CHIRRETE – COSTA RICAN MOONSHINE
Don’t Get me wrong its illegal, but this doesn’t stop some enterprising Ticos from the age old tradition of making moonshine, which is called Chirrete here in Costa Rica.
As a matter of fact there is a small village just minutes from the lake that is famous for its Chirrete. All you have to do is go to the village and ask around and you will be given the directions to a house on the outskirts of town where an old woman, the wife of the man who makes the spirits will gladly let you sample her husbands latest batch and sell you whatever quantity you need, generally sold per gallon at the going rate of about $8.
I have asked the farmer who has the still if I could see the still and he said he would be happy to show it to me, until I found it was a half days horse ride into the mountains each way, so I declined until another day.
This particular Chirrete is well known in northwestern Costa Rica for its quality and I wish I could say smoothness but that would be pushing it a little too far.
The proof, or strength of Chirrete is by definition impossible to say as every batch is different although usually ends up being between 100 and 120 proof. Anything over 160 proof is extremely strong and almost impossible to drink unless mixed with water or juice. 200 proof is pure alcohol. Costa Rican Chirrete is generally made with sugar cane, corn and rice and produces a clear liquid. There are some distillers that after the distilling process flavor their Chirrete with herbs which gives it various other colors.
Because of the single run distilling process most all moonshines are subject to some poisonous by products, including methanol and fusel oils. Fusel oil gives the moonshine that particular oily smell and is not very good for your health if you really get into your shine.
Going to a birthday party one day I thought it would be fun to take a 5 gallon plastic water container normally put on top a cooler and bring it as a gift. I asked the woman if she could fill it for me and without a thought she disappeared into the garage and came back 5 minutes later with it full. More important than that I got a quantity discount at only $6 per gallon and she threw in a bottle of her own home made concoction of Chirrete mixed with coconut syrup that tasted as good or better than a similar brand name bottle at the store.
Was my friend surprised when I walked into his house for the party with a 5 gallon water jug over my shoulder and plunked it down on the ground and just walked away. He later told me he was mystified at first why I was dropping off 5 gallons of mineral water.
Only later did he discover the real contents and needless to say he had a very happy birthday party
