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Licor Beirão is
a very popular liqueur which has been made and sold in
Portugal for over 100 years though
the tale of the drink's rise to fame is that of
determination and of two love stories.
It is
said during a travelling Port salesman in the 19th
century was visiting the
central Portugal town of Lousã when
he fell in love with the daughter of the pharmacist who
produced this tasty aperitif as a medicinal remedy for
stomach complaints.
The
salesman duly married the daughter and settled in Lousã,
apparently happy with his life. However when a change in
the law outlawed the production of herbal remedies with
alcoholic content by pharmacists, the former salesman
ceased his opportunity using the secret recipe of his
father in law.
With the
support of his wife he started a small artisan factory
producing the drink. However it was not immediately name
Licor Beirao. The naming of the drink came later when at
an assembly in 1929 in Castelo Branco when Beirãos (the
name given to those living in the region of the Beiras
where Lousa is situated).
The
salesman it is said paid homage to Beirãos and named his
liquorice flavoured liqueur after the people of the
Beiras. |
