if I just got to the airport from home)…. they (security)would not allow me to carry the bottles onboard the next flight… being late on a very busy travel weekend, I had to either throw it away, give it to an arriving passenger, or go buy a bag, take it to the airline counter to get it checked thru, then catch another flight if I was late…. time was up….I had to toss it… WHY allowed on one flight, then not on the next still vexes me !!!! I barely made my connecting flight & others after it were booked so I made the right (?) choice.
BEWARE of this happening to you, should you travel to Costa Rica !!!!
June 29th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
I’m gonna give a hi5 on this review, and I have several bottles on my possesion too…
July 18th, 2007 at 11:39 pm
I bought Guaro at the “duty Free” store in costa and brought it back to the states and nothing bad happend and i have been enjoying it ever since..cant wait to go back and grab me some more guaro!! pura vida!
July 19th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Where can I buy Cacique in U.S.? Had some good times with it in Costa Rica!! Please reply
September 2nd, 2007 at 9:52 am
I just got back from Costa Rica myself , and brought back a large bottle of Cacique , a souvenir size bottle of Cacique, and a bottle of Kahlua . I bought all these at the Duty Free in SJO airport , and before I connected to my flight to toronto from Charlotte , I put my bottles in my luggage as I was instructed at the Duty Free .
Gonna open the Cacique tonight for a taste ! Hopefully it’s as good as you’re all saying it is .
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:52 pm
you can buy guaro now from ticoshopping.com
my girlfriend bought me 6 bottles that finally came in today….but be careful because they took about 3 months to get here after breaking in the mail once or twice
March 9th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I spent the entire month of January in Costa Rica and was able to get 4 bottles of Guaro past customs with me! Yeah baby!
April 24th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
just came back from Guanacaste on sunday. fortunately we knew from past experience to put our alcohol in our luggage after going through customs. I’m happy to see we can order online once our cacique is gone.
June 19th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
GET IT ALL THE TIME…..FISH THERE EVERY YEAR…I AM DOWN TO MY LAST BOTTLE.I LIVE IN NEW YORK WANNA SHARE IT????????????
February 6th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Went to Costa Rica this past christmas. Loved it and loved the cacique with lime and fresca. Going back for sure to get more cacique.
March 8th, 2009 at 1:08 am
would anyone know were to get a bottle of cacique guaro in calgary alberta . canada
May 18th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Dude i lived off this stuff while i was living there. Just mix this with some fresca and its perfecto.
June 18th, 2009 at 1:20 am
just had another shot. loved it. i will have to back soon to replenish my stock. i have been to cr three times before and did not discover this until the last trip. p.s. the empty bottle is worth almost as much as the full bottle. cr has a big deposit on bottles—–the streets are clean.
July 21st, 2009 at 7:08 pm
just returned from a trip to Costa Rica . fell in love with the Quaro sour. Been to Bev mor and a couple of other liquor stores but have yet to find it. If anyone knows where I might buy this in San Jose California please let me know.
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:02 am
just returned from a trip to Costa Rica . fell in love with the Quaro sour. Been to Bev mor and a couple of other liquor stores but have yet to find it. If anyone knows where I might buy this in San Jose California please let me know.
January 16th, 2010 at 10:30 am
just check your bottles into your checked in bagagge and no problem..you can bring back 3, 750 ml of liquor per person over 21 to the USA, just ask the duty free people what is allowed, you just can not have the bottles with your carry on for your connecting flight. You have to take the bottles and pack them into your checked bagagge once you get your bag and then recheck the bag for your next flight. Pretty simple to do.
June 20th, 2010 at 4:18 am
Vagablond. Dunno where you get anything “sweet” outa guaro, unless you mix it with something - anything. It’s pure fire straight up - yet delicious - but better with any kind of fruit juice or soft drink. Pura vida!
January 25th, 2011 at 9:05 pm
I can’t believe I found an article on Cacique Guaro, I drink it every Thursday night at my local watering hole when i am back home in San Ramon, Costa Rica. I work in the states, and me and couple of buddy have even talked about importing it, but no plans as of yet.
March 17th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
same here, my sister and I went to Costa Rica and brought home a couple of bottles, have tried to find it everywhere….. if you find out how to get it, please let me know a well.